Senior Project Manager / Project Director - Client Side

Michael Page (UK); London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Project Manager/Director to lead high-impact development projects in a dynamic, investor-backed environment. This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic investment decisions while ensuring project delivery meets stringent quality and regulatory standards. The successful candidate will leverage their extensive experience in real estate and construction to foster strong relationships with stakeholders, manage risks, and drive value creation. Join a collaborative culture focused on excellence and make a significant impact in the development sector.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in real estate development or construction projects.
• Proven experience in senior client-side or consultancy roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of development projects from due diligence to handover.
• Ensure project delivery aligns with budget and investor expectations.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Project Delivery

Construction Knowledge

Risk Management

Budget Monitoring

Education

Degree in Construction

Degree in Project Management

MRICS / MCIOB Accreditation

Job description

Senior Client-Side SPM/PD Opportunity

• Working with a Private Equity-backed business delivery projects in the UK

About Our Client

• Operate at the heart of a high-growth, investor-backed development platform.
• Gain exposure to strategic investment decisions and board-level reporting.
• Lead the delivery of high-impact, high-value projects with autonomy and support.
• Join a collaborative, performance-led culture focused on delivery excellence and value creation.

Job Description

This leadership role is ideal for an experienced Senior Project Manager / Project Director with a track record in managing high-value development and construction projects, especially in sectors such as education, residential, mixed-use, or commercial real estate.

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of development projects, from site due diligence, design management, and planning, to procurement, construction, and handover.
• Ensure delivery aligns with budget, programme, and investor expectations, implementing best-in-class governance, reporting, and project controls.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, investors, and internal senior leadership.
• Translate strategic objectives into delivery action plans and ensure alignment across internal/external project teams.
• Build strong, transparent relationships with architects, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor budgets, cashflows, and cost control mechanisms.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive risk registers and proactively manage potential issues through contingency planning.
• Oversee detailed programming, resource allocation, and construction sequencing to maintain control of critical milestones.
• Ensure quality assurance processes meet or exceed UK regulations, building standards, and best practices, especially for sectors like education.
• Drive compliance with health & safety legislation and local authority planning/building control requirements.
• Lead external project teams including PMs, QSs, engineers, and contractors, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.
• Mentor and support junior project staff or consultants involved in delivery.
• Produce board-level and investor-facing reports, including progress updates, risk assessments, cost summaries, and programme reviews.
• Ensure all project documentation, contracts, schedules, change orders, and reports are complete and audit-ready.

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate will bring sharp commercial acumen, deep construction knowledge, and outstanding stakeholder management capabilities to help drive value, reduce risk, and ensure timely, high-quality project delivery.

To be considered:

• 10+ years of experience delivering real estate development or construction projects, with at least 5 years in a senior, client-side or consultancy role.
• Proven experience as a Client Representative or Senior PM/PD in complex projects, ideally with exposure to education, residential, or commercial developments.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts (JCT/NEC), and development feasibility.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with autonomy and sound commercial judgment.
• Degree in Construction, Project Management, Engineering, or equivalent. MRICS / MCIOB or equivalent accreditation is highly desirable.

What's on Offer

A competitive salary and a good bonus/benefits package.