Senior Project Manager - Defence

Mace; Gosport; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Hybrid working

Medical health cover

Life insurance

Income protection insurance

Pension scheme

Discretionary annual salary reviews

Family friendly policies

22 days annual leave

Job summary

Mace seeks a Talented Senior Project Manager to lead a major Defence programme based in Gosport. You will own complex delivery, act as a trusted advisor to clients and guide multidisciplinary teams, ensuring governance and successful outcomes within a secure Defence environment.

Candidates should be eligible for security clearance (SC) with existing SC clearance highly desirable. The role offers hybrid working and a strong focus on safety, quality and programme delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in project delivery or built environment.
• NEC4 accredited or strong practical NEC contract experience.
• Membership of APM, RICS or CIOB.
• Experience delivering complex, high‑value projects in Defence/public sector.
• Strong leadership of multidisciplinary teams across stages 4 and 5.
• Experience in governance, assurance and project controls on major programmes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at senior levels.
• Mentoring and development of project professionals.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety, quality, programme, sustainability and compliance standards.
• Direct delivery of complex construction and infrastructure projects.
• Manage senior stakeholders across client, contractor and consultant orgs.
• Direct contractor activities, design coordination and issue resolution.
• Oversee project reporting across cost, schedule, risk and governance.
• Manage governance, assurance panels and project approvals.
• Oversee project controls, finances, change control and risk management.
• Direct verification and validation of outputs including BIM/AIM.
• Develop business cases, key documents and approvals.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to PMs and PMO teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Communication

Project governance

Healthcare/insurance knowledge

Procurement/contract management

Education

Degree/HND/HNC in related field

NEC4 experience or accreditation

APM/RICS/CIOB membership

Tools

Microsoft Project

Project management tools

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

We are looking for a Talented Senior Project Manager to join one of our major Defence programmes based in Gosport.

You will manage the delivery of complex, high-profile projects that support critical national infrastructure, acting as a trusted advisor to clients and providing leadership across multidisciplinary delivery teams. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of strategic project outcomes within a secure Defence environment, driving successful delivery while helping shape programme priorities and governance.

Due to the nature of this Defence project, candidates must be eligible to obtain security clearance (SC). Existing SC clearance is highly desirable.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Championing Mace's safety-first value, ensuring exceptional safety, quality, programme, sustainability and compliance standards across all project activities.
• Directing the delivery of complex construction and infrastructure projects, taking ownership of project performance and successful client outcomes.
• Managing senior stakeholder relationships across client, contractor and consultant organisations, providing strategic advice throughout the project lifecycle.
• Directing contractor activities, design coordination and resolution of complex technical, commercial and programme related issues.
• Directing project reporting across cost, schedule, risk, performance, governance and executive level updates.
• Managing governance and assurance activities, including gateway reviews, assurance panels, programme board submissions and project approval processes.
• Overseeing project controls, financial management, change control and risk management to ensure delivery remains aligned with approved objectives.
• Directing the verification and validation of project outputs, including financials, schedules, BIM/AIM, GSL and contractor deliverables.
• Directing the development of business cases, key project documentation and approval submissions.
• Providing leadership, coaching and mentorship to Project Managers, PMO colleagues and wider delivery teams, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.

You’ll Need To Have

• Degree, HND/HNC or equivalent qualification relevant to project delivery or the built environment.
• NEC4 accredited, or able to demonstrate significant practical experience and a strong working knowledge of NEC contracts gained through project deliver.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as APM, RICS or CIOB.
• Proven experience delivering complex projects within large public sector organisations such as Defence, security, infrastructure, transport, healthcare or central government.
• Strong construction project delivery experience across all RIBA stages, including leadership of complex Stage 4 and Stage 5 delivery.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, contractors, consultants and senior stakeholders within regulated or secure environments.
• Demonstrable experience leading governance, assurance and project controls activities on major programmes.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Experience mentoring and developing project professionals and supporting high-performing delivery teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project and other project management and reporting tools.
• Ability to obtain (or currently hold) the appropriate security clearance.

What's On Offer

• Car allowance.
• Hybrid working.
• Medical health cover.
• Life insurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.
• Family friendly policies.
• 22 days annual leave, plus 2 Mace days, 3 days Christmas shutdown, 1 additional day for every 2 years' service, plus bank holidays.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well

We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise

We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing

We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel

We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.