Project Manager - Highways & Transportation

Interim Project Manager - Highways & Transportation

Location: Wiltshire - Hybrid

Contract: Initial 12 Months (Potential for Extension)

Day Rate: Circa £400-450 per day inside IR35 (Negotiable)

Spencer Clarke Group are currently seeking an experienced Interim Project Manager (Highways & Transportation) to join our client, a local authority in the South West, to lead the delivery of a portfolio of high-value and strategic highways and transport projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the lead Project Manager on a portfolio of complex, high-value highways and transportation projects, each with budgets up to £30 million.
• Deliver capital and revenue grant projects, including managing the council's interface with major external infrastructure schemes led by third parties (e.g. statutory bodies).
• Develop and manage all project documentation including project briefs, business cases, strategic risk registers, issue logs, and comprehensive project plans.
• Monitor and report on project performance, budget control, and delivery outcomes in line with council priorities.
• Lead on change control, assessing and managing the political, financial, and operational impacts of proposed changes.
• Administer and manage NEC3 / NEC4 contracts (Term Service, Professional Services, and Engineering Construction Contracts).
• Oversee the full procurement lifecycle, from advertising contracts and responding to clarifications, to post-tender analysis and award.
• Coordinate and manage the Principal Contractor and Principal Designer, ensuring compliance with legal and contractual obligations.
• Drive forward best practice in contract management, programme governance, and risk mitigation strategies.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience managing large-scale highways and/or transport infrastructure projects in a local authority or public sector context.
• Strong understanding and hands-on experience with NEC3 / NEC4 contracts.
• Track record of managing end-to-end delivery of complex capital schemes, including procurement, contract administration, and financial control.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, change control, stakeholder engagement, and risk management.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and external delivery partners.
• Confident communicator, capable of working with senior stakeholders and translating complex technical information into clear, actionable strategies.

Desirable

• Chartered status with a relevant professional body (e.g. APM, ICE, CIHT etc.).
• Experience with local authority governance and gateway processes.
• Familiarity with DfT funding requirements and major bid preparation.

This is a key role within a high-performing Project & Programme Delivery Team and offers the opportunity to make a real impact on strategic infrastructure outcomes across the region.

Apply now or get in touch with Joe O'Halloran to discuss the opportunity further on 01772 954200.