Senior Project Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

6% annual bonus

24 days + Bank Holidays

Pension scheme

Career development

Life Assurance 4x salary

Sustainable travel

Employee assistance programme

Employee referral scheme

Job summary

Aqua Consultants seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead high‑value projects across water and utilities sectors. You will guide cross‑functional teams, manage contracts and budgets, and ensure IMS governance while engaging senior stakeholders.

You will champion continuous improvement, drive risk management, and deliver executive‑level reporting to support strategic growth and client outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in strategic project management with strong leadership.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management for executive-level reporting.
• Experience with NEC3/4 accreditation or similar.
• Extensive experience in Water, utilities, or infrastructure sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of complex, high-value projects within scope, time, and budget.
• Coordinate project teams and provide strategic guidance to ensure objectives.
• Develop risk and issue management strategies and escalations as needed.
• Oversee end-to-end contract management with finance alignment.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and reporting of cost variances.
• Govern IMS compliance, audits, and corrective actions.
• Engage stakeholders and maintain relations with clients and partners.
• Allocate resources and plan long-term capacity for growth.

Skills

Strategic PM

Stakeholder management

Project reporting

Microsoft Project

SAP

CRM systems

NEC3/4

Water industry experience

Tools

Microsoft Project

CRM systems

SAP

Job description

Adler & Allen Regulated Sector Consulting is in growth mode. Already delivering extensively across the Water and Gas sectors, Aqua is the market-facing brand into the British water sector.

Job Description

Role Summary

As a Senior Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role in managing and delivering high-impact projects, overseeing complex project portfolios, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives. This role demands strong leadership, advanced project management expertise, and a commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and best practices across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Project Delivery & Coordination
  • Lead the successful execution of complex, high-value projects, ensuring alignment with scope, timelines, quality standards, and cost constraints.
  • Coordinate and direct project teams, providing high-level oversight and strategic guidance to ensure objectives are achieved.
  • Develop comprehensive risk and issue management strategies, facilitating mitigation plans and overseeing escalations as needed.
• Advanced Contract & Financial Management
  • Oversee end-to-end contract management for high-profile projects, collaborating with the finance team to ensure alignment with organisational frameworks and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead budgeting and financial forecasting, ensuring all projects adhere to financial plans and identifying and reporting cost variances proactively.
• Integrated Management System (IMS) Compliance & Governance
  • Ensure organisational IMS standards are upheld across projects, implementing governance structures, conducting audits, and addressing compliance gaps with corrective actions.
• High-Level Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
  • Serve as a senior point of contact for key stakeholders, maintaining proactive communication and ensuring clarity on project requirements and objectives.
  • Develop and sustain strong relationships with clients, partners, and internal teams, ensuring stakeholder alignment throughout project lifecycles.
• Strategically allocate and optimise resources (human, financial, and material), addressing conflicts or shortages and ensuring efficient project delivery.
• Anticipate future resource needs and facilitate long-term planning to support both project-specific and organisational growth.
• Project Performance Management & Reporting
  • Establish, monitor, and report on KPIs and project performance metrics, providing data-driven insights to clients and leadership.
  • Prepare monthly and executive-level reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and strategic recommendations.
• Business Development & Client Relationship Management
  • Strengthen the organisation’s market position by building strategic client relationships and generating high-level business development opportunities.
  • Collaborate with leadership and service leads to identify and develop new project opportunities that align with client needs and organisational goals.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, and cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and best practice sharing.
• Lead the organisation’s project management community, championing professional development initiatives and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• Process Optimisation & Innovation
  • Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline project delivery and enhance management efficiencies.
  • Champion innovative practices and digital tools that support efficient project execution and improved organisational capabilities.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in strategic project management with exceptional organisational and leadership capabilities.
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and deliver detailed reports to executive-level stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and advanced project management software (e.g., SAP, CRM systems).
• NEC3/4 accreditation or similar certification.
• Extensive experience within the Water Industry, utilities, or infrastructure sectors.
• Advanced proficiency with Gantt charts, project dashboards, and digital reporting tools.

Additional Information

What we do:

Aqua Consultants are a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing a wide range of Asset Management, Engineering and Commercial services to our clients across the water, energy and environment sectors, across the UK.

Who we are:

Aqua is established on a solid foundation of diversity – diversity of skills, cultures, personalities, perspectives and experiences. It is this diversity that unifies our team and enables us to offer holistic and innovative solutions to our clients most pressing needs.

The ‘Aqua’ culture is a set of values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that creates a family-like environment within our workplace, something we call the ‘Aqua Family.’

We are an ambitious team who live our values ofGrowth,Accountability,Integrity Innovation,EmpathyandFun.

Our Vision – Growth through SHARED CAPABILITY

Our Mission – Growing sustainable value for future generations

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary with a discretionary 6% annual bonus.
• Annual Leave: 24 days + Bank Holidays, with options to purchase additional leave.
• Pension Scheme: 6% employer contribution, 4% employee contribution.
• Career Development: Professional training, progression pathways, and membership fee coverage.
• Life Assurance: Coverage of 4x annual salary.
• Sustainable Travel: Electric car scheme.
• Well-being Support: Access to GP and mental health support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee Referral Scheme for additional earnings.

Adler and Allan are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.If you require any support with your application, whatever the circumstance, please let us know.