Job Description
Associate Director – Project Management
Location: Manchester
Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 basic salary + excellent benefits package
Note: IT/Finance/Marketing/ digital transformation backgrounds will NOT be considered for this role. Given it is a leadership opportunity it is essential you industry experience in the built environment (a real estate or construction consultancy managing JCT or NEC contracts).
A global consultancy with a strong UK business is growing its Northern leaders is seeking an Associate or Associate Director to join its project management team in Manchester. This is a key strategic hire, supporting a period of expansion across several offices in the North of the UK and helping shape the future direction of the regional business. The organisation has secured a significant volume of new work over the past 6–7 months and is now strengthening its leadership capability.
The Opportunity
You’ll lead a portfolio of multimillion £ projects across education, healthcare, local government, and wider public‑sector programmes — including major university estates government, levelling‑up funded schemes, and healthcare projects across the North West and Yorkshire. The team is active on multiple hospital programmes, local authority frameworks, and major campus redevelopments.
The consultancy operates with a high degree of autonomy across the business enabling business leaders to make decisions to enable the business. The environment suits someone who enjoys visibility, influence, and the freedom to make things happen.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and deliver multiple projects, resource planning from inception to completion.
* Manage client relationships and act as a trusted, visible presence in the Manchester market.
* Support regional leadership with resource planning, bid input, and team coordination.
* Produce high‑quality project documentation, reporting, and commercial outputs.
* Oversee project finances including forecasting, fee management, and performance monitoring.
* Mentor junior colleagues and support their progression toward chartership.
* Coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams across design, technical, and construction stages.
* Manage risk, change control, and project governance processes.
* Undertake site visits, surveys, and stakeholder meetings.
* Contribute to business development and help raise the profile of the team across the North.
What You’ll Bring
* Degree in project management, construction, engineering, surveying, or a related discipline.
* Chartered status (MRICS, MCIOB, MAPM) or equivalent
* Minimum five years’ experience delivering projects within a consultancy or contractor environment (real estate construction industry)
* Strong understanding of pre‑ and post‑contract services
* Excellent communication skills and confidence in client‑facing roles
* Commercial awareness and the ability to manage competing priorities
Desirable Experience
* Previous line management or team leadership experience
* Programming/scheduling capability (MS Project, ASTA, etc.)
* Experience preparing bid content and supporting work‑winning activity
* Financial management and cashflow forecasting
* Familiarity with NEC and JCT contracts
* Experience across both capital and revenue projects
* Strong understanding of APM methodologies
* Ability to act as a steady, reliable “safe pair of hands” on complex commissions
Hit ‘Apply Now’ to send your CV or feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any queries/ seeking some advice on your next career move in project management within the built environment! Jennifer.bailey@kentonblack.com