Senior Project Manager / Project Director - Client Side

We are looking for a highly experienced and delivery-focused Senior Project Manager / Project Director to manage complex real estate developments from inception to completion. Acting as a Client Representative, you will be responsible for managing full project lifecycles, coordinating diverse stakeholder teams, and ensuring successful delivery on behalf of a private equity-backed platform.

Client Details

• Operate at the heart of a high-growth, investor-backed development platform.

• Gain exposure to strategic investment decisions and board-level reporting.

• Lead the delivery of high-impact, high-value projects with autonomy and support.

• Join a collaborative, performance-led culture focused on delivery excellence and value creation.

Description

This is a leadership role ideal for an experienced Senior Project Manager / Project Director with a track record in managing high-value development and construction projects, particularly in sectors such as education, residential, mixed-use, or commercial real estate.

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of development projects from site due diligence, design management, and planning, through to procurement, construction, and handover.

• Ensure delivery aligns with budget, programme, and investor expectations, implementing best-in-class governance, reporting, and project controls.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, investors, and internal senior leadership.

• Translate strategic objectives into delivery action plans and ensure alignment across internal/external project teams.

• Build strong, transparent relationships with architects, contractors, consultants and internal stakeholders.

• Monitor budgets, cashflows, and cost control mechanisms.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive risk registers and proactively manage potential issues through contingency planning.

• Oversee detailed programming, resource allocation, and construction sequencing to maintain control of critical milestones.

• Ensure quality assurance processes meet or exceed UK regulations, building standards, and best practice, especially for specialist sectors such as education.

• Drive compliance with health & safety legislation and local authority planning/building control requirements.

• Lead external project teams including PMs, QSs, engineers, and contractors, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.

• Mentor and support junior project staff or consultants involved in delivery.

• Produce board-level and investor-facing reports, including progress updates, risk assessments, cost summaries, and programme reviews.

• Ensure all project documentation, contracts, schedules, change orders, and reports are complete and audit-ready.

Profile

The successful candidate will bring sharp commercial acumen, deep construction knowledge, and outstanding stakeholder management capabilities to help drive value, reduce risk, and ensure timely, high-quality project delivery.

In order to be considered:

• 10+ years of experience delivering real estate development or construction projects, with at least 5 years in a senior, client-side or consultancy role.

• Proven experience as a Client Representative or Senior PM/PD in complex projects, ideally with exposure to education, residential, or commercial developments.

• Strong knowledge of construction contracts (JCT/NEC), and development feasibility.

• Ability to manage multiple projects with autonomy and sound commercial judgement.

• Degree in Construction, Project Management, Engineering, or equivalent. MRICS / MCIOB or equivalent accreditation is highly desirable.

Job Offer

A compettive salary and good bonus/benefits package.