Senior Project Manager (PMCM Rail)

WSP; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Professional development

Flexible working

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Project Manager for the PMCM Rail team to lead delivery of complex rail projects of regional, national, and international significance. You will manage safety, budgets, schedules and compliance, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and clients across UK offices and on-site locations.

You will drive risk mitigation, client engagement, and reporting, with opportunities to gain formal project management qualifications through the APM pathway.

Qualifications

• Safety-focused, drives safety performance and CDM compliance.
• Defines project scope, goals and deliverables with client.
• Creates and manages detailed project plans (timeline, budget, resources, risk).
• Manages client relationships and stakeholder expectations.
• Oversees project progress and corrective actions.
• Experience with multi-disciplinary delivery and client-side design and build.
• Experience with NEC4 contracts.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate disciplines through meetings and workshops to meet safety and regulatory requirements.
• Establish robust project processes with the Client's team.
• Act as principal client contact through design and construction.
• Develop and manage client relationships via listening and influencing.
• Prepare monthly project reports and data-driven scenarios for senior managers.
• Lead engagement with regulators, authorities, community groups.
• Facilitate regular meetings, presentations, progress reports.
• Manage changes/delays and risk mitigation.
• Ensure cost estimation, tracking, and invoice review.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Client relations

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Safety leadership

CDM regulations

NEC4 experience

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Engineering or management degree

Chartered professional body (advantageous)

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Overview

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, focussed 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, in a timely manner, and compliant with 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 that 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.
• Be 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 manage 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 ensure 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.
• Accountable for project progress, identifying potential issues, and implement corrective actions.
• Driving innovative design and construction solutions and implement processes to enhance project efficiency and productivity. Evaluate and integrate 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.

About Us

We are one of the world\'s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

What’s in it for you?

• Work-life balance: Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• Health & Wellbeing: We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
• Flex your time: To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• Your development: We understand the importance of development and training to you. That's why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

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.