Job description

Senior Project Manager – Substations (South West England)

Permanent | Full-Time

Overview

Vallum Associates are supporting a leading UK utility organisation in the appointment of a Senior Project Manager to oversee major substation and electrical transmission works across the South West. This role is suited to an experienced project professional with strong knowledge of high-voltage infrastructure, National Grid specifications, and end-to-end delivery of complex EPC and framework projects.

Working across transmission assets up to 400kV, the successful candidate will lead multi-disciplinary teams responsible for civil, mechanical and electrical scopes, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant delivery of critical grid infrastructure aligned to the UK’s transition to net zero.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the delivery of a portfolio of M&E substation projects from inception through commissioning and completion, ensuring all outputs meet the required technical, safety, and commercial standards.
Manage and coordinate multi-skilled project teams, including civil engineers, electrical engineers, project engineers, planning specialists and commercial leads.
Provide strategic direction on health, safety and environmental performance, promoting a culture of zero harm and regulatory compliance.
Ensure project programmes are realistic, robust and monitored regularly in collaboration with planning teams.
Foster strong collaboration across the project leadership team, ensuring Construction Managers, Commercial Managers, Design Leads and engineering staff operate as a unified, high-performing group.
Oversee risk management activities, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified early and effective mitigation strategies are implemented.
Provide guidance on technical, contractual and delivery-related issues, ensuring challenges are escalated and resolved promptly.
Support bid development and tender submissions through the application of industry knowledge and technical insight.
Partner closely with commercial teams on monthly CVR preparation, cost tracking and forecasting.
Ensure NEC contract obligations (particularly Option C) are managed effectively, with clear control of change, compensation events and supplier performance.
Drive the delivery of key performance metrics, ensuring all financial, safety, schedule and quality targets are achieved or exceeded.

Experience & Qualifications

A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing large, complex Design & Build projects, ideally within substations, HV infrastructure or transmission environments.
Demonstrable experience delivering National Grid substation projects, with practical understanding of NG Standards, Rules, EPC frameworks and M&E delivery processes.
Strong stakeholder engagement capability, with the ability to build effective relationships with clients, technical partners and suppliers.
Qualification in construction or engineering; project management certifications (APM, PMP, or similar) are highly desirable.
Proven experience working under NEC contracts, with particular expertise in Option C.
Solid understanding of regulatory requirements including HSWA, CDM and EAWR.
Strong track record of ensuring budget control, on-time delivery and high-quality project outcomes.
Proficiency with project management software and digital reporting tools.