Project Director / Portfolio Director - Civil Engineering

About the role Job Title: Project Director / Portfolio Director - Civil Engineering

Location: Raynesway, Derby / Major UK Defence Infrastructure Project

Company: Balfour Beatty

Project: Defence Infrastructure / Civil Engineering

Given the nature of the programme, the successful candidate must hold, or be able to obtain, UK Security Check (SC) clearance.

About the role

Balfour Beatty has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Partner Delivery Lead / Project Director / Portfolio Director to take a senior leadership role on a major, long-term UK defence infrastructure programme.

This is a significant civil engineering leadership position, responsible for the successful end-to-end delivery of a major portfolio/package of infrastructure works - from planning and design through construction, commissioning and final handover.

We are looking for an established project leader with a strong civil engineering background, particularly across infrastructure such as highways and roads, drainage, utilities, flood defence, underground services, earthworks and major groundworks.

You will lead a multidisciplinary delivery organisation comprising Balfour Beatty project and construction management teams, the external Design Partner, technical specialists, functional leads, supply-chain partners and other key stakeholders, ensuring the programme achieves its objectives across safety, programme, cost, quality, scope and risk.

What you'll be doing As Partner Delivery Lead, you will take overall leadership responsibility for the successful delivery of your portfolio or delivery package.

You will:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of a major civil engineering infrastructure portfolio/package, from mobilisation and design through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Provide senior leadership across the Balfour Beatty delivery organisation and external Design Partner, creating a genuinely integrated approach to project delivery.
• Lead and coordinate design, engineering and construction teams, ensuring the design is buildable, coordinated, commercially viable and aligned with programme requirements.
• Develop and implement the delivery strategy, ensuring clear ownership, milestones, KPIs and performance measures across all delivery partners.
• Lead complex civil engineering works including roads, highways, drainage, utilities, flood defence infrastructure, underground services, earthworks and groundworks.
• Provide leadership to Project Managers, Construction Managers, Design Managers, engineering teams, technical specialists and partner organisations.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities and interfaces between Balfour Beatty, the Design Partner, client teams and the wider supply chain.
• Drive collaboration between design and construction teams to identify risks, resolve technical challenges and improve buildability and programme certainty.
• Maintain a strong focus on health, safety, environment and Zero Harm, setting clear expectations across employees, partners and the supply chain.
• Maintain control of portfolio/project performance across time, cost, quality, risk and scope.
• Own the budget, cost control and financial performance within the agreed cost plan and delegated authority.
• Lead project risk, opportunity and change management, ensuring issues are identified, managed and escalated appropriately.
• Oversee procurement, mobilisation and performance of key subcontractors, suppliers and delivery partners.
• Build strong relationships with the client, external Design Partner, project sponsors, senior leadership teams, statutory bodies, stakeholders and partner organisations.
• Ensure appropriate governance, assurance and reporting processes are established and maintained.
• Drive strong commercial and contractual management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Champion collaboration across organisational boundaries and create a high-performing, integrated project team.
• Ensure customer quality expectations, technical requirements and project assurance requirements are achieved throughout delivery.
• Drive productivity, continuous improvement and effective use of project data and digital systems.

Who we're looking for This is a senior delivery position and we are looking for someone with a strong track record of leading large, complex civil engineering or infrastructure projects and portfolios.

You will ideally have significant experience across several of the following:

• Highways and road construction
• Major groundworks and earthworks
• Drainage and underground drainage systems
• Utilities and utility diversions
• Underground infrastructure and services
• Flood defence and water-related infrastructure
• Structures and associated civil engineering works
• Complex multidisciplinary infrastructure projects
• Major subcontract and supply-chain management

You will also have:

• Proven experience operating at Project Director, Portfolio Director, Project Lead, Senior Project Manager or equivalent senior delivery level on major civil engineering projects.
• Experience leading integrated teams across contractors, designers, consultants and delivery partners.
• Strong experience managing the interface between design and construction on complex infrastructure programmes.
• The ability to lead and influence external Design Partners and ensure design delivery supports construction, programme and commercial objectives.
• A strong understanding of construction delivery from design and pre-construction through to commissioning and handover.
• Strong knowledge of standard forms of construction contract.
• Demonstrable commercial awareness with experience managing significant project budgets and cost plans.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to lead, influence and motivate large multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing multiple contractors, delivery partners and specialist supply-chain organisations.
• Strong risk, change and opportunity management experience.
• The ability to develop and implement project and portfolio delivery strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the confidence to operate with senior clients and project leadership teams.
• A strong understanding of project governance, performance management and reporting.
• A relevant construction, engineering or project-management qualification, or equivalent experience.
• CSCS and SMSTS or equivalent would be advantageous.
• APM or other relevant professional membership would also be advantageous.

Security clearance requirements

Due to the nature of the Defence programme, this role is subject to security requirements.

Candidates must:

Hold, or be capable of obtaining, UK Security Clearance (SC) level clearance.

The preferred candidate will be a sole UK national. Dual nationals may be considered; however, this will be subject to approval by the client.

Eligibility to obtain the required security clearance will therefore form an important part of the recruitment process.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to take a key leadership position on one of the UK's major defence infrastructure programmes, delivering complex civil engineering works that will provide critical national infrastructure for many years to come.

You will lead across Balfour Beatty, our external Design Partner and the wider delivery supply chain, shaping how a complex portfolio of civil engineering works is designed, planned, constructed and successfully handed over.

For further information about Balfour Beatty Scotland, please visit the Balfour Beatty careers website.

Why work for us Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more

About us Operating across England and Wales, our buildings teams create places where people live, are cared for, work, learn, meet and have fun, with a focus on the aviation, health, defence, education and development sectors.

Diversity and inclusion At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit
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