Schedule & Estimate Senior Project Manager

Location: Manchester, Warrington or Derby with Hybrid working available
International Travel will be required as part of this role.

About the role

We need you to lead the development of integrated schedules and cost estimates for complex, long-term nuclear infrastructure programmes - starting where it matters most: the early project phases.

Reporting to the Programme Manager, you'll take ownership of schedule and estimate strategy across our Customer SMR Programme, shaping how major decisions on scope, sequencing and cost are made. You'll operate at a senior, strategic level - providing direction, challenge and assurance to project teams and stakeholders - while remaining close to the detail that drives successful delivery.

This is a role for an experienced project professional who thrives in ambiguity, thinks systemically, and uses schedule intelligence to influence outcomes.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the end-to-end planning and estimating approach for a multi-billion-pound, multi-year programme, including:

• Owning and developing robust, integrated schedules across early development, pre-construction and construction phases
• Shaping schedule logic, assumptions and interfaces to support procurement, contracting and construction strategies
• Leading the time-cost interface, working closely with estimating, commercial and procurement teams to stress-test assumptions and inform decisions
• Coordinating long-lead items, critical path activities and major dependencies, highlighting risks and opportunities early
• Managing interfaces across internal functions, suppliers, contractors and - where required - external partners and regulators
• Providing clear, confident recommendations to programme leadership, including trade-offs between time, cost and risk
• Line managing and mentoring a small team of Project Managers, setting direction and prioritising work in line with programme goals
• Ensuring schedules and forecasts remain current, credible and aligned to governance requirements

You'll be trusted to work with high levels of autonomy and to make informed decisions rather than waiting for direction.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who combines senior project leadership with deep planning and scheduling expertise.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience operating as a Senior or Lead Project Manager on complex, multi-workstream projects or programmes
• Strong background in early-phase / front-end project development, setting projects up for successful delivery
• Advanced capability in schedule development and ownership, including managing dependencies, interfaces and sequencing logic
• A strong understanding of how estimates link to schedules, particularly in early project phases
• Experience using schedule insight to inform risk mitigation, decision-making and leadership discussions
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and operating without formal authority
• Experience working across engineering, construction and commercial environments
• Line management or mentorship experience (typically 2-4 project professionals)

Experience in regulated or complex infrastructure environments (such as energy, nuclear, transport or defence) is advantageous, but not essential.

Tools, methods and ways of working

You don't need to tick every box, but experience with some of the following will help you succeed:

• Primavera P6 and/or other enterprise planning tools
• Cost estimating interfaces and financial forecasting
• Contract and procurement strategy development
• Programme-level reporting and governance

Training and support will be available where there are gaps.

How you'll work

This role offers flexibility by design. We recognise that people do their best work in different ways, so flexible and part-time working options are available. Travel, including international activity, may be required at times and will be planned sensibly.

Reward & benefits

Salary: £60,000 - £78,750
Benefits allowance: £2,200
Bonus: Up to 12.5%
Pension: 6x pensionable life assurance, income protection
Holiday: 29 days plus bank holidays
Working week: 37.5 hours (with flexibility)

If you're excited by the challenge of influencing major programme decisions through intelligent planning and estimating, and you enjoy working at the intersection of strategy, data and people - we need you to apply.

Why Join Us?

You'll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch - we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Our Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check

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