Head of Discipline (UK) Project Management & Commercial Controls

Do you want to lead our Project Management, Commercial and Controls team? Can you ensure high-quality project delivery? Are you an experienced at leading Project Management teams? Then, read on. This could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow
To sustain the growth of our UK business, we are looking for a Head of Discipline for our Project Management, Commercial and Project Controls team. Working in any of our UK office’s, you’ll be responsible for managing a team of project managers and project management professionals as part of our UK&I Project Management, Commercial and Project Controls discipline management team.
You’ll play a key role in shaping discipline capability, establishing consistency of best practice, strengthening commercial performance, and ensuring high-quality project delivery aligned with client and business objectives.

Staff from the discipline are involved in delivering solutions for a range of infrastructure projects across multiple sectors, including water, rail, utilities, highways and energy.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead, manage and develop a team of project management, commercial and project controls professionals with responsibility for their technical and professional capability development, performance management, succession planning and employee engagement.


• Align resource capability, capacity and skills with current and future business needs ensuring effective utilisation of their time and skills day-to-day.


• Develop and agree growth strategies for the discipline and oversee on the recruitment of new employees into your team as a hiring manager.


• Working closely with our discipline leads and reginal leaders across the business to promote integration, consistency and effective deployment of skills.

• Act as a visible leader within the discipline, role-modelling inclusive, high-performance behaviours and supporting the development of a diverse and collaborative culture.

As an experienced project professional yourself, you’ll also have responsibilities to provide:

• Maintain a portfolio of senior project roles where appropriate, providing leadership on complex or high-risk commissions.


• Provide technical leadership and assurance across a portfolio of complex infrastructure projects, acting as a senior project professional and trusted advisor to clients and project teams.


• Act as technical custodian for project management, commercial management and project controls competencies, ensuring consistent application of standards, tools and methodologies.


• Direct the development and continuous improvement of best practice in:




• Project and programme management


• Cost management and commercial governance


• Planning, scheduling and risk management


• Change control, forecasting and performance reporting




• Promote innovation in project delivery approaches, systems and digital tools.


• Mentor and coach senior and emerging professionals, including development and delivery of training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.


• Support business development activities, including contributing to bids, tenders and client presentations.


• Advise on project delivery strategies, commercial models and resourcing approaches during bid development.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.
Like us, you believe that leadership success comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you’ll have:

• Chartered status (e.g. ChPP, CEng or equivalent), with progression towards or attainment of Fellowship of a relevant professional body.Degree in Project Management, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience on complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.


• Significant experience in a senior leadership role within an engineering consultancy or similar environment, with responsibility for: Project management delivery, Commercial and cost management, Project controls, People leadership and discipline management


• Demonstrated success in managing significant or intricate infrastructure initiatives within the UK and internationally.


• Experience working in a design-led consultancy environment on multi-disciplinary projects.


• Experience acting as client-facing lead on major commissions.


• Effective leadership and motivational skills, with the ability to engage and inspire senior professionals.


• High level of commercial acumen and financial awareness.


• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.


• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into practical delivery.

A place to work and so much more.
At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers.  We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play. 

What we also offer:
To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We want to take care of our people professionally and personally as well.
Some of our benefits include:

• 28 days' holiday (plus bank and public holidays)


• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities


• Private health care, for you and your immediate dependents


• Flexible and hybrid working conditions


• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions


• Group personal pension scheme – salary exchange


• Life assurance


• Cycle-to-work scheme


• Corporate gym membership

Got more questions?
If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Ciaran Gilfedder at [email protected].
Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

Equal opportunity employer.
COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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