Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager

ESP is seeking an experienced and driven Senior Project Manager to join its successful business to lead the end-to-end delivery of complex multi-utility infrastructure projects within our Major Projects proposition.

The role will include oversight of major electrical infrastructure projects, including EHV/HV cable networks, primary substations and grid connection infrastructure up to and including 132kV.

You will be joining a highly successful and growing team, committed to high delivery standards and a customer-centric mindset.

This is a senior leadership role aligned to the Association for Project Management (APM) Body of Knowledge 7th Edition and the APM Competence Framework, requiring demonstrable experience managing large-scale programmes under NEC/JCT contractual frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible, amongst other tasks, for:

• Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and close-out of major multi-utility infrastructure projects, including HV/EHV electrical networks up to and including 132kV, potable water, wastewater, district heating/cooling, EV infrastructure and associated civil engineering works.
• Develop and maintain integrated delivery programmes with critical path analysis and milestone tracking aligned to the APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control competency.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, and cost reporting in line with the APM Budgeting and Cost Management competency, including early identification of compensation events under NEC4 and JCT contracts.
• Lead multi-stakeholder coordination across clients, statutory undertakers (UKPN, Anglian Water, Network Rail), designers, and subcontractors, demonstrating APM Stakeholder Management competencies.
• Apply structured risk management aligned to the APM Risk Management competency, maintaining live risk registers with quantified impact assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure full CDM 2015 compliance including oversight of Pre-Construction Information, Construction Phase Plans, and the Health and Safety File.
• Lead pre-construction planning activities, ensuring scope, programme, risk, constructability and stakeholder requirements are fully considered prior to project delivery.
• Lead the planning, delivery, testing and commissioning of complex electrical infrastructure works, including HV/EHV cable installations, primary substations and associated grid connection infrastructure up to and including 132kV.
• Manage electrical network interfaces with DNOs, IDNOs, ICPs and specialist electrical contractors, ensuring compliance with relevant industry standards, technical specifications and energisation requirements.
• Manage third-party consents and asset adoption processes, including Network Rail BAPA/APA approvals, Section 104/106 agreements and compliance with relevant utility accreditation schemes such as NERS and WIRS.
• Lead contract administration, including Early Warnings, Compensation Events and change control.
• Manage interfaces between utility packages and wider construction works, ensuring programme alignment and avoidance of clashes.
• Provide project governance and reporting to senior leadership on programme, cost, risk, safety and quality performance.
• Oversee testing, commissioning and handover of utility assets to operational teams and adopting authorities.
• Mentor and develop junior project staff, fostering professional development consistent with APM’s emphasis on leadership and people management.

Person Specification

• Confident managing multiple priorities and competing demands, maintaining a high level of professionalism, organisation and accountability.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to perform effectively in changing, uncertain or challenging circumstances.
• Able to deliver quality outcomes within demanding timescales, whilst maintaining a strong attention to detail and focus on project objectives.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build effective relationships and collaborate successfully across multidisciplinary teams and with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proactive and self-motivated, demonstrating sound judgement, initiative and a commitment to continuous professional development.
• Commercially aware with the ability to manage risk, challenge constructively and support informed decision-making.
• Highly numerate and proficient in Microsoft Office and project management systems.
• Able to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally, exercising discretion and professionalism when handling commercially sensitive information.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, capable of driving performance and fostering a positive, collaborative team environment.

Key Skills & Experience

Essential

• Minimum 7 years’ experience delivering utility, infrastructure or civil engineering projects, with responsibility for programme, cost, risk and stakeholder management.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Proven experience delivering infrastructure works within large-scale mixed-use developments, regeneration programmes or major utility projects.
• Proven experience delivering HV and EHV electrical infrastructure projects up to and including 132kV, including cable installations, primary substations, switchgear, protection systems and associated civil engineering works.
• Demonstrable experience managing the planning, construction, testing, commissioning and energisation of electrical infrastructure projects up to and including 132kV.
• Experience managing statutory undertaker interfaces and approvals, including organisations such as DNOs, water companies, Network Rail and local authorities.
• Experience managing utility diversions, new connections, asset adoptions and third-party approvals.
• Experience managing interfaces with DNOs, IDNOs, ICPs and National Grid / transmission network operators in relation to grid connections, outages, energisation activities and network approvals.
• Strong understanding of NEC4 and/or JCT contracts, including change control, compensation events and commercial management principles.
• Experience developing, managing and reporting project programmes using MS Project and/or Primavera P6.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, consultants, contractors and specialist utility providers through all phases of project delivery.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including advanced Excel skills for project reporting and analysis.
• Knowledge of CDM 2015 requirements.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites as required.

Desirable

• APM PMQ, ChPP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent project management qualification.
• Membership of APM, IET or another relevant professional institution.
• SMSTS and CSCS Manager Card.
• Knowledge of utility industry accreditation schemes and adoption processes, including NERS, WIRS and district energy/heat network standards.
• Experience using SharePoint, Power BI and project controls/reporting systems.

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