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.
Benefits
A competitive benefits package is offered, including:
* Contributory or matched pension scheme
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Salary sacrifice EV/hybrid car scheme
* Private healthcare and healthcare cash plan
* Online GP services
* Employee assistance programme
* Life assurance
* Retail discount programme
* Enhanced parental leave policies
* Cycle-to-work and salary finance schemes
* Discretionary bonus scheme
* Recognition and reward initiatives
For more information, contact Stephen Stuart, Director of Engineering, Vallum Associates;
sstuart@vallumassociates.com