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Project Manager

Job Description

Works Controller / Project Manager
Location: Stratford (Office-Based – 5 Days Per Week)
Salary: £65,000 – £70,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Works Controller / Project Manager to take full ownership of delivery, commercial performance, contractual position, and people management across a substantial programme of small schemes.

This is unequivocally a delivery leadership role — not a coordination or reporting position.

The post carries material responsibility for programme delivery, financial performance, contractual compliance, and team leadership. It requires a candidate with proven hands-on experience operating in demanding, fast-paced environments.

Candidates must demonstrate leadership of at least 10 staff (directly or indirectly).

Rail experience is desirable but not mandatory.

This role sits at the operational core of the business. Quality over volume.

Core Responsibilities (Non-Negotiable)

Programme Delivery Ownership

  • End-to-end ownership of procurement, planning, programming, scheduling, sequencing, and delivery of a large bank of small schemes

  • Full accountability for delivery dashboards, management information, reporting, and executive-level updates

  • Ownership of performance against programme, cost, quality, and operational objectives

  • Responsibility for site readiness, access planning, resource allocation, and sequencing

Commercial & Financial Management

  • Ownership of forecasting, budgeting, cost control, margin management, and variance analysis

  • Early identification and mitigation of commercial risk

  • Oversight of invoicing, Applications for Payment, and revenue assurance

  • Active margin protection and cost discipline across all works

Commercial–Delivery Integration

  • Accountability for cashflow forecasting including AfPs, certification, billing, invoicing, reconciliation, and remittance

  • Conducting periodic financial reviews and clearly explaining forecast variances to senior leadership

  • Early escalation where margins, productivity, or delivery performance begin to drift

NEC4 Contract Administration & Execution

  • Hands-on administration and execution of NEC4 contracts on live projects

  • Proactive management of contractual obligations, entitlements, and commercial protections

  • Confident handling of contractual and commercial disagreements

  • Professional, firm, and persuasive negotiation capability

People Management & Accountability (Minimum 10 Staff)

Candidates must demonstrate experience leading teams of at least 10 people.

Responsibilities include:

  • Day-to-day leadership of delivery teams including attendance, performance, output, and behavioural standards

  • Line management of examiners and surveyors

  • Setting clear expectations and holding individuals accountable

  • Addressing underperformance decisively

  • Managing grievances and difficult conversations

  • Making tough people decisions, including exiting non-performers in line with company policy

  • Developing high performers and building bench strength

This role requires genuine leadership, not nominal management.

Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement

  • Confident engagement with Directors and senior stakeholders

  • Clear articulation of delivery, commercial, and contractual positions

  • Structured escalation of risks with options and recommendations

  • Acts as a persuasive representative to clients and partners

  • Supports strategic discussions to secure additional work and increase revenue

Ownership & Judgement

  • Operates autonomously in a fast-moving environment

  • Makes decisions with incomplete information

  • Takes full accountability for outcomes

  • Delegates appropriately while retaining ownership

  • Escalates only where genuinely unavoidable

Pre-Employment Prerequisites (Mandatory Screening Gate)

  • Permanent employment only

  • Valid UK Right to Work

  • Fluent written and spoken English

  • Able to commute within one hour of Stratford

  • Office-based, 5 days per week (no hybrid working)

  • Available for core office hours

  • Must evidence leadership of 10+ people

  • Contractor / consultancy / delivery background preferred

  • Experience within SME or fast-paced environments desirable

  • Smart business attire expected

This Role Is Not Suitable For

  • Coordination-only Project Managers

  • Candidates without hands-on delivery ownership

  • Individuals without proven people leadership

  • Profiles lacking commercial accountability

  • Applicants seeking hybrid or remote working

Screening Expectation

Only candidates who can clearly evidence delivery ownership, commercial responsibility, leadership of 10+ people, and autonomous decision-making should be submitted.

If any requirement cannot be demonstrated clearly, applications will not be progressed.

Package

  • £65,000 – £70,000 per annum

  • Discretionary performance bonus

  • Benefits package

  • Tesla Model 3

Final offer will reflect depth of delivery ownership, commercial competence, NEC4 experience, and people-management capability.

For further information or to apply for this opportunity, please contact Navartis.

Navartis Ltd is a specialist recruitment company supplying highly skilled technical and management professionals within the Infrastructure and Built Environment sectors.

Navartis Ltd is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.