Project Manager - Infrastructure Consents (Water Sector)
Location: Reading (2 to 3 days per week on-site)
Contract: 6 Months
Rate: £400-£500 per day (Inside IR35)
Start Date: ASAP
We're hiring an experienced Project Manager to join a high-performing consents team working on nationally significant infrastructure programmes in the water industry. You will be embedded within a client-facing environment at a major utility company, helping to deliver complex projects through key statutory planning and consent milestones.
About the Role
You'll play a pivotal role in supporting a well-established consents function working across three key programme areas:
- DCO Assurance: Preparing for and supporting development consent order (DCO) processes
- DCO Delivery: Managing programme-level consent risks
- Strategic De-risking: Supporting wider industry engagement to reduce future risks
- Working closely with internal teams, external stakeholders, and partner organisations, your primary focus will be to bring structure, clarity, and delivery rigour across this portfolio. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the success of critical environmental infrastructure projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain oversight of programme risks, governance, and key deadlines across the consents portfolio
- Coordinate cross-functional teams and run programme-level meetings, forward planning, and reporting
- Act as secretariat for key working groups, driving alignment and action across multiple stakeholders
- Work closely with planning and engagement teams to support the successful delivery of Statements of Common Ground and DCO submissions
- Provide project management support to information governance processes and drive continuous improvement in quality and assurance
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience managing complex infrastructure or statutory planning projects
- Hands-on experience with Development Consent Orders (DCOs) or equivalent planning frameworks
- Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination skills
- Proven ability to manage information flow, reporting, and team delivery in complex environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with confidence leading meetings and delivering updates
Desirable:
- Experience in the water/utilities sector
- Knowledge of government engagement or environmental consenting best practice
- Project management or town planning qualification
- Comfortable using MS Office, SharePoint, and digital collaboration tools
What's in it for you?
- Join a forward-thinking team working on some of the UK's most critical infrastructure projects
- Flexibility to work in a hybrid model with a balance of on-site engagement and remote delivery
- Work in a collaborative, professional, and outcome-driven environment
Interested?
Apply now with your CV to discuss this opportunity in more detail. Early applications are encouraged as interviews will be scheduled shortly.
