Project Director

Location: UK-wide / Major Project Locations
Salary: Competitive salary + car allowance / benefits
Sector: Infrastructure | Nuclear | Energy | Water | Pharmaceutical
Employment: Permanent

Westlakes Recruit is currently supporting a leading multidisciplinary engineering and infrastructure organisation with the appointment of an experienced Project Director to lead the successful delivery of major, complex projects across highly regulated sectors.
This is a senior leadership position, offering the opportunity to take overall accountability for the safe, commercially successful and high-quality delivery of significant Electrical, Instrumentation & Mechanical (E&I/M) projects from tender handover through to commissioning, completion and final handover.
The successful candidate will provide strategic direction across multidisciplinary project teams, while acting as a key senior representative to clients, stakeholders and supply chain partners.

As Project Director, you will hold overall accountability for project performance, providing leadership across engineering, construction, commissioning, commercial, planning, project controls, quality and HSEQ functions.
You will be responsible for ensuring projects are delivered safely, on programme, to the required quality standards and in line with contractual and commercial objectives.
Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership and direction to large, multidisciplinary project teams.
• Taking overall accountability for HSEQ, programme, commercial performance, quality and project delivery.
• Leading project mobilisation, execution, commissioning and close-out.
• Managing project budgets, cash flow, profitability, forecasting and commercial performance.
• Developing and implementing effective commercial and contractual strategies.
• Managing contractual obligations, change control, variations, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Establishing robust project governance, reporting, programme controls and risk management processes.
• Providing senior oversight of engineering, construction, quality assurance and commissioning activities.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, regulators, senior stakeholders and supply chain partners.
• Leading governance and performance reviews, providing clear reporting to senior leadership.
• Developing high-performing teams and creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Identifying and managing strategic project risks and opportunities.
• Protecting the organisation's reputation while ensuring successful delivery against client and project objectives.

We are looking for an accomplished Project Director / Senior Project Leader with a strong track record of delivering major E&I and Mechanical projects within complex, highly regulated environments.
You will combine strong technical understanding with commercial awareness and strategic leadership, with the confidence to operate at senior client and board level.
You will ideally bring:

• Significant experience leading large, complex Electrical, Instrumentation and Mechanical projects from concept through to commissioning and handover.
• Experience within sectors such as Nuclear, Power, Energy, Water, Pharmaceutical or Industrial Manufacturing.
• A proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams across engineering, construction, commissioning, commercial, planning, quality and project controls.
• Strong knowledge of E&I and mechanical installation, construction, testing, commissioning and engineering assurance.
• Significant experience managing major project budgets, cash flow, profitability, risk and change.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, FIDIC or similar forms of contract.
• Demonstrable experience managing client relationships, contractual matters, variations, claims and negotiations.
• A strong understanding of project governance, programme controls, reporting and performance management.
• A proven commitment to exceptional Health, Safety, Environmental and Wellbeing performance.
• Experience developing and leading high-performing teams, including mentoring and developing future leaders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate confidently with clients, senior executives, regulators and supply chain partners.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an organisation delivering essential infrastructure across some of the UK's most important and technically challenging projects.
You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead major, high-value infrastructure projects.
• Work across highly regulated and technically complex sectors.
• Influence project strategy and delivery at senior level.
• Lead large multidisciplinary teams.
• Build long-term relationships with major clients and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the delivery of critical UK infrastructure.
• Develop your career within a growing engineering and infrastructure organisation.

The role comes with a comprehensive package, including:

• Competitive salary
• Car allowance / salary sacrifice vehicle scheme
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Opportunity to purchase up to 5 additional days' annual leave
• Private healthcare
• Death in Service benefit
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee discounts and rewards scheme
• Recommend-a-friend scheme
• Professional training and development opportunities