Senior Project Manager

University of East London; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Greater London seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead multi-million-pound capital projects on campus. The successful candidate will oversee projects valued at over £10 million, ensuring their completion on time and within budget. This role demands significant experience in capital redevelopment and a background in construction. The position offers an opportunity to influence university transformation while enjoying a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in capital redevelopment projects valued at £10m+.
• Experience in live operational estates.
• Strong knowledge of JCT or NEC contracts and construction regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead major capital projects from feasibility to handover.
• Oversee financial planning, risk management, and governance.
• Manage contractors and consultants to ensure high construction standards.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Budgeting

Construction Knowledge

Risk Management

Compliance with Health & Safety

Education

Degree in Construction, Project Management or Engineering

Job description

Senior Project Manager - University of East London

Location: UEL Campuses (3 days on site minimum, varies by project stage)

Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits

Contract: 24 Month FTC, Full-time

Lead the transformation of UEL's estate and make a lasting impact on our university community.

About the Role

UEL is embarking on an exciting multi‑million‑pound Capital Programme to enhance and future‑proof our campuses. As Senior Project Manager, you will be responsible for delivering some of our most complex and high‑value projects, ensuring they are completed on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. This is an opportunity to lead transformational projects that will directly impact students, staff, and the wider community.

You will take end‑to‑end ownership of capital projects—typically £10m+—from strategic brief through design, procurement, construction, and handover. These schemes are delivered in live academic settings, requiring intelligent phasing, disruption management, and stakeholder coordination at every level. You'll lead multidisciplinary project teams, manage external consultants and contractors, and ensure delivery to time, cost, quality, and safety standards.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the delivery of major capital projects across the whole UEL estate, from feasibility to handover.
• Managing contractors, consultants, and project teams, ensuring the highest standards of construction and sustainability.
• Overseeing financial planning, risk management, and governance to keep projects on track.
• Working closely with senior stakeholders to align developments with UEL's strategic vision.
• Ensuring compliance with CDM, health & safety regulations, and sustainability targets.

What We're Looking For

This role is not suitable for candidates without significant capital redevelopment experience. To be successful, you must demonstrate:

• End-to-end delivery of major capital redevelopment projects valued £10m+.
• Experience working within live, operational estates (e.g., universities, hospitals, public campuses).
• Strong working knowledge of JCT or NEC contracts, planning processes, and construction regulations.
• A confident, credible communicator who can influence and manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• A construction background.
• A track record of delivering projects worth £10m+, with expertise in budgeting and commercial oversight.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, able to influence at all levels.
• Degree in Construction, Project Management, Engineering, or a related field (RICS, CIOB, APM membership desirable).

Why Join UEL?

• Be part of a major university transformation – play a pivotal role in reshaping UEL's estate for future generations.
• Progress your career – work on large-scale, complex projects with development opportunities.
• Enjoy a balance of on-campus and flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive salary and benefits – including generous holiday allowance, pension scheme, and more.

Benefits Package

At UEL, we believe that a great role is about more than just a salary. It's about the complete package, including our outstanding work environment and inclusive culture.

We offer a genuinely competitive salary, dependent on experience (DOE), and a range of excellent benefits.

Equal Opportunities

UEL is an inclusive equal opportunities employer. We are proud of our achievements in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity, including a zero gender pay gap, membership of Stonewall, and Athena Swan awards. We expect all employees of UEL to accept our EDI policy and will not tolerate discrimination in any form.

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the deadline if we receive many applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

To contact the recruitment team please phone [phone] x 4600 or e‑mail [e-mail].