Senior Project Manager (PMCM Rail)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Health & wellbeing

Inclusive culture

Flexible working

Professional development

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking a Senior Project Manager for its PMCM Rail team to lead complex rail projects across the UK. You will ensure safety, quality and on-time delivery within budget, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and engaging with clients and stakeholders.

The role offers hybrid working with in-office collaboration and opportunities for professional development, Chartered status, and formal project management qualifications through the APM pathway.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or management with a relevant discipline.
• Chartered membership or near status desirable.
• Experience in managing major rail projects and programmes.
• Experience with organisations such as Network Rail, HS2, TfGM or other rail bodies.
• Knowledge of NEC3/4 contracts and cost control.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage risks.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate disciplines through meetings and workshops to address issues, ensuring safety, functionality and regulatory compliance.
• Establish robust processes and procedures to manage the project with the client team.
• Act as principal client contact, ensuring needs and expectations are met through design and construction.
• Develop and manage client relationships through effective listening and influencing skills.
• Prepare monthly project reports and data-based scenarios for senior managers clarity.
• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and authorities.
• Facilitate regular project meetings, presentations and progress reports.
• Address stakeholder concerns and manage expectations effectively.
• Manage contracts in line with NEC4; oversee budgets, cost estimation, tracking and reporting.
• Optimize resource utilization and ensure financial performance aligns with project goals.
• Review and approve project expenditures and invoices.
• Identify and mitigate risks; implement risk mitigation measures for design and construction phases.
• Create, manage and action RFIs and early warnings to reduce project risk.

Skills

Safety leadership

CDM regulations

Project management

Budgeting & cost control

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Communication

Leadership

Education

Engineering/Management degree

Chartered membership (advantageous)

APM/MSP/PMI/PRINCE2/Six Sigma certs (beneficial)

NEC4 Project Manager accreditation

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

We are a diverse, inclusive and enthusiastic team of Project, Commercial and Design Managers working in the Rail sector, focused on delivering solutions for our clients. Our passion comes from creating and shaping the built environment through tailored project delivery as we strive to be the best in class.

As a Senior Project Manager at WSP in the PMCM Rail team you will be responsible for leading the delivery of complex rail projects of regional, national and international significance. You will ensure that the projects are delivered safely to a high‑quality standard, in a timely manner, and in compliance with the budget.

At WSP, our Senior Project Managers are individuals who can make a difference, pro‑actively manage requirements, budgets, schedules and risks, and influence others to deliver successfully together. They have strong technical capabilities and communicate clearly, with excellent problem‑solving abilities, and are willing to take on new challenges. We collaborate closely with external clients and with multi‑disciplinary project teams and, to deliver most effectively, we utilise WSP offices, client offices and/or site locations to deliver programmes of strategic regional and national importance.

Our culture encourages and supports a successful work‑life balance and we encourage all our people to embrace this approach. You will be based in one of our modern, vibrant offices, situated in great city‑centre locations across the UK. WSP actively supports flexible working with the expectation for you to be in an office environment a minimum of three days a week to support and integrate with your colleagues and clients. You will, on occasion, visit sites.

With WSP you have the exceptional opportunity to take the next step in your career, build on your experience and qualifications and achieve your ambitions. We offer excellent support in personal development and growth as part of our local teams and across the wider WSP business, including, for example, the opportunity to gain formal project management qualifications through the APM pathway.

A Little More About Your Role

• Coordinating relevant disciplines through project meetings and target‑led workshops, enabling critical issues to be resolved in a timely manner, and ensuring the project meets safety, functional and regulatory requirements.
• Establishing robust processes and procedures to manage the project, in conjunction with the client’s team.
• Acting as a principal point of contact for the client, ensuring their needs and expectations are met through both the design and construction phases.
• Developing and managing client relationships, through effective listening and influencing skills.
• Being accountable for monthly project reports and data‑based scenarios, to provide senior managers clarity of project position.
• Leading the engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, local authorities and community groups.
• Facilitating regular project meetings, presentations and progress reports.
• Addressing stakeholder concerns and managing expectations effectively.
• Managing contract in line with contract rules of engagement (including NEC3/4).
• Managing project budgets, including cost estimation, tracking and reporting.
• Optimising resource utilisation and ensuring financial performance aligns with project goals.
• Reviewing and approving project expenditures and invoices.
• Managing changes and delays affecting the project and ensuring these are resolved or mitigated accordingly, and ensuring project management processes are consistently improved and implemented, e.g. change control.
• Identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with the design and construction phases and establishing risk mitigation measures to suit.
• Creating, managing and actioning RFIs, early warnings and general communications to reduce project risk and ensure successful project delivery.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• Being a safety leader, driving safety performance and compliance with Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations. Discharge CDM duties as required by the client.
• Ensuring all activities are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, adhering to corporate governance and standards.
• Defining project scope, goals and deliverables in collaboration with client and stakeholders.
• Creating, managing and actioning detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, resource allocation and risk management.
• Overseeing project execution, ensuring adherence to project plans and schedules.
• Being accountable for project progress, identifying potential issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Driving innovative design and construction solutions and implementing processes to enhance project efficiency and productivity. Evaluating and integrating new technologies and methodologies to improve project performance.
• A degree in a relevant engineering or management discipline (such as project or construction management, engineering, science or building).
• Chartered membership of a relevant professional body, or nearing completion of this status would be advantageous.
• APM, MSP, PMI, PRINCE2, Six Sigma certifications are considered beneficial.
• Experience in project management, including technical and project management and project controls.
• Experience working on significant projects with demonstrated client‑side project delivery (design and build).
• Experience working with organisations such as Network Rail, HS2, TfGM and other rail‑related entities is seen as advantageous.
• Proven ability to manage successful workstreams and programmes within a multi‑disciplinary delivery team.
• Demonstrates curiosity, is solution‑focused and responsive to client issues.
• NEC4 Project Manager accreditation.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy – flexible work from home two days a week and opportunities to collaborate in modern offices across the UK.
• Work‑life balance support – time for family, friends, interests and community.
• Commitment to inclusivity and belonging – employee resource groups and an inclusive culture.
• Health & wellbeing – Thrive programme, virtual GP, Gymflex scheme, menopause support.
• Flexible working arrangements – part‑time options, purchase of additional leave, flexible bank holiday entitlement.
• Development – training, mentoring, chartership and support for formal project management qualifications.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.

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