Project Director – Multi‑Service Infrastructure Upgrade (Brownfield Site)
Location: Glasgow / HMNB Clyde
Reports To: Operations Director – FNICAP
Contract Type: Permanent
About the Role
We are seeking an exceptional Project Director to lead the safe and successful delivery of a large‑scale, multi‑service infrastructure upgrade within the live and highly regulated environment at HMNB Clyde. This role provides full accountability for project performance across safety, programme, cost, quality, and operational impact.
You will lead a multidisciplinary team across engineering, construction, commercial, planning, HSE, controls, and commissioning—ensuring civil, mechanical, electrical, and service diversions are delivered in a coordinated, phased, and predictable manner. Operating within an operationally constrained brownfield site, you will drive detailed planning, robust governance, strong client relationships, and exceptional control of operational interfaces.
The Project Director will translate strategic portfolio direction into an actionable project execution strategy and ensure disciplined adherence to project controls and commercial frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Leadership & Accountability
- Hold full P&L accountability for the project’s financial, programme, safety, and operational outcomes.
- Lead and inspire a large multidisciplinary delivery team across engineering, commercial, HSE, planning, quality, and site operations.
- Develop and own the Project Execution Plan (PEP) and ensure governance compliance.
- Embed a culture of safety, predictability, and disciplined project management.
- Ensure project delivery is compatible with a live operational defence environment with significant constraints.
- Brownfield & Operational Environment Management
- Oversee the planning and execution of all works in a restricted, live operational setting.
- Manage continuity of critical services during cutovers, diversions, and tie‑ins.
- Lead phasing strategies, temporary systems, shutdown planning, and access logistics.
- Ensure all isolation, commissioning, and reinstatement activities follow rigorous protocols.
- Mitigate risks associated with legacy assets and unknown buried services.
- Technical & Construction Oversight
- Provide leadership and oversight of multi‑service infrastructure upgrades including:
- Power distribution systems
- Water and drainage networks
- HVAC systems
- Compressed air
- Gas and fuels
- Data and telecoms networks
- Associated civil and reinstatement works
- Ensure designs are integrated, constructible, and aligned with project sequencing.
- Lead resolution of technical clashes, interface conflicts, and brownfield constraints.
- Maintain strong oversight of inspection, quality assurance, and verification regimes.
- Interface with Operations Director
- Report directly to the Operations Director – FNICAP on all aspects of performance, risk, commercial status, and delivery confidence.
- Escalate major issues, risks, or programme impacts requiring portfolio‑level intervention.
- Implement portfolio governance processes and operational directives consistently.
- Contribute to wider framework resourcing, capability development, and lessons learned.
- Performance Management
- Ensure project milestones, interfaces, and dependencies align with the wider programme.
- Maintain accurate programme forecasting, progress reporting, and mitigation planning.
- Lead coordination with adjacent projects sharing corridors, utilities, or construction interfaces.
- Support integrated planning across enabling works, utilities, civils, and buildings.
- Ensure compliance with all project control processes, including regular logic‑linked programme updates.
- Provide accurate cost forecasting and robust commercial reporting.
- Oversee preparation of impact assessments for variations or compensation events.
- Commercial & Contractual Management
- Work closely with the Commercial Lead to manage:
- Contract compliance
- Variations, compensation events, and early warnings
- Risk registers and commercial mitigation
- Subcontractor performance and payment governance
- Protect the commercial position of the business while maintaining collaborative client relationships.
- Minimise claims exposure through early risk identification and strategic interventions.
- Risk & Change Management
- Own the live project risk register and ensure alignment with programme and cost forecasts.
- Drive early identification of site‑specific risks, including unknown services and operational interfaces.
- Ensure structured and controlled change management processes are followed.
- Lead development of mitigation strategies that prevent cost or schedule overrun.
- Stakeholder & Client Management
- Act as the principal interface with the client’s operational and delivery representatives.
- Ensure proactive, transparent communication around shutdowns, impacts, constraints, and phasing.
- Build trust through predictable delivery and senior‑level engagement.
- Lead high‑level progress, risk, and commercial review meetings.
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
- Champion a culture of “Protecting People” across all project activities.
- Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, statutory requirements, and all site‑specific procedures.
- Lead HSE performance reviews, incident investigations, and continuous improvement actions.
- Ensure environmental management plans and controls are adhered to at all times.
Key Skills & Experience
Essential
- Significant experience delivering complex infrastructure or utilities upgrades.
- Strong background working within brownfield or live operational environments.
- Expert understanding of service diversions, shutdown planning, and phased commissioning.
- Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.
- Strong commercial acumen with proven understanding of NEC or similar forms of contract.
- Experience working within structured project controls frameworks.
Desirable
- Background in civil, utilities, mechanical, or electrical engineering.
- Experience leading projects with significant stakeholder sensitivity.
- Chartered or professionally accredited status.
Qualifications
- Degree, or equivalent level NVQ, in Mechanical, Electrical or Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
- Professional membership (e.g., MEng, CEng, MCIOB, MRICS) – desirable.
- SMSTS / NEBOSH or equivalent health & safety certification – desirable.
- Eligibility for security clearance (mandatory for HMNB Clyde).
Personal Attributes
- Strong, visible leadership with credibility at both operational and executive levels.
- Calm, decisive, and solutions‑focused under pressure.
- Highly organised with disciplined governance and reporting mindset.
- Commercially aware, risk‑driven, and proactive in managing challenges.
- Collaborative and engaging, but able to apply firm challenge when required.