Senior Project Manager; Education

Title: Senior Project Manager
Location: Lowry Mill, Lees Street, Manchester, M27 6DB

Working pattern: Hybrid (site visits required)
Salary: £55,000-£65,000
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Reporting to: Head of Project Services

Dataspire partners with schools and multi-academy trusts to build dependable, high performing technology environments. Our work helps schools operate securely and efficiently, while enabling teachers and students to make the most of technology.

We are looking for a Senior Project Manager that has experience of leading large Education / Construction / ICT projects. You will work closely with Schools, DfE and Contractors to ensure projects are delivered to our high standards, are on time and in budget.

This is a customer-facing role that will require visits to site so a full driving license is essential.

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the successful planning, delivery, and closure of education construction and refurbishment projects, ensuring that all project objectives are achieved safely, on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

The role involves coordinating stakeholders across the education, construction, ICT, and professional services sectors to deliver projects ranging from school refurbishments and extensions to new-build educational facilities. The Senior Project Manager acts as the primary point of contact for clients, contractors, consultants, local authorities, and internal delivery teams throughout the project lifecycle.

• Manage multiple education sector projects from inception through to completion and handover.
• Develop and maintain detailed project programmes, resource plans, budgets, and risk registers.
• Monitor project progress against key milestones and performance indicators.
• Ensure project objectives, deliverables, and client expectations are clearly defined and achieved.
• Coordinate design, procurement, construction, ICT installation, commissioning, and handover activities.

• Experience managing construction, refurbishment, or capital works projects.
• Experience delivering projects within the education sector, public sector, or local authority environments.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders and contractors.
• Strong understanding of project governance, risk management, and reporting.
• Experience working on school new-build programmes.
• Familiarity with Department for Education (DfE) frameworks and funding streams.

• New school builds.
• School refurbishments and extensions.
• Classroom technology upgrades.
• Network and Wi-Fi installations.
• AV and learning technology solutions.
• Department for Education funded projects.

You’ll be a confident and organised Project Manager with experience delivering successful projects within education, infrastructure, or technology environments.

You will have excellent communication skills, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of customer service.

• Proven project management experience within education ICT
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders, contractors, and suppliers.
• Strong understanding of project planning, governance, risk, and budget management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage several concurrent projects.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Experience with ICT, AV, networking, or digital transformation projects.
• SMSTS, SSSTS, or relevant Health & Safety qualifications

• Salary of £55,000-£65,000
• Hybrid working, with site visits when required
• An additional paid Christmas shutdown day
• Your birthday off
• On-site parking
• Optional branded workwear
• Employee Assistance Programme, including wellbeing, mental health, legal, financial and personal support

Dataspire is a Mental Health at Work Committed organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We are committed to creating a working environment where everyone feels supported, valued and able to perform at their best.