81612 - Assistant Project Manager
This Assistant Project Manager – will report to the Programme Manager and will work within Capital Programme based in our Bury St Edmunds office. You will be a permanent employee.
You will attract a salary of £65,241 and a bonus of 3%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote
Close Date: 18/01/2026.
We also provide the following additional benefits
1. 25 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
2. Private Medical Cover / Simply Health
3. Reservist Leave – Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
4. Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
5. Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
6. Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
7. Occupational Health support
8. Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
9. Discounted gym membership
10. Employee Assistance Programme
Job Purpose:
As the Assistant Project Manager you will assist Programme Managers / Portfolio Manager in the delivery of the Capital Investment Programme of Projects and Connections projects. You should have prior experience / exposure in a similar role in the utility industry – preferably electricity utility, after the initial familiarisation, delivering work packages as assigned within a single project, across several projects or deliver in totality smaller value projects.
You will work through a career pathway to consolidate existing knowledge through previous experience and as part of the APM role at UKPN, learn both general project management skills – including a thorough understanding of inputs to, coordination and support required from different support functions to understand the specific requirements of the Project Manager role in UK Power Networks. This will include a structured development plan with both formal and on-the-job training requirements including that with multiple project support functions. Successful completion of the above process, coupled with the delivery of tasks / packages of work/ small projects will lead onto you assigned small to medium projects. This will be based on regular – periodic reviews as agreed with the line manager. Based on the performance reviews and after the initial period of two years – upon successful completion of projects, the role change to a Project Manager will be at the discretion of the Portfolio Manager.
As part of the career pathway and the familiarisation of UKPN process / policies / requirements, there are two phases of development. These are:
11. Initial familiarisation and learning with no autonomous responsibilities for project delivery.
12. Phased introduction to managing with sole responsibility for defined contract, sub-packages and/or small projects within a single or multiple projects as part of the programme / portfolio.
Principal Accountabilities:
13. To Support the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager in delivering large and high-profile projects, managing several contracts and key stakeholders.
14. To provide systems expertise and support to delivery colleagues including Project Managers and project teams, specifically related to use of SAP for purchasing, payment, and governance purposes.
15. Support in gaining project approvals and subsequently manage project expenditure within the sanctioned budgetary limits. Governance gates B, C and D. This would include, but not limited to coordinating with multiple business functions, alliance partners, external / third parties – agencies and collation of documentation for the project teams.
16. Organise, attend, and coordinate for mission-focused work team meetings including taking minutes, actions arising and follow up on behalf of the Project Manager / Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager.
17. Represent the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager as required.
18. Compile input to weekly safety reports with the programme and portfolio teams as required.
19. Help prepare reports for monthly client reviews.
20. Be proficient in use of Capital Programme's main project control systems (Primavera suite) and extend support to project delivery colleagues as required in line with this.
21. To support the PM or SPM in the delivery of a portfolio of projects ensuring all safety, quality and environmental standards are observed.
22. To support the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager in the timely delivery of a portfolio of projects, to required Programme and Output Dates.
23. To support the Programme Manager in the monthly reporting of Projects.
24. Where required compilation of Project Execution Plans (PEPs), Project Quality Plans (PQPs) and ED1SON alliance Contractual Documents.
25. Support in managing project risks and opportunities.
26. Ensure that project lessons learnt are captured and implemented within the team.
27. Mitigate scope change and risk across projects.
28. Coordinate with the Project Managers on behalf of the Programme Manager, as requested. This includes supporting and following up on quality, progress reporting, RIGS reporting, stakeholder management, customer complaints, project handovers, and close out of projects, all in accordance with UKPN policy.
Stakeholder Management:
Internal
29. Portfolio Manager – Will manage the development of the Assistant PM and assign them to a project / programme of works.
30. Programme Manager - The Assistant PM will take daily direction and guidance from while delivering the projects
31. Project Manager – The Assistant PM will coordinate with and take day to day direction, guidance from while delivering the projects
32. Quantity Surveyor – Liaison with the commercial team to ensure data is accurate for project forecasts and expenditure information for reporting.
33. Procurement - Liaison with current and future Supply Chain strategies and representatives for supply of contracts and materials.
34. Design Team – Consultation with the Design engineers on the specification and design Progress for the delivery of the project to time cost and quality of the design deliverables
35. HSEQ Team - Ensure safety is at the forefront of the project delivery along with focus on quality
36. Asset Management - Liaison throughout the project lifecycle to ensure scope and cost are managed and completed project meets project mandate.
37. Connections Project Manager – Liaison with for delivering Customer funded projects
38. Programme Management Office (PMO) – Support in the reporting of all project reporting- monthly and yearly expenditure, risk, RIGs, review, and acceptance of gate papers to allow project progression within UK Power Networks budget, time, and quality parameters
External
39. Local authorities, Councils, Police, Buses, Residents, Businesses
40. Supply Chain Contractors
41. Landowners
42. Leaseholders
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:
43. An engineering discipline along with a basic project management qualification to HNC level preferred; ONC or equivalent required.
44. Accreditations like IOSH, SMSTS, ECS, CSCS, NRSWA, First Aid, manual handling, quality management would be useful.
45. Membership of a professional institute IEE, ICE or APM or equivalent (or can demonstrate progress towards said membership)
46. Safety Management CSCS / IOSH preferred but not essential
47. We prefer demonstrable work experience – preferably gained through working with elements of project management in a project delivery capacity within the Electricity distribution industry or similar engineering environments.
48. Exposure to customer – stakeholder management will be an added advantage.
Health & Safety Responsibilities:
Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.
Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.
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