WSP in the UK & Ireland
Senior Project Manager (Health and Life Sciences)
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Senior Project/Programme Manager (Health & Life Science) – Lexica, WSP
What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?
At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects, and connect with the brightest minds in your field. Embrace your curiosity in a culture that champions new ideas and diverse perspectives. Experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a unique career.
We help organisations—such as the NHS, world-leading academic institutions, and cutting-edge science labs—become more efficient and effective. Our clients trust in our tailored, multi-disciplinary approach, setting us apart from traditional consultancies. By joining Lexica, you’ll be part of transformative client and colleague journeys.
About the Role
Our Senior Project/Programme Managers manage the end-to-end delivery of capital infrastructure projects and programmes—spanning strategic planning through to post-occupancy. Your workload includes:
- Full project/programme lifecycle: From business case development to handover and post-occupancy reviews.
- Stakeholder alignment: Collaborating with client teams, designers, consultants, and contractors to ensure clear vision, scope, and expected outcomes.
- Strategy and execution: Defining delivery structures, timelines, and resources aligned with client ROI.
- Risk and financial oversight: Monitoring budgets, resources, and progress against agreed parameters while balancing competing priorities.
- People leadership: Leading delivery teams, clarifying roles, and fostering motivation to meet deadlines.
- Reporting and governance: Producing concise progress updates for senior decision-makers and facilitating strategic alignment.
- Health and life science specialism: Focused delivery of complex projects in these critical sectors.
- NEC 3/4 and industry standards compliance: Adhering to NHS Capital Investment Manual, RIBA Plan of Work, and OGC Gateways (or equivalent frameworks).
- Financial performance: Ensuring commission plans comply with company values, financial targets, and statutory requirements—including fee management and audit-ready documentation.
Support will be provided to develop and manage high-performing specialist teams alongside broader project/programme structures.
Responsibilities
- Manage activities, deliverables, and timelines in concert with diverse stakeholders.
- Champion project/programme vision to secure alignment among delivery teams and clients.
- Design delivery frameworks (structure, phasing, and resources) tailored to business outcomes.
- Measure and mitigate risks/dependencies, resolving issues via structured risk frameworks.
- Lead cross-functional teams, ensuring clarity on objectives and accountability.
- Generate regular performance reports in client-approved formats for strategic decision-making.
- Oversee governance processes, offering expert counsel and contextual insights.
- Act as primary client contact for health/life science projects.
- Apply structured project management methodologies (e.g., agile hybrids, traditional estates frameworks).
- Upskill colleagues through mentoring and training in HRSDC standards.
- Monitor compliance with contractual, financial, and regulatory obligations.
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Requirements
- Proven leadership in project/programme management, demonstrated as the accountable owner of infrastructure/business cases.
- Senior-level experience (5+ years ideally) in complex environments—especially construction, consultancy, healthcare, or life sciences.
- Board-presentaton experience: Experience communicating progress via written reports and presentations (NEC 4/other frameworks preferred).
- Procurement and contract familiarity: Experience with NEC 3 or 4 clauses and their application.
- Stakeholder engagement expertise: Ability to translate technical details for non-specialist audiences (e.g., NHS board members, academic Institutional chiefs).
- Public sector understanding: Familiarity with capital investment/healthcare higher education protocols.
- Qualifications/certifications:
- Ideally a degree or professional chartership in construction, project management (e.g., APM PMQ), risk, or regulation (Chartered status preferred).
- Institutional alignment (e.g., RICS, APM, CIBSE, or MICE membership) desirable.
- Additional strengths:
- Facilitation and report-writing capability.
- Comfort in flexible, hybrid, or agile project management approaches.
- Knowledge of climate risks/hazard management in facility projects.
- Minority representation: Underrepresented candidates are strongly encouraged to apply—flexibility in criteria (e.g., incremental experience) applies.
If you meet less than all criteria but align closely with the role, apply anyway! Other opportunities may suit your expertise.
What’s in it for you?
Culture: Purpose-Driven & Global
- Global impact: Part of 69,000 professionals shaping communities worldwide.
- Skills and collaboration: Work alongside WSP’s 11,000 UK/Ireland team members to drive innovation at scale.
- Alignment with values: Your work fuels tangible change—from NHS modernization to university expansions.
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Flexibility & Work-Life Balance
- Hybrid or agile arrangements: Work 2–3 days in modern offices, 2 at home (including cross-site collaboration).
- Personal time: “My Hour” policy allows 1 hour daily for personal needs, flexible within the day.
- Part-time potential: Explore flexible working patterns suited to your commitments.
- Leave options:
- Purchase extra annual leave.
- Schedule bank holidays flexibly.
Wellbeing & Support
- Thrive Programme: Access wellbeing, menopause, and mental health initiatives.
- Virtual GP service: 24/7 NHS/Medical Council consultations (Irish/EU residents included).
- Gymflex / Adjustments: Up to 40% discount on gym memberships, case-by-case adjustments for accessibility needs.
Growth & Recognition
- Upskilling and stakeholder-driven training: Opportunities to specialise in areas like RoI delivery frameworks for super campuses.
- Mentorship and Chartership pathways: Support your progression through recognised qualifications.
- Health/science focus: Join a specialist team tackling unique challenges in academic/healthcare sectors.
Inclusivity & Belonging
- DEI commitments:
- Broad hiring: Diverse backgrounds urged to apply.
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Safe spaces for issues of shared identity (e.g., gender, ethnicity, neurodiversity).
- Disabled applicants: Interview if you meet essential criteria; apply for adjustments if needed.
- 22 diversity metrics: Our progress reports highlight opportunities to advance equity in leadership.
Why WSP?
At the heart of our work lie real-world problem-solving. Whether designing the next £100m NHS science campus or ensuring public-sector facilities stay on cost/schedule, we’re in it for the long run. Together, our global network creates lasting, inclusive change.
Don’t wait for the ‘perfect fit’—let’s shape a better future together. Apply today.
#WSP #ShapeTheFuture #AVY1
Note: Organisations such as Health Education England, NHS England, Cancer Research UK, led by public and third-sector values—our models were referenced closely for the development of this brief.
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