Senior Project Manager

Wates Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wates Group in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior Construction Project Manager to lead large-scale construction projects, ensuring safety, quality, programme, and client satisfaction.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders, budgets and delivery from pre-construction to handover, champion modern methods, sustainability, and social value in a dynamic project environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex construction projects from pre-construction to handover.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholders and client relationships at senior level.
• Strong focus on safety, quality, and programme delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution and delivery of construction projects valued from £20m+.
• Develop and implement project execution strategies aligned with objectives.
• Ensure delivery on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.
• Monitor progress and proactively manage risks, issues and opportunities.
• Drive programme certainty through resource planning and controls.
• Act as principal contact for clients and key stakeholders.
• Chair meetings and provide regular progress reports.
• Manage relationships with authorities, consultants, and the supply chain.
• Collaborate with Commercial Managers on budgets, forecasts, and reporting.
• Identify value engineering opportunities and cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure contract obligations and risk mitigations are robust.
• Promote health, safety and wellbeing across projects.
• Lead and develop project teams and support functions.
• Foster high-performance culture, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Coach emerging leaders and conduct performance reviews.
• Drive sustainability and social value targets in delivery.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Budget Control

Safety Management

Programme Delivery

Commercial Acumen

Job description

About Wates Group

Wates Group is one of the UK's leading family-owned development, building, and property maintenance companies. With a proud heritage spanning more than 125 years, Wates is committed to delivering exceptional construction solutions that create lasting social value, drive sustainability, and positively impact communities across the UK.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Construction Project Manager to lead the successful delivery of complex construction projects across a diverse portfolio, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, programme performance, and client satisfaction.

The Role

As a Senior Construction Project Manager, you will take full ownership of large-scale construction projects from pre-construction through to completion and handover. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage key stakeholder relationships, oversee commercial and operational performance, and ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

This is a strategic leadership role requiring exceptional project delivery expertise, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to foster collaborative working relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and internal teams.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the planning, execution, and successful delivery of construction projects valued from £20m+.
• Develop and implement project execution strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.
• Monitor project progress and proactively manage risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Drive programme certainty through effective resource planning and project controls.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the principal point of contact for clients and key stakeholders.
• Build trusted client relationships, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Chair project meetings and provide regular progress reports.
• Manage relationships with local authorities, consultants, supply chain partners, and statutory bodies.

Commercial Management

• Collaborate closely with Commercial Managers and Quantity Surveyors to monitor project financial performance.
• Oversee project budgets, forecasts, change control, and cost reporting.
• Identify and deliver value engineering opportunities.
• Ensure robust management of contract obligations and risk mitigation strategies.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion Wates' commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing.
• Ensure all activities comply with current legislation, company policies, and industry best practices.
• Promote a positive safety culture across project teams and subcontractors.
• Lead incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are implemented where required.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop project teams, including Project Managers, Site Managers, Engineers, and support functions.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor emerging leaders within the business.
• Conduct performance reviews and support talent development initiatives.

Quality & Sustainability

• Ensure projects achieve the highest quality standards and client requirements.
• Drive sustainable construction practices and support environmental objectives.
• Promote innovation, modern methods of construction, and digital delivery initiatives.
• Support achievement of sustainability and social value targets.