Stantec
Project Management Lead (PML) - Scotland & Northern Ireland
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The Opportunity
Are you ready to shape the future of project delivery across the UK Water sector? At Stantec, we are tackling some of the most critical water and infrastructure challenges facing the UK today.
Following the historic announcement that Stantec has been named a Primary Designer for the multibillion-pound Scottish Water Enterprise, we are embarking on the largest investment program in Scottish Water’s history. This landmark partnership, which potentially extends to 2039, places Stantec at the heart of modernising Scotland’s water and wastewater networks—from improving drinking water quality to enhancing nationwide water resilience.
As our Project Management Lead (PML) in Scotland and Northern Ireland, you’ll be the driving force behind our project management community—empowering a high-performing team, inspiring excellence, and fostering a culture built on collaboration and resilience.
Stepping into a high-visibility role alongside our senior commercial and client leaders, you won't just oversee strategy from afar; you’ll be actively on the front line, shaping key water frameworks and taking real ownership of game-changing engineering projects from day one.
About The Role
Reporting directly to the Project Management Discipline Lead (PMDL), this is a hybrid leadership and delivery role. Alongside your leadership duties, you will remain active on the front line—supporting key project delivery, framework management, and business development initiatives.
You will act as the operational anchor for project execution, partnering closely with our Operations Directors and Commercial Leads to align project performance with overarching business strategy.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Operational Leadership: Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Project Managers. Maintain team competency matrices and maturity assessments to ensure the right talent is deployed to the right projects and proposals.
- Commercial & Governance Management: Drive compliance with Stantec’s Project Management Framework (PMF) and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls. Lead monthly project review processes (ETC, EAC, revenue recognition) and oversee contract administration (NEC/early warnings, compensation events, and payment applications).
- Project Support & Turnaround: Monitor project commercial, quality, and risk positions. Take ownership of distressed or underperforming projects, implementing effective corrective action plans alongside commercial leadership.
- Global & Technical Collaboration: Champion strong PM–PTL (Project Technical Lead) relationships to balance technical and commercial goals. Integrate teams with our Global Delivery Centre to optimize resourcing and global working targets.
- Health, Safety & Environment: Lead HSSE audits and actively champion our SaferTogether culture across all project delivery teams.
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Your Impact
In this role, your influence will extend far beyond project bottom lines—you will directly elevate our people, client relationships, and operational efficiency. You will hold direct accountability for key financial metrics, driving accurate forecasting, minimizing margin erosion, and delivering against Gross Margin, DSO, and IGW targets.
Through regular face-to-face engagement, you will build trusted relationships with key client commercial leaders, directly influencing client satisfaction KPIs and securing follow-on business. Furthermore, as a mentor and Independent Reviewer, you will empower the project management community, set teams up for success from project setup to completion, and continually refine our work processes to enhance overall project execution.
About You
To thrive as a Project Management Lead, you bring a strong commercial focus, natural leadership, and deep expertise in complex infrastructure delivery.
- Experience & Expertise: Proven track record in project management leadership preferably within the UK Water sector or broader infrastructure/energy sector, with strong knowledge of standard contract forms (e.g., NEC) and robust governance/SOX frameworks.
- Commercial Acumen: Excellent financial and risk management skills, with demonstrated success managing project budgets, earned value, pricing strategies, and contractual resolutions.
- Collaborative Leadership: Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to coach project managers, foster PM–PTL collaboration, and build strong relationships with client commercial executives.
- Resilience & Problem Solving: Proactive and solution-focused mindset, capable of making clear decisions under pressure and turning around complex or distressed projects.
- Commitment to Safety: A passionate advocate for health, safety, and wellbeing in the workplace.
WHY JOIN US
- We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
- We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.
- We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.
- We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: [Stantec Employee Resource Groups](Stantec Employee Resource Groups)).
- Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
- Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
- Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.
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About Stantec
The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.
Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.
Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.
At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact careers.UK& [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.
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