Principal Project Manager

Posting date:	17 December 2025
Salary:	£450 to £550 per day
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	16 January 2026
Location:	n.a
Remote working:	On-site only
Company:	Morson Talent
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	morson_250162-44957

Summary

Job Title: Principal Project Manager
Location: Yorkshire (Sheffield surrounding areas)
Team: Transport Development & Capital Delivery
Rate:£450 - £550
Reporting to: Assistant Director - Transport Project Delivery / Senior Principal Project Manager

Role Purpose

The Principal Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of large, complex, and high-value transport projects within a major public sector transport programme. The role ensures projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards, contributing directly to the successful delivery of an ambitious Transport Capital Programme and its intended outcomes and benefits.

Principal Accountabilities

Project Leadership & Delivery
Lead the delivery of large and complex transport projects from inception to completion, ensuring compliance with agreed timescales, budgets, quality standards, safety requirements, and funding conditions.

Multi-Disciplinary Team Management
Lead, manage, and coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams, including internal staff, consultants, contractors, transport operators, and external partners, optimising resources to balance demand and capacity effectively.

Project Management & Financial Control
Apply the organisation's agreed project management framework, tools, and assurance processes to drive projects to successful completion, taking full responsibility for financial management of both capital and revenue budgets, forecasting, and final accounts.

Business Case Development & Governance
Lead the development, submission, presentation, and approval of project business cases to internal decision-makers and external funding bodies, ensuring compliance with the organisation's Project Assurance Framework, governance requirements, and relevant policies and procedures.

Reporting, Monitoring & Assurance
Produce, maintain, and update comprehensive project documentation throughout all project stages, including programmes, reports, risk and issue logs, change control, cost management, and performance reporting, communicating progress clearly to senior officers, stakeholders, and assurance bodies.

Risk, Change & Contract Management
Proactively manage risks, issues, opportunities, scope, costs, and contractual obligations throughout the project lifecycle, resolving or escalating matters as required to ensure delivery remains on programme and within budget.

Procurement & Contract Administration
Lead the preparation and coordination of tender documentation and procurement activities for goods, services, and works, advising on procurement routes and forms of contract, and managing professional services and works contracts through to completion.

Health, Safety & Compliance
Ensure all project activities comply with Health and Safety legislation, including CDM Regulations, and that all statutory, regulatory, and third-party approvals required for project delivery and operation are identified and secured.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Lead effective communication and engagement on complex projects, including:

Preparing high-quality professional advice, briefings, and progress reports

Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, partners, regulators, transport operators, and local and central government bodies

Leading public engagement and consultation activities to ensure timely, transparent, and inclusive participation

Negotiating with public and private sector partners to secure funding, commercial agreements, and legal arrangements

People Management & Development
Provide line management, coaching, and pastoral support to Project Managers and project support staff, supporting performance, professional development, and career progression.

Organisational Responsibilities
Undertake all duties in line with organisational policies and procedures, including health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, and standing orders, and carry out any other duties commensurate with the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Key: E = Essential / D = Desirable

Qualifications & Professional Membership

Level 6 qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. Civil, Highways or Transportation Engineering, Transport Planning, or Project Management) with demonstrable experience delivering large and/or complex projects (E)

Practitioner-level project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 or equivalent) or equivalent experience with willingness to undertake formal training (E)

Accredited Health & Safety training, including CDM Regulations (E)

Membership of a relevant professional body or institution (D)

Experience

Substantial experience delivering complex, multi-disciplinary transport projects involving multiple stakeholders (E)

Experience across all stages of the project lifecycle, including governance, controls, risk, cost, and change management (E)

Experience managing senior stakeholders and engaging with members of the public (E)

Experience contributing to or leading the development of business cases (D)

Experience in the design and construction of transport or engineering projects (D)

Skills & Competencies

Strong organisational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritise and perform under pressure (E)

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality documentation for diverse audiences (E)

Ability to understand complex issues and provide clear, concise, and accurate advice to decision-makers (E)

Commercial awareness, negotiation capability, and budget management skills (E)

Proven people management and team leadership skills (E)

Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work with minimal supervision (E)

Strong problem-solving skills with the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances (E)