Project Director

Location/s: Bristol or Cardiff; UK
Recruiter contact: Danielle Rhall

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit   

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Defence & Energy

With extensive experience in the global defence sector, Mott MacDonald’s advisory and programme delivery teams support a wide range of clients including the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO, and international partners. Our work spans complex infrastructure upgrades, strategic asset management, and carbon reduction initiatives across land, air, maritime, and nuclear domains. Recent projects include the modernisation of submarine facilities at Devonport and Clyde, infrastructure delivery for the US Visiting Forces (USVF) at RAF Lakenheath, and support for the AUKUS submarine partnership, as well as defence infrastructure across the UK. 

In the energy sector, our expertise covers nuclear, renewables, hydro, thermal, and electricity and gas. We provide services to a global customer base, supporting the delivery of major capital projects and the transition to low-carbon generation. Our teams are helping shape the future of energy through innovative solutions that promote sustainability, resilience, and energy security. 

Overview of the role

As Project Director, you will be responsible for the safe, secure and profitable delivery of a major Defence project or programme. Working within an Integrated Project Team (IPT) made up from the Contractor, End-User, Client and Mott MacDonald as the Technical Support Partner, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of programme delivery, ensuring alignment with client objectives, contractual commitments, security & safety requirements and organisational goals.

You will act as the senior delivery lead and primary interface with executive client stakeholders, directing multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover phases. The role requires strong leadership, commercial acumen, governance expertise and extensive experience delivering complex infrastructure programmes within highly regulated environments.

You will be accountable for programme performance, client satisfaction, commercial outcomes and the successful delivery of project objectives throughout the full lifecycle of the programme.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

Programme Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and direction across a major Defence programme
• Lead multidisciplinary delivery teams
• Influence the Contractor to drive programme performance against cost, schedule, quality and operational objectives

Client and Stakeholder Management

• Act as the Client’s primary senior representative for programme delivery matters
• Provide insights on progress along with assessment of risks and potential mitigating actions
• Develop trusted relationships with senior client representatives, government stakeholders and delivery partners
• Lead strategic governance meetings and programme boards

Programme Delivery and Governance

• Accountable for successful delivery across the full lifecycle by positively influencing the Contractor and other parties
• Oversee programme controls, assessment of monthly Contractor’s Programmes, governance, risk (general and formalized every quarter by a QCRA/QSRA) and reporting of insights to the Client Direct recovery and improvement initiatives where required

Commercial Leadership

• Maintain responsibility for programme commercial performance and profitability
• Provide strategic direction on NEC contract management, change control and negotiations on behalf of the Client
• Identify additional potential costs in our own contract with the Client to ensure that our contract remains profitable

Risk, Security and Compliance

• Ensure effective management of programme risks and opportunities
• Ensure compliance with Defence security requirements and regulatory obligations
• Ensure a safe construction site

People Leadership

• Provide leadership, mentoring and coaching to Mott MacDonald project personnel
• Champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Extensive experience delivering major infrastructure, construction, engineering, defence, nuclear or government programmes
• Demonstrable experience operating as Project Director, Programme Director or equivalent senior delivery leadership role
• Proven track record delivering major programmes valued in excess of £250m
• Extensive NEC3 and/or NEC4 contract experience
• Experience managing clients and stakeholders at executive and board level
• Chartered status and membership of a recognised professional body
• UK National and eligible to work on UK Defence-related programmes
• Eligible and willing to obtain and maintain DV Clearance

Desirable:

• Experience delivering Defence programmes
• Experience working with MOD, DIO or other government clients
• Programme Management qualification such as MSP or PgMP
• Active DV Clearance

Success Profile:

• Strategic leadership capability
• Commercial awareness and business acumen
• Excellent communication and influencing ability
• Commitment to safety, security and continuous improvement

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. 

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.