Senior Project Manager

Role Overview

• Lead, or support the leadership of, the Roads & Bridges package from design and procurement through construction, testing, handover and close-out.
• Maintain ownership of defined scope, programme, cost, quality, risk and safety outcomes, proportionate to role level.
• Coordinate delivery inputs across client, consultant, contractor, statutory authority and internal RLB teams.
• Establish clear priorities, decision routes and governance rhythms to support timely delivery.
• Manage the planning and delivery of highways, roads, bridges, earthworks, drainage, utilities interfaces and associated infrastructure works.
• Apply knowledge of relevant UK infrastructure standards, including DMRB and local authority highway requirements.
• Support technical assurance, design reviews, constructability reviews and delivery readiness assessments.
• Ensure design, procurement and delivery solutions are buildable, safe, cost-effective, and aligned to programme objectives.
• Lead or manage interfaces where works are in proximity to operational railways, including possessions, access constraints, asset protection requirements, approvals, safety protocols and interface risk management.
• Coordinate with Network Rail, rail operators, designers, contractors and the client team to ensure railway interface risks are identified, controlled and escalated appropriately.
• Ensure that design and construction methodologies properly address proximity to live rail assets, railway operational constraints and third-party approval requirements.
• Plan and manage works affecting or adjacent to live highways environments, including traffic management, temporary works, site access, public interface, road safety, abnormal loads and construction logistics.
• Coordinate with National Highways, local highway authorities, emergency services, utility providers and contractors to minimise disruption and maintain safe continuity of highway operations.
• Ensure logistics strategies support phased delivery, workforce access, materials movement, traffic routing, compound planning and safe segregation between construction activity and live highway users.
• Embed RLB’s model for major programme delivery, using UK private-sector best practice as the starting point for excellence.
• Champion early supply chain engagement, outcome-based delivery, fair risk allocation, value-based procurement and disciplined change control.
• Promote digital information management, BIM-aligned working, productivity measurement, modern methods of construction and whole-life carbon awareness where appropriate.
• Manage interfaces with National Highways, Network Rail, local authorities, utility providers, adjacent packages and internal programme functions.
• Support timely submission, review and approval of statutory, technical and regulatory documentation.
• Build effective working relationships with senior client, stakeholder, contractor and consultant representatives.
• Support procurement strategy, tender documentation, evaluation and appointment processes for design and construction contracts.
• Manage contractor mobilisation, site access, logistics planning, performance reporting and delivery issue resolution.
• Work closely with cost management, commercial and project controls colleagues to protect client outcomes.
• Identify, manage and escalate design, approvals, logistics, interface, safety, programme and commercial risks.
• Contribute to package reporting including progress, milestones, constraints, decisions, risks, opportunities, cost, quality, safety and carbon.
• Support robust governance, change control, lessons learned and continuous improvement across the programme.

Requirements

• Proven experience delivering roads, highways, bridges or major civil infrastructure projects in a consultancy, contractor, client or public-sector infrastructure environment.
• Experience working on complex multi-stakeholder programmes with statutory authority, utility, rail and highways interfaces.
• Experience of NEC forms of contract and major infrastructure governance environments is desirable.
• For SPM level: ability to lead defined workstreams and manage contractor / designer interfaces with limited supervision.
• For Associate / Senior Associate level: ability to lead significant packages, manage senior stakeholders and take accountability for delivery outcomes.
• Understanding of UK highways and infrastructure delivery requirements, including DMRB, local authority highways and bridge-related design / delivery processes.
• Practical understanding of working near operational railways, live highway environments, traffic management and construction logistics.
• Strong programme, risk, change, reporting, stakeholder and interface management capability.
• Able to translate technical constraints into actionable delivery plans and decisions.
• Construction project management, civil engineering or related qualification preferred, or equivalent technical delivery experience.
• Membership of an appropriate professional body such as APM, ICE, RICS, CIOB or equivalent is desirable.

Benefits

• We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where each person can be themselves, feel valued for their contribution and be challenged and supported to reach their full potential.
• We have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live and work, and that our workforce should reflect these communities and our clients.
• Our talent strategy should enable us to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Hybrid Working
• Working patterns to support your work-life balance.
• As well as competitive maternity and paternity packages.
• A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement.
• As well as the opportunity to purchase up to five extra days.
• We offer a number of health and wellness options, including gym membership and cycle to work schemes.
• Private healthcare insurance and medical support, including dental insurance and eyecare vouchers.
• A continuous learning and development programme, including established APC and in-house mentoring schemes.
• We offer a wide range of benefits including a season ticket loan and professional membership subscriptions.
• You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different sectors and regions.
• We hold team and social events as well as charity fundraising and volunteering activities.