Job Description:

MERITUS are recruiting for a Construction & Facilities Project Manager to join a leading Defence Manufacturing organisation, delivering major infrastructure, construction, and facilities improvement projects across highly secure, regulated, and complex operational manufacturing environments.

CONSTRUCTION & FACILITIES PROJECT MANAGER - DEFENCE MANUFACTURING - STEVENAGE - HYBRID (3 DYAS PER WEEK ONSITE) - 12 MONTH CONTRACT - UP TO £50 PER HOUR (INSIDE IR35) - SC ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED

We're seeking an experienced Facilities Project Manager to lead the end-to-end delivery of capital construction and infrastructure projects within a defence manufacturing environment. This client-side role covers projects from feasibility and design through to construction, commissioning, and handover, ensuring minimal disruption to critical live operations.

Working within a highly regulated defence manufacturing business, you will play a key role in delivering secure, compliant, and business-critical infrastructure supporting advanced engineering and production activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead construction, facilities, and infrastructure projects through the full lifecycle within a defence manufacturing environment.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams including internal stakeholders, consultants, and principal contractors.
• Ensure delivery in line with governance frameworks, Project Delivery Processes, and strict compliance requirements.
• Develop and control project plans, budgets, programmes, risk registers, and change control processes.
• Manage construction contracts, variations, cost control, and contractor performance.
• Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, Building Regulations, and site-specific defence requirements.
• Translate operational and manufacturing needs into deliverable construction solutions.
• Present project updates and business cases to senior stakeholders for approval.
• Deliver projects safely, securely, on time, within budget, and to required quality standards.
• Support commissioning, handover, and integration into live operational environments.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Experience in construction or facilities project management within defence, manufacturing, engineering, or regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of RIBA Plan of Work and full project lifecycle delivery.
• Proven ability to manage contractors, consultants, budgets, risks, and change control.
• Knowledge of CDM Regulations, Building Regulations, and compliance in operational environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including senior-level engagement.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and deliver practical construction solutions.
• Experience working in live operational or secure environments.
• HNC/HND or equivalent in Construction, Engineering, or related discipline.

Desirable:

• Experience in defence, aerospace, or secure manufacturing environments.
• Project management qualification (APM, PRINCE2, PMP or equivalent).
• Membership of APM, CIOB, RICS, or similar professional body.