Senior Project Manager

Mott MacDonald; Reading; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension matching 4.5–7%

Annual performance bonus

Flexible benefits

Employee ownership

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking an experienced Project Programme and Commercial Manager to lead high‑value, complex programmes across the built environment. You will manage risk, control commercial objectives and maintain strong client relationships while guiding multi‑discipline teams to keep programmes on track.

Based in the UK, this permanent role offers a hybrid working policy and a broad benefits package as part of a leading global consultancy.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or project management.
• APM or Prince2 qualification.
• MAPM, MCIWEM, MICE membership (or working towards).
• Chartered status or working towards chartership (ChPP).
• Substantial project management experience on high risk/complex projects with strong stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Manage project risk and opportunities with mitigation.
• Be accountable for commercial objectives and timely reporting.
• Deliver complex technical projects in a regulated environment.
• Maintain excellent client and team communications.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to update the programme.
• Ensure effective close out of projects.
• Control internal and external commercial aspects across contracts.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Engineering or project management degree

APM or Prince2 qualification

MAPM/MCIWEM/MICE membership

Chartered status (ChPP)

Tools

NEC contracts knowledge

Job description

Location/s: London, Reading, Brighton, Birmingham; UK

About The Business Unit

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery(APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Overview Of The Role

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Manage project risk and opportunities effectively - take responsibility for the identification, allocation and management of the project risk and opportunities, taking effective mitigation measures to reduce risk
• Be accountable for the commercial objectives specific to the project - ensure necessary reporting & information is delivered on time, to the required standard
• Deliver complex technical projects within a highly regulated industry
• Maintain excellent communications with the client and wider programme team
• Be responsible for the project programme. Work with multidisciplinary delivery teams to update the programme as required
• Ensure the effective and efficient close out of all projects
• Controlling the internal and external commercial aspects of projects across a range of contractual arrangements

Candidate specification

Requirements:

• A degree in engineering or project management subject
• A relevant professional qualification with the APM or Prince 2
• Full Membership, or working towards full membership of a relevant chartered body; MAPM, MCIWEM, MICE etc
• Ideally chartered or working towards chartership (ChPP)
• Substantial project management experience across a range of high risk / high complexity / high value projects and programmes with a strong focus on internal and external stakeholder management and complex risk management
• Be accountable for the expenditure, and the out turn cost for the project including authorisation through specified governance and change control processes
• Proven track record of managing projects within the Water and Environment Sector
• Proven track record of managing NEC contracts or similar contract arrangements
• Good leadership and people management skills with an ability to build and develop high performing teams

Personal attributes

• Commitment to our PRIDE values
• Self-motivated, proactive, able to demonstrate initiative and drive in managing time and planning, coordinating and delivering tasks by self and others
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Facilitates effective collaboration and team-working across internal and external resources
• Adept at pre-empting problems and providing solutions
• Strong client and stakeholder relationship building skills
• Delivery of key targets and objectives within the limits of available resources
• Commitment to self-improvement, learning and development
• Commercial awareness, creativity and critical thinking
• High degree of commercial acumen and knowledge of planning and project controls
• Essential soft skills include self-motivation; taking initiative; leadership adaptability and flexibility; effective listening, collaboration; influence and persuasion, insightfulness
• Good knowledge and practical application of project / programme management methods, software and toolsets

Desirable

• Experience of working in client organisation in a lead delivery role
• Experience of CDM regulations

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Location(s):

Birmingham, GB Reading, GB Cambridge, GB London, GB Brighton, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Environment and society

Discipline: Project programme and commercial management

Job Ref: 17447