Senior Project Manager

Unispace; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Unispace in Christchurch, New Zealand, is seeking a Senior Project Manager to own large, complex commercial interior projects from early conversations to handover.

You will lead the programme, budget, forecasting and client relationships, mentoring junior staff and coordinating design, construction and site teams. The role supports hybrid working in a global studio network.

You’ll need 10+ years in design and construction delivery with strong financial and stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• Senior PM with experience in commercial construction and workplace interiors.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, forecast; drive cost control.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, complex projects from planning through close-out.
• Own programme, budget, and client relationships during delivery.
• Coordinate subcontractors, suppliers and site teams.
• Guide design and technical teams to deliver built spaces.
• Mentor delivery team members and raise delivery standards.

Skills

Client relationship

Budgeting

Forecasting

Subcontractor management

Leadership

Job description

Senior Project Manager

Christchurch, New Zealand | Unispace

Build spaces people actually want to work in.

At Unispace, we don’t just deliver workplaces. We bring strategy, design, construction and delivery together under one roof to create spaces for some of the world’s most exciting brands.

And we’re growing our team in Christchurch.

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager who wants to take real ownership of complex commercial interior and workplace projects — leading them from the early conversations right through to handover.

This is a senior delivery role with genuine influence. You’ll be trusted with our clients, our projects and our people, and you’ll have the backing of a global business with 48 studios worldwide and an integrated approach that removes many of the traditional barriers between design and construction.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll take the lead on large and complex projects, owning the programme, commercials, client relationship and overall delivery.

That means:

• Leading projects from initial planning through construction and close-out
• Becoming a trusted partner to our clients and owning the relationship throughout delivery
• Managing programme, budget, forecasting, risk, resources and project performance
• Leading client, consultant and stakeholder meetings
• Coordinating subcontractors, suppliers and site teams
• Working closely with our design and technical teams to turn great concepts into exceptional built spaces
• Keeping a close eye on quality, safety, commercial performance and the detail that makes a project successful
• Mentoring and supporting less experienced members of the delivery team
• Helping us continually raise the bar for how projects are delivered at Unispace

It’s a broad role, and that’s the point. We want someone who enjoys being close to the client, close to the project and close to the outcome rather than operating in one narrow part of the delivery process. The underlying role carries responsibility for everything from subcontractor management and site quality through to budgeting, forecasting and cost control.

What we’re looking for

You’ll already have significant Project Management experience within commercial construction, workplace interiors, fit-out or a closely related design & build environment.

More importantly, you’ll know how to run a project.

You’ll be comfortable owning difficult conversations, making decisions, managing competing priorities and keeping clients confident even when things get complicated.

You’ll likely bring:

• Strong experience delivering complex commercial construction or interior projects
• Excellent client-facing skills
• Solid commercial awareness across budgets, forecasting and cost control
• Strong knowledge of construction methodology and subcontractor management
• The confidence to lead project teams and influence senior stakeholders
• A collaborative approach — because our integrated model means Delivery, Design and other disciplines genuinely work together
• The ability to stay calm, organised and solutions-focused when the pressure is on

The formal brief calls for circa 10+ years’ project management experience within design and construction, alongside strong financial, client and construction knowledge.

Why Unispace?

Because we do things differently.

Our end-to-end model brings workplace strategy, design, project delivery and construction together in one global business. It means better collaboration, faster decisions and the opportunity to work much closer to the full lifecycle of a project than you often can in a traditional consultancy or contractor.

You’ll join an ambitious global organisation while still being part of a local team where your impact is visible.

We offer flexible and hybrid working, genuine opportunities for career development, and a culture built around talented people being trusted to do great work.

If you’re an experienced Project Manager in Christchurch who wants bigger ownership, stronger client exposure and the opportunity to deliver genuinely brilliant workplaces, we’d love to hear from you.