Project Manager

Project Manager - Automation Location: Fareham, Hampshire, England (Hybrid / Partial Remote) Job Type: Full-time About the Client: Our client is an international engineering, systems integration, and industrial maintenance leader employing over 4,500 professionals across 14 UK locations. Operating across regulated sectors including nuclear, energy, utilities, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, they deliver end-to-end solutions spanning consultancy, detailed engineering, control panel assembly, and commissioning. They are widely recognized for their technical excellence and employee-first culture, delivering cutting-edge industrial automation solutions (PLC, SCADA, HMI, MES, OT Cyber Security, Industry 4.0) using premier vendor technologies such as Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, and AVEVA. About the Opportunity: As part of the continued expansion of their UK Automation division, our client is seeking a Project Manager based out of Fareham. In this role, you will hold full commercial, contractual, and technical delivery accountability for a portfolio of automation and systems engineering projects. You will act as the primary interface between clients, multidiscipline engineering teams, and commercial leads, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and to strict profitability targets. Key Responsibilities: Commercial & Contractual Management Budget & Cash Flow: Drive project financial performance to meet or exceed budgetary targets; oversee procurement, invoicing, and cash flow maintenance. Variation & Scope Control: Actively manage change, ensuring project scope changes are captured, costed, and converted into variations or savings. Contract Administration: Execute contracts strictly in accordance with agreed terms (e.g., NEC3/4, IChemE), managing sub-contractors and mitigating project commercial risk. Technical Delivery & Team Leadership Multidisciplinary Management: Lead cross-functional engineering teams spanning Automation, Functional Safety, Control Panel Manufacture, and Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) Installation. Resource Allocation: Optimise resource scheduling alongside project controls teams (Planners, QSs) to ensure maximum engineering utilisation and project velocity. Quality & Technical Governance: Collaborate with lead engineers to ensure technical solutions align with client specifications and corporate offer benchmarks. Client & Health & Safety Oversight HSE Leadership: Lead by example on all personal safety and compliance metrics, working closely with safety teams to embed company processes. Client Interface: Serve as the primary technical and commercial point of contact for clients, managing expectations and identifying growth opportunities. Candidate Profile: Requirements & Experience Project Delivery Track Record: Minimum 5 years of experience managing engineering and automation projects through the complete lifecycle (front-end design, detailed engineering, manufacture, and commissioning). Industry Background: Proven experience in the Water/Utilities sector is required. Additional experience in Nuclear, Energy, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverage, or Chemical sectors is highly desirable. Contracting Frameworks: Hands-on experience administering standard forms of contract, including NEC3/4, IChemE, or bespoke commercial frameworks, alongside CDM 2015 regulations. Multidisciplinary Leadership: Direct experience leading multidisciplinary teams across PLC/SCADA automation, panel manufacture, and site installation. Systems Familiarity: Working knowledge of project management systems such as MS Project, Primavera P6, and SAP. Qualifications & Memberships Education: Degree in a relevant Engineering discipline (desirable). PM Certification: APM PMQ (APMP) or equivalent project management qualification (desirable). Professional Affiliation: Membership in the APM, IET, or equivalent professional engineering body