Senior Project Manager- Infrastructure/Construction

Job summary

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 UKHSA's 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 UKHSA's existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale and will be critical to the UK's 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 andtechnical assurance team. The programme is supported by professional services delivery partners appointed through framework of specialist suppliers fordesign, technical, project management, commercial and cost management and other disciplines.

Main duties of the job

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 incomplexity and directly contribute to UKHSA's 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 effectiveleadership, interpersonal and communication skills and will play a key role in project governance, working with stakeholders to ensure the agreed projectoutputs 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

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

• Date posted: 11 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £56,185 to £70,566 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: 919-NP-62239786-EXT
• Job locations: Core HQ, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf), E14 4PU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day running of the construction infrastructure project(s) within specialised microbiology labs, science labs, health care environment, withownership 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 progressto 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 manageinterdependencies.
• 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 appropriateBenefits 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 collaborativeprocurement 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 donot already hold this.

This list is not exhaustive.

Essential criteria:

• A proven track record of delivering multiple medium-complexity construction or infrastructure projects (lead criteria).
• Holds or is working towards a recognised professional qualification, such as APM PMQ/ChPP, PMI PMP, and/or CIOB, RICS, ICE or equivalent constructionrelated accreditation. (lead criteria)
• 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.

Selection Process Details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed nine essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).Please do not email us your CV.

HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into three piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria willproceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:In the event ofa large number ofapplications wemay conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of :

• 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 equivalentconstructionrelated accreditation.

Desirable criteria maybeusedin the event ofa large number ofapplications/largeamountof successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

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You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours and Technical Skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be :

• Leadership (Lead)
• Communication and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

There will be a Presentation.

Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-7 minute presentation relating to Project Leadership.

More details about about the presentation will be shared with candidates securing an interview.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed isSecurity Check.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Civil Service Grade 7

£56,185 - £66,581 (National)

£58,340 - £68,574 (Outer London)

£60,494 - £70,566 (Inner London)

Salary is dependant upon location.