Senior Project Manager- Infrastructure/Construction

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Project Manager to lead major infrastructure and construction projects within the UK Health Security Campus Programme.

The government has committed to a multi-billion-pound investment in UKHSAs new laboratory facilities the most significant investment the UK has made in biosecurity infrastructure in a generation. These state-of-the-art laboratories, to be built at a new site in Harlow, will replace UKHSAs existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale and will be critical to the UKs public health resilience and national security for decades to come. This decision marks a pivotal moment for UKHSA and the wider government science landscape. The new facility will bring together world-class capability under one roof, enabling cuttingedge research, pandemic preparedness, and the protection of the UK from major biological threats.

The programme has a small civil service core team to deliver high value complex capital infrastructure construction programme of works. It leads, directs, manages and controls the day-to-day work. Overall, this is headed by the Programme Director, supported by Lead Project Manager, project teams, PMO and technical assurance team. The programme is supported by professional services delivery partners appointed through framework of specialist suppliers for design, technical, project management, commercial and cost management and other disciplines.

As Senior Project Manager, you will lead the day-to-day delivery of construction projects across the RIBA lifecycle. These projects are moderate to high in complexity and directly contribute to UKHSAs strategic outcomes and long-term objectives.

You will oversee end-to-end project delivery, ensuring outputs are delivered to agreed time, cost, quality and safety standards. You will have effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills and will play a key role in project governance, working with stakeholders to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefit realisation.

The post holder will also be the prime contact and leader of significant teams of outsourced professional service providers.

This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway Project Manager G7 and also includes elements that align to the Government Property Function Profession - Property and Construction Manager

The main responsibilities for this role are:

• Lead the day-to-day running of the construction infrastructure project(s) within specialised microbiology labs, science labs, health care environment, with ownership and accountability for delivering agreed outcomes within time, cost, and quality constraints.
• Provide effective leadership and line management to the project team.
• Timely drafting and submission of individual project option appraisals, feasibility reports, business cases and board papers; driving design innovation.
• Develop and maintain project plans and determine appropriate delivery methodology. Setting project controls, managing performance and report progress to sponsors.
• Design the project structure, identify skills and resource requirements appropriate to the stage, effectively managing the transition between phases.
• Lead budget development, monitor spend and ensure financial control.
• Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions, escalating as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.
• Support effective governance and decision making. Provide project reports, engaging in processes that hold you accountable for delivery.
• Engage with assurance reviews and support recommended action. Co-ordinate project assurance processes and gateway reviews.
• Set up effective change control processes, including documenting agreed changes to the project deliverables.
• Deliver the agreed business case benefits and outcomes. Monitor the longer-term delivery of benefits against the business case, ensuring an appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place.
• Identify key stakeholders, internal and external, including DHSC, HMT & Cabinet Office (NISTA) and effectively manage these relationships.
• Work with commercial teams to procure suppliers and manage supply chain performance.
• Embed wider government efficiency targets, including BIM adoption, government soft landings, early contractor engagement, and collaborative procurement approaches.
• Ensure statutory, regulatory, and government policy compliance at all stages of delivery.
• Role model commitment to personal development, promoting individual and team performance through support, guidance and coaching.
• Be an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community.

The job holder will be supported to work towards achieving Government Project Delivery or Government Property Profession Accreditation where they do not already hold this.

This list is not exhaustive.

Essential criteria:

• A proven track record of delivering multiple medium-complexity construction or infrastructure projects.
• Holds or is working towards a recognised professional qualification, such as APM PMQ/ChPP, PMI PMP, and/or CIOB, RICS, ICE or equivalent construction‑related accreditation.
• Strong experience in project governance, assurance, planning, budgeting, risk, issue and change management within a construction delivery environment.
• Experience developing business cases and option appraisals, with an understanding of benefits management.
• Knowledge and experience of the RIBA Digital Plan of Work and the full project lifecycle across design, procurement, construction, and handover.
• Robust commercial and contract management experience.
• A visible leader with strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and build relationships at senior levels.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in management of property disciplines e.g. Sustainability, Health & Safety, Fire Safety etc.