Department Manager – Project Manager

Job Summary by the careerbalance.co.uk Team:

104Job Description:

Department Manager – Project Manager

Position: Department Manager – Project Manager
Location: Banbury (Travel Required)
Salary: £65,230 plus car allowance, private health, private medical

Job Summary: We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Department Manager – Project Manager to join the team. The successful candidate will manage the Project Management department, overseeing the full project lifecycle from order to commissioning and handover. This role involves significant travel and customer interaction, ensuring projects meet safety, cost, and delivery targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• People Management:
  • Manage task allocation within the Projects team.
  • Hold regular project catch-up meetings.
  • Provide support, guidance, and mentoring to team members.
  • Ensure schedules and deadlines are met.
  • Manage recruitment, induction, and probation reviews.
  • Develop training plans and manage team holidays and absences.
  • Resolve employee issues and manage team expenses.

• Departmental Management:
  • Review and develop departmental processes and procedures.
  • Foster strong relationships within the team and wider business units.
  • Ensure processes are followed and communicate changes to the wider team.

• Active Project Management:
  • Lead and supervise project teams.
  • Manage project documentation and meetings.
  • Develop delivery schedules and oversee the design process.
  • Manage Health & Safety aspects of projects.
  • Support installation teams and liaise with customers.
  • Manage commercial aspects, including scope-creep and budget adherence.
  • Ensure high standards of communication and professionalism.

Person Specification:

Education and Qualifications:

• Essential:
  • HNC/HND in general, design, or mechanical engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent knowledge.
  • CMI level 5 or equivalent (or desire to complete).

• Desirable:
  • Engineering Degree (BEng or MEng).
  • Project Management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM PMP).
  • Training in Contract Law, Finance, Negotiation skills.
  • Chartered Engineer.

Experience:

• Essential:
  • Experience directly managing a team.
  • Project Management within a comparable environment.
  • Customer-focused and commercial work experience.
  • 3+ years people management experience.

• Desirable:
  • 2D and 3D CAD experience.
  • Design experience.
  • Experience in structural and civil engineering.
  • Experience working in multinational teams and overseas.

Abilities/Personal Attributes:

• Self-motivated and able to work without supervision.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Highly numerate and commercially astute.
• Strong multi-tasking and time-management skills.
• Able to travel independently for short periods both in the UK and internationally.
• Language skills at CEFR level B1 or B2 in a common European language (e.g., German, French, Spanish).

General/Other:

• Full UK driving licence and ability to drive overseas.
• Passport and no restrictions on traveling worldwide.

Job Challenges:

• Prioritising multiple projects and ensuring all are delivered successfully.
• Managing both detail and broader project views.

INDH

Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire