Principal Project Manager

About the Role

We partner with clients to deliver sustainable solutions that improve social outcomes. The Principal Project Manager role will lead complex, multi‑disciplinary programs from strategy through delivery, shaping outcomes for clients and communities while providing strategic leadership, governance and delivery excellence. The position is client‑facing and accountable for scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality and benefits realization. It combines project leadership, commercial stewardship, people development and a significant sales and business development component, requiring the cultivation of high‑performing teams and trusted client relationships. • Define project vision, objectives, success criteria and benefits; establish governance structures. • Lead multi‑disciplinary internal teams and external supply chains, setting expectations on safety, quality, ethics and performance. • Chair project boards/meetings and provide timely reporting and escalation. • Own end‑to‑end delivery including scope, WBS, schedule, cost baseline, resourcing, risk/issue/change control and quality assurance. • Apply stage‑gate controls and delivery frameworks such as PMBOK, PRINCE2, Agile, NEC and P3M. • Drive proactive risk management, value engineering and benefits tracking. • Develop and manage budgets, forecasts and cashflow; ensure profitability and commercial compliance. • Lead procurement strategies and contract administration (NEC, FIDIC, JCT, bespoke). • Negotiate with clients and suppliers; manage variations, claims and disputes constructively. • Build trusted relationships with client sponsors and senior stakeholders; act as primary accountability point. • Develop and deliver client engagement and communications plans; manage statutory, community and third‑party interfaces. • Represent Mott MacDonald in local industry organisations and events. • Evaluate and execute local/regional sales strategy; develop a sales plan to grow the Greater San Diego client base. • Validate capture pipeline; oversee decision‑to‑pursue and decision‑to‑bid activities. • Lead relationship development with local market clients; manage pursuit budgets and capture delivery. • Integrate design, construction, digital delivery (BIM, CDE) and systems engineering. • Promote data‑driven decision making with dashboards and project analytics. • Serve as office principal in San Diego; mentor, coach and line‑manage project managers and coordinators, building capability. • Contribute to bids, proposals and thought leadership; support key account growth. • Champion a safety‑first culture and right‑first‑time quality. • Embed sustainability, resilience, carbon reduction and social value objectives in delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸project governance
• ▸risk management
• ▸budget management
• ▸procurement
• ▸bim integration
• ▸data analytics

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, project management or a related field (Master’s preferred). • 15+ years progressive project/program management experience delivering complex, multi‑stakeholder capital projects (consultancy experience preferred). • Professional certification such as PMP or equivalent. • Proven experience with contractual and commercial management. • Track record of delivering on scope, schedule, cost and quality with high client satisfaction. • Strategic thinker with strong planning, governance and risk leadership. • Commercial acumen in budgeting, forecasting and margin management. • Excellent executive‑level communication, report writing and presentation skills. • Inclusive leader who motivates, coaches and develops teams. • Comfortable operating in matrix/global environments; adaptable and collaborative. • Digital fluency with MS Project/Primavera P6, Power BI, BIM/CDEs and collaboration platforms. • Sector expertise across transportation, water, energy, buildings or advisory. • Experience with alliance/integrated delivery models or major program PMOs. • Proven ability to lead bids and drive key account growth.

Requirements

• ▸pmp
• ▸15+ years
• ▸ms project
• ▸primavera
• ▸power bi
• ▸bim

Benefits

Mott MacDonald supports work‑life balance through flexible working arrangements and offers a benefits package that includes 90 days paid maternity leave, competitive annual leave, an annual professional institution subscription and a performance‑linked bonus. • 90 calendar days paid maternity leave. • Competitive annual leave. • Annual professional institution subscription. • Annual company performance bonus (subject to performance).

Work Environment

Office Full-Time