Principal Project Manager - Major Projects

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £61,784 per annum , based on a 36-hour working week

We are pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Principal Project Manager to join our dynamic Infrastructure & Major Projects Team, based in Woking, with the opportunity of working out of other SCC offices.

This is a hybrid role, offering a flexible mix of home, office, and site-based working, tailored to the needs of the projects you'll be delivering. You can expect to be in the office or on site approximately 2 days per week.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service.
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave.
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing.
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave.
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more.
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources.

About the role

In this key role, you will lead the development and delivery of complex, high-profile capital infrastructure projects. Reporting directly to the Major Projects Team Leader, your work will be instrumental in achieving our service goals and supporting the council's strategic vision.

We're looking for a proactive, solutions-focused individual with a proven track record in civil engineering/highways and a passion for delivering major infrastructure projects efficiently and effectively. This role will require you to have strong leadership skills, with the ability to develop staff, as well as the ability to show political sensitivity and awareness.

If you meet the criteria outlined in the role profile and are ready to help drive meaningful change, we encourage you to apply and be part of our journey

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following specific skills:

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification/experience in infrastructure/civil engineering/highways.
• Extensive senior-level experience in infrastructure/civil engineering/highways with a p roven ability to deliver technically complex programmes of work.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including negotiation
• The ability to effectively collaborate with both internal and external partners.
• Advanced problem-solving, analytical abilities and project management application experience.
• Risk assessment and management skills in complex environments.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and to fulfil the requirements of this role you will be required to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following application questions:

• Please describe your experience in leading the development and delivery of complex capital infrastructure projects. Include examples that demonstrate your ability to manage technically challenging programmes and how your work contributed to strategic service goals.
• Tell us about a time you collaborated with internal and external partners to deliver a major infrastructure or highways project. What challenges did you face, and how did you use your communication and negotiation skills to overcome them?

Contact us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 7th September 2025 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours .

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.