Principal Transport Delivery Project Manager

The Service

The Transport service are part of the wider Economy, Transport and Planning directorate. We keep the city moving and create greener, healthier and better-connected travel.

The Transport Delivery Team support the delivery of the Transport service, which underpins all transport programmes, ensuring consistent and effective execution in alignment with the Council’s vision and transport strategy objectives.

With Portsmouth forecast to have c.40,000 electric vehicles by 2034, the council needs to plan for the city's electric vehicle future. Portsmouth City Council have been allocated £3.682m from Government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI) to deliver new charging infrastructure to meet forecast demand.

As Principal Transport Delivery Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Portsmouth’s transport future by leading the delivery of the city’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI) programme. This includes overseeing the completion of earlier ORCS phases, managing ongoing contract operations, and driving forward a major procurement process for the next LEVI‑funded rollout. Working within a collaborative matrix management environment, you’ll take ownership of complex transport projects from initial planning through to construction, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget and aligned with the council’s strategic transport and regeneration aims.

You will provide programme and project management leadership across multiple schemes, manage consultants and contractors, and ensure robust financial control throughout delivery. Your role will also involve developing project documentation, preparing tenders, managing risk, and representing the council in meetings and public consultations. You will support and develop junior team members, foster effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, and ensure high‑quality outcomes across all stages of scheme development and implementation.

• Leading the full lifecycle delivery of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI) programme, including ORCS phase closure and LEVI procurement.
• Managing major highways and construction projects in line with Portsmouth’s growth and transport strategy.
• Overseeing contractors, consultants and staff to ensure programme targets and quality standards are achieved.
• Preparing estimates, monitoring costs and ensuring delivery within agreed budgets.
• Producing and maintaining project documentation, business cases, risk registers and tender materials.
• Leading consultations, preparing reports and representing the council in stakeholder discussions.
• Providing day‑to‑day leadership, mentoring and line management to team members.

You will be an experienced project management professional with a strong track record of successfully delivering major civil engineering or infrastructure projects. Educated to HND/Degree level and supported by a recognised project management qualification—such as PRINCE2 Practitioner—or significant performance at this level, you will bring the technical competence, commercial awareness and leadership skills required to deliver complex, high‑profile programmes. You will be confident managing budgets, interpreting financial information and making informed decisions to ensure value for money.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with contractors, stakeholders, councillors and the wider public. You’ll be organised, analytical and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment. You should be able to work independently, use initiative, and remain positive under workload pressure. A good understanding of NEC contracts, experience preparing reports and documentation, and proficiency in Microsoft Office (ideally including MS Project) will also be essential for success.

An awareness of environmental legislation is desirable.

• HND or degree in a relevant subject.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent project management qualification. Professional membership (e.g., APM).
• Extensive post‑graduate…