Senior Contracts & Project Manager (Sponsorship Available) At UK Health Security Agency

Employer: UK Health Security Agency
Job Title: Senior Contracts & Project Manager
Location: United Kingdom
Salary: £56,185 to £66,581 a year
Job Type: Full-time
Closing Date: 06 April 2026

Job Summary

UK Health Security Agency is looking for a Senior Project Manager to join the Facilities Team, which is within the Scientific Facilities and Performance group.

The Facilities Team is responsible for engineering, maintenance, environmental sustainability, facilities and capital works projects to the Chilton site to maintain safe, regulatory and compliant facilities to meet current and future business objectives.

The department’s function manages and controls a team of staff, both in-house and contracted to assure governance in the supply of engineering maintenance to fixed plant and equipment, building maintenance and engineering modifications to uphold the asset value of UKHSA’s Chilton estate, and facilities services to meet the Facilities Team’s business plan and the wider organisational needs. The Facilities Team engages with stakeholders over current and future facilities, engineering and equipment maintenance requirements to ensure the site is safe, compliant, operational and fully available to meet business needs.

Main Duties of the Job

As Senior Project Manager, the role supports the Capital Works Programme Manager in delivering Chilton’s Capital Programme while working closely with the site’s business units and being responsible for the delivery of capital projects up to an approximate value of £5m in accordance with UKHSA’s Project Management Procedures Manual and covering all stages of Government Procurement Strategy.

The role leads the day to day running of project(s) that are typically moderate to high in complexity. These are likely to influence the UKHSA long term outcomes, goals or in year strategic objectives.

The role is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the project, ensuring that the objectives are clearly defined and achieved within the agreed time, cost, and quality constraints. Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills are required, and the role plays a key part in project governance, working with stakeholders to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefit realisation.

About the Organisation

UK Health Security Agency prides itself as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all staff and stakeholders. The organisation aims to create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of the workforce and wider communities. This is achieved through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit the careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership to the project team by motivating team members to meet project goals.
• Develop and maintain project plans and determine appropriate delivery methodology. Setting project controls, managing performance and report progress to sponsors.
• Design the project structure and organisation appropriate to the stage, effectively managing the transition between phases.
• Develop and draft the business case, seeking input from specialists as necessary.
• Lead the development of the budget and track project spend.
• Deliver the agreed business case benefits and outcomes. Monitor the longer-term delivery of benefits against the business case, ensuring an appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place.
• Identify key stakeholders, internal and external, and effectively manage these relationships.
• Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions, escalating as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.
• Identify, evaluate and document lessons learned during the project.
• Support effective governance and decision making. Provide project reports, engaging in processes that hold accountability for delivery.
• Engage with assurance reviews and support recommended action. Co-ordinate project assurance processes and gateway reviews.
• Ensure exceptional project and change management is delivered across the portfolio, using recognised UKHSA methods and governance.
• Role model commitment to personal development, promoting individual and team performance through support, guidance, and coaching.
• An active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience of successfully managing several complex projects ideally within infrastructure, construction refurbishment and replacement programmes using NEC and JCT contracts covering planning, scheduling, budget management, resource management, risk and issue management.
• Experience in the design and operation of engineering plant and systems, process and research equipment and corresponding facilities together with detailed knowledge of validation and commissioning techniques and principles.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of project methodologies and frameworks, governance, assurance, planning, requirements management and change control in a project or programme environment.
• Working knowledge of business case development, benefits management, and commercial and procurement processes.
• A visible leader with experience of promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting differences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries.
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated through the ability to influence and challenge effectively at a senior level.
• Ability to work well under pressure, with multiple tasks, in a fast-changing and ambiguous environment, with a keen attention to detail.
• Knowledge and experience of Project Management Methodology supported by professional qualifications such as:
  • APM Project Management Qualification
  • APM Chartered Project Professional
• A recognised construction qualification (or equivalent experience) such as:
  • NVQ level 5
  • HNC/HND or equivalent

Desirable Criteria

• Membership of a relevant Professional Institute or Society such as:
  • RIBA
  • RICS
  • ICE
  • CIBSE
  • IMechE
  • CIOB
• Extensive experience and knowledge of compliant engineering Management Quality Systems and/or HSE Regulations applicable to research facilities.
• Experience in project managing works within research and/or pharmaceutical facilities.
• Detailed knowledge of engineering safety systems and Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations.

Selection Process Details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Applicants will be required to complete an application form and will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria.

Assessment will include:

• Application form (Employer/Activity history section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement

The supporting statement should outline how skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Applicants will receive a joint score for the application form and statement.

The application form is the kind of information typically included in a CV. Applicants will not be able to upload a CV and should complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Applicants should not email a CV.

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, applications may be longlisted into three groups:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the group that meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift may be conducted on the lead criteria of:

• Experience in the design and operation of engineering plant and systems, process and research equipment and corresponding facilities together with detailed knowledge of validation and commissioning techniques and principles
• Detailed knowledge and experience of project methodologies and frameworks, governance, assurance, planning, requirements management and change control in a project or programme environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries

Desirable criteria may be used if there is a large number of successful candidates.

If successful at this stage, candidates will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Candidates will be invited to a single remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be a presentation. The presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes and the topic will be:

Delivering capital projects in Science: Balancing safety, operational continuity, and contract management

Interview dates will be confirmed.

Once the job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available, so candidates may want to save a copy for their records.

Location

This role is being offered as office based at the Glasgow site. Hybrid working is not available for this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before appointment.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before appointment. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Normally, candidates should have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance.

UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar candidates from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If successful at interview and moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply.

Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if candidates are able to demonstrate they are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.

Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Person Specification

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Essential

Application form and supporting statement

Interview

Essential

Questions on knowledge, experience, skills and abilities

Presentation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

How to Apply

If this opportunity interests you, head to the company’s official website for full details — click here to submit your application.