Project Manager - Civil Engineering / Highways in Milton Keynes

Job DescriptionProject Manager – Civil Engineering / Highways Milton Keynes | £4.5m Infrastructure Project | October 2026 Start We are recruiting for an experienced Project Manager to take responsibility for the delivery of a newly secured £4.5m civil engineering and highways project in Milton Keynes. This is a substantial infrastructure package being delivered for a Tier 1 main contractor, involving the construction of a new spine road that will provide access to a future residential development. The project is due to commence on October 2026 and is expected to run through until February/March 2028, providing an excellent opportunity for someone looking for a significant long-term project. Ideally, we would like the successful Project Manager to join the business 1–2 weeks ahead of the contractual start date to support mobilisation and final project preparation. The Project The circa £4.5m package includes: Significant earthworks Drainage installation General civil engineering Highway construction Enlargement of an existing roundabout Construction of approximately 500m of new spine road Associated infrastructure and external works Coordination with adjacent contractors The new road will run through a greenfield area and ultimately open up land for future housing development. Two small underpasses are also being constructed by another contractor on the site, so there will be an important element of interface management and coordination throughout the programme. The Role As Project Manager, you'll take overall responsibility for the successful operational delivery of the works from mobilisation through to completion. You'll lead the site team, manage programme and resources and act as a key point of contact between the business and the Tier 1 client. This is an NEC4 Option B subcontract, so we're particularly interested in Project Managers with strong NEC knowledge who understand the importance of programme management, early warnings, change control, accurate records and proactive communication. Responsibilities will include: * Overall project delivery from mobilisation to completion * Managing the construction programme * Planning and sequencing earthworks, drainage and highway activities * Managing site teams, subcontractors and suppliers * Working closely with the commercial team * Managing the relationship with the Tier 1 client * NEC contract administration from an operational perspective * Early identification of risk, change and potential delays * Maintaining accurate project records * Progress reporting and client meetings * Health, safety and environmental management * Quality management * Resource and plant planning * Coordination with neighbouring contractors and work packages * Driving the project against key milestones * Managing completion and handover Your Background We are looking for an experienced civil engineering Project Manager who understands the standards expected when working for a Tier 1 contractor. You will ideally have a strong background across: Highways | Infrastructure | Earthworks | Drainage | Roads | Section 278 Works | Residential Infrastructure | Major Civils Strong NEC experience is essential, ideally including direct experience of NEC3 or NEC4 projects. You'll also need to demonstrate: * Proven Project Management experience within civil engineering * Experience delivering multi-million-pound infrastructure projects * Strong knowledge of NEC contracts * Excellent programming and planning ability * Strong health & safety leadership * Experience operating within Tier 1 contractor environments * Excellent client-facing communication skills * Strong commercial awareness * Experience managing interfaces between different contractors * The ability to lead and motivate site teams Most importantly, we're looking for somebody who can take ownership of the project. The Opportunity You'll be joining an established civil engineering contractor with more than 50 years' experience delivering infrastructure projects across highways, earthworks, drainage, groundworks and urban development. The business has an excellent track record of delivering substantial road infrastructure schemes, including complex earthworks, deep drainage, new highways and roundabout construction. This is a long-term project running into 2028, giving the successful Project Manager the opportunity to take ownership from the very beginning and see the scheme through to completion. Milton Keynes | Start September/October 2026 If you're an experienced Civil Engineering Project Manager with strong NEC and highways/infrastructure experience, please send me your CV or contact me directly for a confidential conversation. All applications and enquiries will be treated in complete confidence