Senior Project Manager / Lead

Innovate Recruitment Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Project Manager/Lead to oversee strategic R&D projects in Chelmsford. The role requires extensive engineering project management experience, strong leadership capabilities, and proficiency in project management tools. Successful candidates will manage teams, ensure project delivery on time and budget, and maintain stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing engineering projects through the full lifecycle.
• Proven ability to energise teams to meet demanding timescales.
• Knowledge and qualification in recognised methodologies (APM Body of Knowledge, PRINCE2, PMP, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide a team of Project Managers.
• Manage complex, cross-functional R&D projects.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to align project plans.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Customer management

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Project

Project Server

SAP

Job description

Overview

Senior Project Manager / Lead – Location: Chelmsford

Please note: Due to the nature of certain projects, applicants must be UK Nationals and eligible for, or already holding, security clearance.

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior Project Manager / Lead to take ownership of delivering strategic R&D and customer-funded projects. This role combines hands-on programme leadership with strategic oversight, ensuring successful outcomes that align with customer expectations, commercial goals, and organisational priorities.

You will lead a team of Project Managers, working across a matrixed environment with senior stakeholders, engineering teams, and commercial functions to enable high-quality delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide a team of Project Managers, fostering a high-performance, delivery-focused culture.
• Manage complex, cross-functional R&D and product-based projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to align project plans, resources, and milestones.
• Build and maintain strong customer and stakeholder relationships, ensuring clear communication of goals, risks, and progress.
• Champion project management best practices, governance, and tools across the portfolio.
• Develop and maintain project schedules using Microsoft Project, with reporting through Project Server and other PM tools.
• Coordinate timely Phase Gate Reviews and manage project scope, risks, and dependencies.
• Monitor budgets and financial performance, working with Finance to analyse forecasts and cost exposure.
• Present dashboards and performance updates to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Support sales and business development by contributing to bids and proposals.

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience managing engineering projects through the full lifecycle, ideally with a focus on new product development.
• Proven ability to energise teams to meet demanding timescales.
• Strong customer management skills, with the ability to balance expectations and avoid scope creep.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgement on when to escalate issues.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project and Project Server (or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of SAP is an advantage.
• Knowledge and qualification in recognised methodologies (APM Body of Knowledge, PRINCE2, PMP, or similar).