Principal Project Manager

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to delivering impactful work that shapes the future.

We are a team of over 20,000 experts working across the world in more than 50 countries.
We are proud to be part of an ever-changing global industry, delivering transformative work that’s defining our future. It’s our people who power that performance. As an employee-owned business, we invest in creating a space for everyone to feel safe and valued and empowered with the right tools and support. 

Whether you want to pursue excellence in your specialism or broaden your experience with flexible roles across our business, you’ll be connected to a community of global experts championing you to be your best. Join us and shape your story with Mott MacDonald, where everyone has the opportunity to be brilliant.

About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global, employee‑owned engineering, management, and development consultancy. We partner with clients to deliver impactful, sustainable solutions that improve social outcomes and create long‑term value. As a Principal Project Manager, you will lead complex, multi‑disciplinary programs and projects from strategy through delivery, shaping outcomes for clients and communities.

The Opportunity
We are seeking a client‑facing Principal Project Manager to provide strategic leadership, governance, and delivery excellence across major capital projects and programs. You will be accountable for scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and benefits realization, while cultivating high‑performing teams and trusted client relationships. This role combines project leadership, commercial stewardship, and people development with a significant sales and business development component

Key Responsibilities

 Leadership & Governance

• Define and secure agreement on project vision, objectives, success criteria, and benefits; establish effective governance and decision‑making structures. 
• Lead multi‑disciplinary internal teams and external supply chains; set expectations on safety, quality, ethics, and performance. 
• Chair key project boards/meetings; provide accurate, timely reporting and escalation. 

Project & Program Delivery

• Own end‑to‑end delivery (initiation to close‑out): scope definition, WBS, schedule, cost baseline, resourcing, risk/issue/change control, and quality assurance. 
• Apply stage‑gate controls and delivery frameworks (e.g., PMBoK/PRINCE2/Agile/NEC/P3M). 
• Drive proactive risk management, value engineering, and benefits tracking. 

Commercial & Contract Management

• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and cashflow; ensure profitability and commercial compliance. 
• Lead procurement strategies and contract administration (e.g., NEC, FIDIC, JCT, bespoke). 
• Negotiate with clients and suppliers; manage variations, claims, and disputes constructively. 

Stakeholder & Client Engagement 

• Build strong, trusted relationships with client sponsors and senior stakeholders; act as the primary point of accountability. 
• Develop and deliver client engagement and communications plans; manage statutory, community, and third‑party interfaces.
• Serve as client account leader for key clients and support other staff with client account management
• Represent Mott MacDonald in local industry organizations and events

Capture Planning and Sales Strategy and Execution 

• Evaluate local and regional sales strategy and oversee execution. Develop a local sales plan to increase Greater San Diego Area client and project base across markets.
• Validate pipeline of capture opportunities and oversee decision-to-pursue and decision-to-bid activities
• Lead relationship development with clients in the local market
• Manage pursuit budgets and effective capture delivery

Technical & Digital Enablement 

• Integrate design, construction, digital delivery (e.g., BIM, common data environments), and systems engineering as appropriate. 
• Promote data‑driven decision making, dashboards, and project analytics. 

People & Practice Development 

• Serve as office principal in Mott MacDonald’s San Diego office. Mentor, coach, and line‑manage project managers and coordinators; build succession and capability. 
• Contribute to bids, proposals, and thought leadership; support key account growth. 

Health, Safety, Sustainability & Social Outcomes 

• Champion a safety‑first culture and right‑first‑time quality. 
• Embed sustainability, resilience, carbon reduction, and social value objectives in delivery. 

Minimum Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, project management, or related discipline (Master’s preferred). 
• 15+ years of progressive project/program management experience delivering complex, multi‑stakeholder capital projects (consultancy experience preferred). 
• Professional certification: PMP or equivalent. 
• Demonstrable experience with one or more forms of contract and robust commercial management. 
• Proven track record delivering within agreed scope, schedule, cost, and quality—while achieving high client satisfaction. 

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with excellent planning, governance, and risk leadership.
• Strong commercial acumen (budgeting, forecasting, margin management). 
• Confident communicator able to influence executive level; excellent report writing and presentation skills.
• Inclusive people leader—able to motivate, coach, and grow teams.
• Comfortable operating in matrix/global environments; adaptable and collaborative.
• Digital fluency (e.g., MS Project/Primavera P6, Power BI, BIM/CDEs, and collaboration platforms). 
• Sector expertise in [Transportation/Water/Energy/Buildings/Advisory] across the full asset lifecycle. 
• Experience with alliance/integrated delivery models or major program PMOs. 
• Experience leading bids and key account growth.

Flexible working
At Mott MacDonald, we support our staff to create work-life balance which works for them and welcome candidates looking for career flexibility. We are open to discussing flexible working at interview stage.

Our benefits package is designed to enhance your experience:

• 90 calendar days paid maternity leave
• Competitive annual leave
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Annual company performance bonus scheme – Subject to company performance