Senior Project Manager, NEC Contracts

Canal & River Trust; England; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead impactful civil engineering projects across the beautiful waterways of England. This role offers a unique opportunity to manage the construction of new bridges and enhance community access to our canal network. You will work closely with diverse stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget. Join a passionate team dedicated to preserving our heritage and improving the wellbeing of millions. With a focus on work-life balance and personal growth, this position promises a fulfilling career in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Car Cash Allowance

Contributory DC Pension Scheme

25 Days Paid Holiday

Home Working Status

Annual Learning & Growth Award

Free Access to Counselling Services

Employee Discounts

Paid Volunteering Leave

Free Fishing Facilities

Qualifications

• Degree in a related discipline required, with project management experience.
• Understanding of safety regulations and contract management essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver projects from conception to completion.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety policies and manage project budgets.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders and manage project risks.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Budgeting and Cost Control

Health and Safety Compliance

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

IT Skills (MS Project)

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or Project Management

Project Management Accreditation (e.g., APM, Prince2)

Tools

SAP

MS Project

Job description

Job Purpose

Job Title: Senior Project Manager

Advertised Salary: £42,500 - £45,000 + car cash allowance (£5,100 p.a.) + benefits (see 'what we offer' section)

Location: Remote, with regular travel across our Northwest canal network.

We are currently looking for a Senior Project Manager to join our high-performing delivery team. The opportunities are within our dedicated team of project managers delivering our £20m programme of externally funded projects and our core programme of canal infrastructure works.

Our projects focus on ensuring more people have access and ability to use our towpath and waterway network, ultimately benefiting millions of people across England & Wales.

The main focus of this role initially will be to manage and deliver two new bridges as part of the overarching Montgomery Canal restoration project in Powys, involving contractor and stakeholder management. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use your skills to build two new structures in a challenging legislative environment. Upon completion of this work (February 2026), you would then begin to deliver a wider range of civil engineering projects across our canal network, including bridges, locks, reservoirs, embankments, and culverts.

You will use your skills and expertise to develop and deliver projects from start to finish, working with our teams of third-party funders, heritage managers, ecologists, engineers, local communities, and contractors. You will look for efficiencies and opportunities and be accountable for project safety, delivering safely to the highest standard.

As one of our Senior Project Managers, you will be within the Asset Improvement Team and play an important role in supporting our vision and delivering our Waterways and Wellbeing strategy, ensuring our national waterways are improved, managed, and maintained for our visitors, customers, and service users.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

In this role, you will be working with diverse stakeholders and partners to deliver projects from conception through to successful completion. You will be managing medium, higher risk, and complex projects, requiring an understanding of how to select and adopt different processes and methods to ensure that the project delivers its objectives on time and budget.

You don't need to have worked in a charity before, but we believe we can offer you an exciting change of environment and impactful projects to support and manage. Our towpaths and various historic assets provide a refreshing backdrop and unique working environment. As Senior Project Manager with the Canal & River Trust, you will further develop your already impressive skill set and project management career in an organisation that values wellbeing and work-life balance.

Key Accountabilities:

• Manage projects in accordance with the Trust’s Health and Safety policy and defined standards to ensure compliance.
• Capture project requirements, assess customer and stakeholder impact, and prepare a business case to justify investment in a project.
• Develop, implement and monitor a schedule of project activities and key milestones to achieve the project objectives.
• Provide financial and cost management, estimating and justifying project costs while controlling expenditure and evaluating outcomes.
• Carry out budgeting and cost control; estimate costs, develop and agree project budgets, and control forecast and actual costs against the budgets.
• Assign, lead and motivate the project team to ensure all project objectives are achieved.
• Manage risks, issues, and changes on the project.
• Maintain communications with stakeholders and the project team/organisation to satisfy their differing needs.
• Manage all contracts applicable to the project, ensuring commercial control and compliance.
• Handover and closure of the project in a controlled manner, highlighting areas for improvements or good practices for future projects.
• Provide environmental management by appraising the environmental impact of the project activities and ensuring that all controls and requirements are implemented.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours, ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life.

About You:

Qualifications:

• Degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline e.g., Civil Engineering, Project Management.
• Valid UK driving licence - Car Cash allowance & regional/national travel is expected.
• [Desirable] Minimum Technician/Associate level membership of an appropriate professional body (e.g., ICE, APM, RICS).
• [Desirable] Project/Programme Management accreditation/qualification (e.g., APM Project Management Qualification, MSP, Prince2).

Experience:

• Previous Project Management experience with a proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge of project management processes and systems.
• Knowledge and experience of Managing Safety in Construction, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.
• NEC Contract Management experience.
• Experience of SAP particularly in the Logistics, Accounting and Information System modules [Desirable].

General Skills:

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Proven ability to manage resources and coordinate work carried out by different people and organisations.
• Effective at planning, monitoring and reviewing all project activities.
• Ability to develop and agree budgets for projects, control forecasts and actual costs.
• Ability to motivate and encourage others, working as part of a team and on your own initiative.
• Good problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve conflicts and successfully influence and negotiate.
• Good IT skills, including intermediate use of MS Project.
• Hold a valid driving license.

To Apply: Click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV. If you have any questions about the role please contact [e-mail]

The Trust has recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcomes applicants from the Service Leaver community.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What We Offer

In addition to your salary of £42,500 - £45,000, you will benefit from a Car Cash Allowance of £425 per month, a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement, and numerous other employee benefits.

Other benefits include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing with years of service to up to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts, and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust, we care passionately for our waterways and those who look after and use them. We believe that a diverse workforce brings a diversity of ideas, thinking, and ways of working which enhances our Trust. We welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

When you join the Canal & River Trust, you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us