Lead Project Manager

Lead Project Manager

Harpenden & London offices with frequent travel

Deliver geospatial projects with precision and commercial impact.

At Plowman Craven, our Lead Project Managers guide complex geospatial survey delivery across built assets and major infrastructure. Working with developers, contractors, and engineering teams, you’ll ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest technical standards.

This is a senior role for a proven project leader who combines operational oversight, commercial acumen, and technical knowledge to drive project success and team performance.

The role:

As Lead Project Manager, you will manage and develop a team of Project Managers, embedding best practice and operational consistency across the division. You will act as the key interface between clients, project teams, and leadership, ensuring commercial, technical, and quality objectives are met while supporting sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Project Managers, fostering accountability and high performance.
• Provide guidance on complex project challenges, client issues, and commercial risks.

Project Delivery & Governance

• Oversee project management frameworks, ensuring consistent processes, reporting, and documentation.
• Monitor programme performance, risks, and quality across the portfolio.
• Standardise tools, templates, and methodologies across teams.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Ensure compliance with contracts (NEC3/NEC4) and financial governance.
• Approve budgets, forecasts, variations, and proposals to safeguard profitability.
• Identify efficiencies and mitigate risks to protect commercial outcomes.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as senior client contact, maintaining confidence in delivery and strong relationships.
• Collaborate with divisional heads, survey managers, digital leads, and commercial teams to ensure integrated, technically robust outcomes.

Operational Excellence & Innovation

• Drive consistent, high-quality delivery through process improvement and adoption of best practice.
• Embed lessons learned and champion digital innovation, including BIM, CAD, and automated workflows.

Technical Oversight

• Maintain expertise in geospatial survey methodologies, technologies, and standards.
• Provide guidance to ensure feasibility, accuracy, and compliance across projects.
• Promote health, safety, and environmental compliance throughout the division.

What we’re looking for:

• Degree in engineering, geomatics, surveying, construction management, or related field.
• Extensive experience in project management within geospatial surveying, digital construction, or infrastructure.
• Proven leadership and development of project teams.
• Strong understanding of survey technologies, automated monitoring systems, and BIM/CAD workflows.
• Experience delivering complex built asset and infrastructure projects.
• Commercially astute, familiar with NEC3/NEC4 contracts, budgeting, and financial governance.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and organisational skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.

Plowman Craven is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

If you have any questions about this role please email recruitment@plowmancraven.co.uk