Programme Manager

Location/s: Brighton, Croydon, Bristol, York, Altrincham, Newcastle, Glasgow; UK
Recruiter contact: Laura Kennedy

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit  
The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of the role

As a result of the continued growth of our National Grid portfolio, in the energy networks team we are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to support the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of engineering and design projects.

The portfolio comprises multidisciplinary design services across substations, converter stations, underground cable systems and overhead line projects for National Grid. Maintaining long-term client relationships and securing repeat business are fundamental to our success, underpinned by the consistent delivery of high-quality, commercially successful projects.

Working closely with the Portfolio Manager, this role will focus on establishing effective delivery strategies, portfolio planning, resource forecasting, programme governance and project controls across the portfolio. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving delivery excellence, improving portfolio performance and supporting the sustainable growth of the business.

This is anticipated to be a part-time role of approximately three days per week, combined with other responsibilities such as Project Principal, Project Manager, Bid Director or other leadership roles depending on the successful candidate's experience and background.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Portfolio Planning & Governance
  • Support the Portfolio Manager in developing and maintaining a strategically aligned delivery programme across the National Grid portfolio
  • Anticipate resource demands and capacity requirements across projects, providing consolidated forecasts and performance reports
  • Develop and maintain portfolio-level schedules and milestone reporting to support effective decision-making and business planning
  • Work with project teams to ensure robust project controls, risk management and reporting processes are implemented consistently
• Project Delivery Excellence
  • Support Project Principals and Project Managers in establishing effective delivery strategies, programmes and governance arrangements
  • Ensure projects comply with National Grid Supplier Requirements, Mott MacDonald best practice, STEP requirements, and relevant quality, health and safety standards
  • Monitor project performance and compliance metrics, reporting key trends, opportunities and risks to divisional leadership
  • Identify and implement opportunities to improve delivery efficiency, consistency and commercial performance across the portfolio
• Business Growth & Opportunity Development
  • Support the Portfolio Manager and Sub-Portfolio Leads in developing delivery strategies for key pursuits and opportunities
  • Identify project delivery risks, resource requirements and critical success factors during bid development
  • Work collaboratively with bid teams to ensure delivery assumptions, schedules and fee proposals are realistic, robust and commercially sound
  • Help demonstrate Mott MacDonald's capability and right-to-win position within strategic client opportunities
• Leadership & Capability Development
  • Coach and mentor Project Managers and Project Principals, helping to embed best practice in project delivery and portfolio management
  • Promote a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing project culture
  • Champion continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across the Energy Networks business
  • Act as Project Principal or Project Manager on selected strategic projects where required
• Stakeholder & Risk Management
  • Foster strong relationships with clients, delivery partners and internal stakeholders
  • Collaborate with commercial managers, legal advisors, insurance specialists and technical leaders to identify, assess and mitigate project risks
  • Provide leadership in maintaining a safe, positive and proactive project environment across all delivery teams
  • Work closely with digital and project controls teams to maximise the use of data, digital tools and reporting capabilities

Candidate specification

We are looking for a highly motivated programme or project management professional with a proven track record in the Energy Networks sector and a passion for delivering complex infrastructure projects.

Essential:

• Significant experience in programme, portfolio and/or project management within the transmission and distribution sector.
• Demonstrable experience delivering FEED, detailed design or engineering consultancy projects
• Strong understanding of project controls, portfolio management, resource planning and delivery governance
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline
• Professional qualification in Project Management and/or Engineering
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing project financial performance and governance
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholder environments
• Proven leadership capabilities with the ability to coach, mentor and develop project teams

Desirable:

• Experience working on National Grid or major utility programmes
• Familiarity with NEC contracts and engineering consultancy delivery models
• Experience managing large-scale portfolios of infrastructure projects
• Strong analytical skills with experience using Power BI, Excel and project reporting tools
• Experience driving digital transformation, reporting improvements and portfolio optimisation initiatives

Why join us?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in one of Mott MacDonald's fastest-growing sectors. You will help shape the delivery of major National Grid programmes, influence strategic decisions across a significant portfolio, and contribute to projects that are critical to achieving the UK's energy transition ambitions.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.