Project Manager

The Vacancy

Project Manager

Location: Cambridge
Reports To: Head of Projects

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Project Manager to oversee a variety of critical projects for our client in Cambridge.

This is a key role responsible for taking projects from feasibility through to successful completion, ensuring all work meets agreed timescales, quality standards, safety requirements, and contractual deliverables. You will be the central point of coordination for planning, monitoring, reporting, and driving project performance—working closely with operational teams, technical specialists, and senior stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project leadership, a proactive mindset, and the ability to manage multiple, complex workstreams in a business‑critical environment.

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Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of project delivery from feasibility to completion, following our processes and documentation standards.
• Produce project plans, scheduling milestones, assigning responsibilities, and coordinating resources.
• Maintain and regularly review project programmes, identifying resource requirements early.
• Lead project monitoring, status meetings, and progress reporting to the FM Board.
• Identify and manage risks, issues, and constraints, ensuring early escalation and mitigation.
• Work closely with operational teams to support and coordinate change management activities.
• Define or support the creation of acceptance criteria for deliverables and ensure stakeholder approval.
• Prepare and maintain documentation including reports, schedules, agendas, minutes, and communication logs.
• Analyse and manage business disruption factors and operational impacts.
• Ensure project quality standards and compliance are met.
• Close out projects effectively, including lessons‑learned reviews and end‑of‑project reports.
• Use tools such as Gantt charts, spreadsheets, and project management systems to organise workflows.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with clients, contractors, and internal teams.

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Essential Qualifications

• Project Management qualification (Prince2).
• Membership with IOSH (or equivalent).

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Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with CAFM and reporting systems
• Technical training such as:
  • City & Guilds (Electrical or Mechanical disciplines), or
  • NVQ Level 2–3 (Electrical/Mechanical).
• 18th Edition Electrical qualification.
• Electrical or mechanical apprenticeship.

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Essential Experience

• Working in a managerial role with strong project management responsibility.
• Facilities Management background
• Strong competence in planning, forecasting, and change management procedures.
• Proven ability to produce clear, structured project plans and reports.
• Ability to identify, manage, and mitigate risks.
• Experience coordinating core engineering or technical projects.
• Ability to deliver against strict timescales and maintain high documentation standards.
• Skilled in leading focused, productive project meetings.

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Desirable Experience

• Practical experience with Microsoft Project and other Microsoft packages.
• Prior experience managing business systems, reporting tools, or CAFM platforms.
• Experience supporting business‑led transformations.

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Skills & Personal Attributes

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional, client‑focused attitude.
• Ability to understand and interpret client requirements.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Adaptable, flexible, and calm under pressure.
• Effective problem‑solver with attention to detail.
• Reliable, results‑driven and well‑presented.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant’s criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.