Strategic Project Manager

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council in Portsmouth seeks an experienced Strategic Project Manager to lead major regeneration and development projects across the city. You will oversee the full lifecycle, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets and procurement, and report to senior leaders and project boards.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking and excellent stakeholder engagement to deliver high-quality outcomes across a complex environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering complex development, regeneration, construction or infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial, contract and budget management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-working abilities.
• Ability to think strategically, solve problems and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience preparing business cases, reports and presentations for senior leaders.
• A full UK driving licence is desirable for travel to sites across the city and surrounding areas.

Responsibilities

• Leading complex regeneration and development projects from concept through to completion.
• Managing consultants, contractors, procurement activities and project budgets.
• Developing business cases, securing funding opportunities and monitoring risks and performance.
• Building effective relationships with communities, stakeholders, partners and elected Members.
• Providing clear project reporting and strategic advice to senior leaders and project boards.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Contract management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Project leadership

Education

Professional qualification in project management or equivalent

Tools

MS Project

Job description

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This is an exciting time to come and join us! You will have the opportunity to play a key role in delivering Portsmouth’s ambitious pipeline of regeneration and development projects. As Strategic Project Manager, you will oversee projects from initial site identification and viability through to planning and delivery, working with communities, partners and key stakeholders to keep Portsmouth as a great waterfront city.

Your new role

As Strategic Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of major regeneration and development projects that support Portsmouth's future growth. Working across the full project lifecycle, you will coordinate complex workstreams, manage consultants and contractors, oversee budgets and procurement activity, and ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard. You will work closely with internal teams, partners, stakeholders and local communities, providing expert project leadership, developing business cases, securing funding opportunities and reporting progress to senior leaders, elected Members and project boards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading complex regeneration and development projects from concept through to completion.
• Managing consultants, contractors, procurement activities and project budgets.
• Developing business cases, securing funding opportunities and monitoring project risks and performance.
• Building effective relationships with communities, stakeholders, partners and elected Members.
• Providing clear project reporting and strategic advice to senior leaders and project boards.

Who is the person summary:

You will be an experienced project management professional with a strong track record of delivering complex construction, development, regeneration or infrastructure projects. Able to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, you will combine commercial awareness, strategic thinking and excellent communication skills to successfully manage competing priorities and drive projects forward. You will be confident leading multidisciplinary teams, managing budgets and contracts, and delivering high-quality outcomes in a complex environment.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience managing complex development, regeneration, construction or infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial, contract and budget management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and partnership-working abilities.
• The ability to think strategically, solve problems and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Experience preparing business cases, reports and presentations for senior leaders and decision-makers.
• A relevant professional qualification in project management, construction or development, or equivalent substantial experience.
• A full UK driving licence is desirable, as the role requires regular travel to sites across the city and surrounding areas.

If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact Kevin Hudson, Head of Development: [e-mail]

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Interview date:9th - 11th November 2026

Our recruitment process

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be shortlisted.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.