Senior Project Manager

Tilbury Douglas; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Car allowance

26 days annual leave

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Tilbury Douglas is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead major construction projects in the South East, from inception to completion, reporting to the Contracts Manager. You will lead project teams, manage risk, ensure safety, quality, programme and commercial performance, and build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders across planning, design, commercial and operations.

The role requires a degree, CSCS, and a track record on schemes over £20 million; defence sector

Qualifications

• Experience delivering construction projects as a Senior Project Manager on schemes valued over £20 million.
• Degree (or equivalent) and valid CSCS card; CITB Level 3 Safety qualification.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent commercial, financial, and contractual awareness.
• Technical knowledge to identify risks and deliver outcomes.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Defence sector experience is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Experience administering NEC contracts with disciplined programme and change control.

Responsibilities

• Lead the successful delivery of construction projects, ensuring safety, quality, programme, cost, and contractual requirements are achieved.
• Build relationships with clients and stakeholders and drive collaboration across planning, design, commercial, and operations.
• Proactively identify risks and develop mitigation strategies, challenging delivery programmes and reviewing methods/materials to maximise outcomes.
• Work with planning, design management, commercial, and document control teams to achieve best project outcomes and strong customer aftercare.
• Lead, mentor, and develop project teams through leadership, performance reviews, and coaching.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Programme & change control

NEC contracts

Defence sector experience (advantage)

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field

CITB Level 3 Safety qualification

CSCS Card

Tools

UNAVAILABLE

Job description

We are looking to appoint an experienced Senior Project Manager to join our South East Regional Build team, taking ownership of the successful delivery of major construction projects from inception through to completion. Reporting to the Contracts Manager, this is a key leadership role with full accountability for project delivery, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, programme, and commercial performance.

You will lead project teams, build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, and drive collaboration across planning, design, commercial, and operational functions. Working in a fast-paced environment, you will proactively manage risks, develop solutions, and champion continuous improvement while promoting the company's culture, values, and operational excellence.

Key Duties

• Lead the successful delivery of construction projects, ensuring safety, quality, programme, cost, and contractual requirements are achieved while maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Implement company policies relating to Health & Safety, Sustainability, Quality, Environmental Management, and the Integrated Management System, promoting best practice and continuous improvement across the project.
• Proactively identify project risks and issues, develop mitigation strategies, challenge delivery programmes, and review construction methods and materials to maximise project performance and commercial outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with planning, design management, commercial, and document control teams to achieve the best project outcomes, while providing excellent customer aftercare.
• Lead, mentor, and develop project teams through effective leadership, performance management, annual reviews, and coaching, ensuring business continuity and high-performing teams.

About You

You will be an experienced construction professional with outstanding leadership capability and a proven track record of delivering major projects as the lead Project Manager within a main contractor environment.

You will bring:

• Experience delivering construction projects as a Senior Project Manager on schemes valued in excess of £20 million, supported by a degree (or equivalent), CITB Level 3 Safety qualification, and a valid CSCS Card (professional qualification desirable).
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and developing others.
• Excellent commercial, financial, and contractual awareness, with the ability to balance quality, programme, cost, and client expectations.
• Strong technical construction knowledge with the ability to identify risks, solve problems proactively, and deliver successful project outcomes.
• Excellent planning, organisational, and decision-making skills, with the ability to perform effectively under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
• Direct experience of delivering projects within the defence sector or a similarly complex, secure and highly governed public sector setting, such as custodial or other secure operational estates, would be a strong advantage.
• Candidates without direct defence experience must be able to demonstrate clearly transferable experience, including working within strict governance and assurance processes, secure or live operational environments, complex stakeholder structures, and disciplined programme, change and commercial controls.
• Experience administering NEC contracts, including disciplined programme and change control.

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary and car allowance
• 26 days annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 3 days
• Additional long service leave at 3, 7, and 10 years
• Private medical insurance (with option to extend to family)
• Life assurance and pension matched up to 8%
• Enhanced family leave policies
• 2 volunteering days per year
• Flexible and agile working (role dependent)
• Employee Assistance Programme and "Perks at Work" discount platform
• Flexible benefits including critical illness cover, dental insurance, travel insurance, cycle to work scheme, and retail vouchers

Who We Are

Tilbury Douglas is a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out company delivering vital projects across sectors including health, education, highways, justice, defence, aviation, water, and environment.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that encourages innovation, values individual differences, and supports professional development. We are proud to have retained our Investors in Diversity Silver Award.

Please note: This role is subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. The successful candidate may also be required to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance, which will be arranged and supported by the company.

We look forward to receiving your application.