How you’ll make a difference
As a Principal Project Manager, you will be responsible for the management and successful delivery of specified major capital construction projects, providing client-side project management services throughout the relevant RIBA Stages, alongside managing teams of professional construction consultants and contractors.
Taking the lead in managing key projects for the property and business support service, you will work with colleagues and external partners and stakeholders to ensure the projects are delivered effectively and on schedule by achieving key objectives and providing value for money.
What you will be doing
- You will be responsible for managing the successful delivery of specified capital projects, including the procurement and management of contracts for contractors and consultants and ensuring works and services are tendered in accordance with financial regulations and standing orders.
- Preparing and updating programmes, risk management registers and overall project cost reports, you will ensure cost plans are prepared at appropriate gateways and oversee the legal transfer of assets and input to development agreements.
- It will be your responsibility to prepare tender reports and appraisals for director approval and implement a change management strategy to monitor and control time, cost and quality, you will also attend project meetings and public engagement meetings.
- Developing innovative solutions to technical issues, you will ensure these are appropriate and successfully implemented, consulting on issues with wider implications, whilst adhering to service regulations and codes of practice.
- Providing technical advice, support and training to colleagues, you will make sure that performance objectives are achieved, teamwork is effective, colleagues are supported and that the team is technically capable and technical work is carried out satisfactorily.
What we need from you
- We require you to hold a construction related degree or equivalent qualification, alongside significant relevant experience in project management on large scale capital projects.
- It is essential that you have proven experience in leading multiple major projects without supervision, delivering contracts, guidance and statues and the ability to develop and deliver design briefs.
- You will have experience of planning and progressing work activities within general professional guidelines or organisational policy and have an in-depth knowledge of service specific and professional issues.
- With knowledge and experience of working with specific performance management and project improvement tools, you will have the ability to work to strict deadlines, manage a demanding workload and prioritise accordingly.
- You will have excellent strategic awareness, with experience of working in a political environment and be able to communicate and influence effectively with clients, consultants and contractors.
What you need to know
- This is a hybrid role meaning that you can work remotely or in our offices.
Interviews will be held week of the 20th April 2026
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different
- What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos, the support and the training.
- As part of our benefits package you will receive generous annual leave, employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
- We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
- We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
- We’re working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.
- We’re investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.
We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it! Click the link for the full job description: Principal_Project_Manager_Property job_description
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