Senior Project Manager

Laing O'Rourke; Oxford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is recruiting a Senior Project Manager to lead the Plot B2 Vaccinology Centre project in Oxford. You will oversee delivery from pre-construction to handover, ensuring safety, schedule and budget adherence while driving high performance across multidisciplinary teams.

The role requires experience with Tier 1 main contractors (£100m+ projects) and a background in construction management or related fields. We welcome candidates with transferable skills and a commitment to learning.

Qualifications

• Trade background or degree in construction management or related field.
• SMSTS certification.
• Tier 1 main contractor experience on projects £100m+.
• Pharmaceutical/laboratory experience desirable.
• CSCS Black Card or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of major construction projects from pre-construction through to handover.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget, and to required quality standards.
• Drive project performance and implement mitigation plans where necessary.
• Lead, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary project teams.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration and accountability.
• Mentor Project Managers and support talent development initiatives.
• Maintain oversight of project budgets, forecasting, cash flow, and commercial performance.
• Manage project risks, opportunities, contractual obligations, and change control processes.
• Support the resolution of commercial issues, claims, and disputes.
• Champion health, safety, environmental, and quality standards across all project activities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, legislation, and client requirements.
• Promote a culture of zero harm and right-first-time delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, supply chain partners, and key stakeholders.
• Act as the senior project contact, managing expectations and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Lead project meetings, governance reviews, and reporting activities.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Health & safety

Budget management

Communication

Education

Trade background

Degree in Construction Management / Civil Engineering / Quantity Surveying

Job description

Laing O'Rourke are currently recruiting for a Senior Project Manager to work on our Plot B2 project, in Oxford.

Sector: Science & Research

This building will be made up of a predominantly laboratory-based Vaccinology Centre (Cyrus Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building) linked with a Pandemic Sciences Centre that focuses on new and emerging pathogens, epidemiology and surveillance. These aspects will combine with translational activities, such as clinical trials, as well as education and training. Communal areas will facilitate discussions and collaborations.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Delivery

• Lead the successful delivery of major construction projects from pre-construction through to handover.


• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget, and to required quality standards.


• Drive project performance and implement mitigation plans where necessary.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary project teams.


• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.


• Mentor Project Managers and support talent development initiatives.

Commercial & Risk Management

• Maintain oversight of project budgets, forecasting, cash flow, and commercial performance.


• Manage project risks, opportunities, contractual obligations, and change control processes.


• Support the resolution of commercial issues, claims, and disputes.

Health, Safety & Quality

• Champion health, safety, environmental, and quality standards across all project activities.


• Ensure compliance with company policies, legislation, and client requirements.


• Promote a culture of zero harm and right-first-time delivery.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, supply chain partners, and key stakeholders.


• Act as the senior project contact, managing expectations and ensuring customer satisfaction.


• Lead project meetings, governance reviews, and reporting activities.

Requirements:

• Trade background OR degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.


• SMSTScertification


• Tier 1 main contractor experience on projects £100mil +


• Pharmaceutical / laboratory experience - desirable


• CSCS Black Card orequivalent.

Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.

About us:
We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]