Senior Project Manager - estates transformation

Job Benefits:

great benefits and generous pension scheme - 20% contribution

Senior Project Manager - Estates

Hybrid Working: Expected campus presence (3 days on site min)

Salary Band:

c. £71k base, with flexibility up to c. £80-82k for an exceptional candidate

Role Overview

A well known university is seeking a Senior Project Manager to take ownership of a major live redevelopment project within its capital programme.

This is a critical appointment supporting the delivery of the university's wider estate transformation agenda.

The successful candidate will assume responsibility for a major live construction project currently in delivery and ensure successful completion against programme, budget, governance and stakeholder expectations.

This is a high-profile role with direct impact on institutional growth, academic expansion, and campus transformation.

Strategic Context

The university is actively reshaping its estate around two strategic campus identities:

Campus 1

Strategic focus includes:

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Biosciences
• Potential future dentistry provision
• Expansion of health-focused teaching and research infrastructure

Campus 2

Strategic focus includes:

• AI
• Data
• Advanced computing
• Technology-led growth initiatives

All senior capital roles operate within the broader Connected Campus Portfolio, ensuring consistency and strategic alignment across the university estate.

The Opportunity

This Senior Project Manager will take lead responsibility for:

• Approx. £53m total investment
• Live construction project
• Currently approximately 3 months into delivery
• Major institutional priority
• Critical to future academic growth

This will be the candidate's principal and near full-time focus.

Core Responsibilities - Project Delivery

Lead end-to-end delivery of the Stratford redevelopment project through live construction.

Responsibilities include:

• Construction delivery oversight
• Programme management
• Contractor management
• Consultant coordination
• Risk management
• Change control
• Stakeholder reporting
• Governance compliance
• Quality oversight
• Completion / handover / defects management

Construction Leadership

The role requires someone confident operating in a live major project environment, including:

• Groundworks
• Foundations
• Piling
• Main contractor oversight
• Construction programme management
• Completion and operational handover

Team Leadership

Likely direct management of:

• 1 Project Manager
• 1 Assistant Project Manager (potential)

Candidate should therefore have prior people management exposure.

Stakeholder Management

Engagement with:

• Head of Capital Projects
• Programme Manager (once appointed)
• Senior university leadership
• Internal stakeholders across estates / academic functions
• External consultants
• Contractors
• Commercial / finance colleagues

Governance & Controls

Candidate must be comfortable operating within structured capital governance frameworks, including:

• Programme reporting
• Cost scrutiny
• Risk escalation
• Contract awareness
• Formal decision-making routes