Project Manager (Civils) – Water & Wastewater Sector

Job Description:

Project Manager (Civils) – Water & Wastewater Sector

Location: East Mindlands with travel to various sites and client locations
Employment Type: Full-time
Sector: Water, Wastewater, Civil Engineering

Role Purpose

The Civils Project Manager is responsible for planning, managing, and delivering civil engineering projects within the water and wastewater sector. The role ensures projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in full compliance with regulatory, environmental, and operational requirements.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams and contractors, manage risks and stakeholder interfaces, and ensure constructed assets meet quality, performance, and whole-life standards while minimising disruption to live water operations and customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and deliver civil engineering projects within the water and wastewater sector, ensuring full compliance with safety, environmental, regulatory, and operational standards.
• Administer projects under NEC3/NEC4 contracts, including early warnings, compensation events, programme management, change control, and contractual communications.
• Lead and coordinate contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams to achieve programme, cost, quality, and performance targets.
• Develop, monitor, and control project programmes, budgets, and forecasts, taking corrective actions where required.
• Promote strong health, safety, and environmental performance, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations and company policies.
• Identify and manage risks and opportunities, including the proactive use of NEC early warning processes.
• Oversee site activities, ensuring works are delivered to approved designs, specifications, and quality standards.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement with operations teams, regulators, landowners, and customers, minimising disruption to live water services.
• Ensure effective procurement, supply chain performance, and contract management.
• Manage commissioning, testing, and handover activities, ensuring all documentation, certifications, and asset data are completed to the required standard.
• Prepare and deliver regular progress, cost, risk, and performance reports to senior management and stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement, lessons learned, and best practice in project delivery.
• Undertake additional duties reasonably aligned with the scope of the role.

Additional Information

• Flexibility to travel to sites across the region.
• Occasional overnight stays may be required depending on project needs.

Candidate Profile

Knowledge & Skills

A successful Civils Project Manager will have strong civil engineering expertise, project management capability, and regulatory awareness within the water and wastewater environment.

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of civil engineering works such as pipelines, pumping stations, treatment works, reservoirs, tanks, drainage, and earthworks.
• Understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes and operational constraints.
• Knowledge of construction methods, temporary works, ground conditions, and buildability.
• Awareness of asset management principles, whole-life costing, and durability.

Project Management & NEC Contracting

• Experience in project planning, scheduling, cost control, risk management, and programme management.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 contracts including early warnings, compensation events, and programme submissions.
• Ability to administer contracts effectively, manage variations, and ensure compliance with contractual timeframes.
• Experience managing procurement strategies and supply chains within NEC frameworks.

Regulatory, Safety & Quality

• Strong understanding of health, safety, and environmental legislation relevant to the water industry.
• Knowledge of civil engineering standards, specifications, permits, and approvals.
• Experience with quality assurance, inspections, testing, and handover documentation.

Stakeholder & Communication

• Ability to engage effectively with operations teams, engineering, regulators, landowners, and the public.
• Competent in managing construction activities in live operational environments.
• Skilled in leading site meetings, risk workshops, and technical reviews.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

Able to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams.

Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in complex environments.

Commitment to safety leadership and continuous improvement.

Experience Required

5+ years’ experience in the water sector (clean or wastewater).

Essential Qualifications

Degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or related discipline.

Professional membership or working towards chartership (e.g., ICE).

Formal project management qualification or demonstrable competence.

NEC3 or NEC4 training/certification with proven experience administering NEC contracts.

CSCS (or equivalent) card.

Relevant health, safety, and environmental training (e.g., SMSTS, IOSH Managing Safely).

Full UK driving licence with willingness to travel.

Desirable Qualifications

APM, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management qualification.

SMSTS or equivalent site safety qualification.

EUSR Water Hygiene card; Confined Space training.

Experience with MS Project, Primavera, or similar planning tools.

Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.