Job Description:

Role: Junior Site / Project Manager – Heat Networks / Utilities

Location: East London

Salary: £55-65K + Car Allowance (£6K) + Pension/Healthcare

The Client:

My client is a prominent and forward-thinking energy infrastructure provider in the United Kingdom, specializing in the design, delivery, and long-term operation of large-scale decentralized low-carbon utility networks.

The company focuses heavily on urban district heating, cooling, and power solutions, managing critical assets that supply sustainable energy to thousands of residential and commercial properties. Renowned for its engineering excellence and commitment to the green transition, the business integrates cutting-edge technologies like industrial heat pumps and waste-heat recovery systems to drive urban centres toward a zero-carbon future.

The Role:

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, you will support the day-to-day delivery of heat network and utility projects in East London. With around 2–4 years’ relevant experience, ideally gained in civil engineering, you will help coordinate site activities, monitor contractor progress and maintain quality, safety and project records. The role offers development towards greater project responsibility under senior guidance, with a particular focus on civils works and their interfaces with mechanical and electrical installations.

Key Responsibilities  

Site delivery and contractor coordination

• Support the Senior Project Manager with assigned work packages, including excavation, trenching, ducting, pipe installation interfaces, backfilling and reinstatement.
• Liaise with contractor site teams to understand daily activities, access requirements and upcoming works, raising delivery concerns with the Senior Project Manager.
• Track progress against agreed programmes, maintain site diaries and photographic records, and highlight delays, constraints and resource issues promptly.
• Help coordinate information between contractors, designers, operations and internal stakeholders to support timely delivery and resolve routine queries.

Quality, safety and civil engineering interfaces

• Carry out site observations and assist with inspections of excavation, trench preparation, backfill, compaction and reinstatement against approved drawings and specifications.
• Record defects, incomplete works and non-conformances, track agreed corrective actions and promptly report unsafe conditions through the project escalation process.
• Help collate inspection records, test results, as-built information and construction and handover documentation.
• Support checks that appropriate permits, RAMS and site controls are in place, developing your understanding of CDM duties and safe working around excavations and existing services under senior guidance.

Commercial and project administration

• Assist with basic NEC3/4 or equivalent contract administration, including maintaining Early Warning and change registers under the direction of the Senior Project Manager and commercial team.
• Gather site measurements, photographs and progress evidence to support review of payment applications and changes; refer contractual or cost decisions to the authorised project lead.
• Keep risk, issue, action and decision logs up to date and follow up agreed actions with relevant colleagues and contractors.

Reporting and stakeholder coordination

• Prepare site progress updates and accurate inputs to project trackers, KPI reports and coordination meetings.
• Support communication with local authorities, highways teams, residents, customers and Principal Contractor teams, escalating sensitive matters to the Senior Project Manager.
• Assist with planning tie-ins, shutdowns, operational interfaces and handover activities, with specialist work led by the appropriate competent teams.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)     

1. Assigned tasks and supported work packages progressed safely and to agreed deadlines, with emerging delays and cost concerns escalated early.
2. Site observations, quality checks and defects recorded accurately, with corrective actions tracked through to closure.
3. Change registers, payment-support information and project administration completed accurately and within agreed timescales.
4. Clear, professional communication with contractors, colleagues and local stakeholders.
5. Site diaries, photographs, trackers and handover records maintained accurately and on time.

Technical skills and qualifications

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent practical experience in civil engineering or a related construction discipline preferred; candidates with other engineering backgrounds and relevant civils exposure will be considered.
• Practical understanding of site construction activities, preferably excavation, drainage, utilities installation, backfilling and reinstatement, with the ability to read drawings and identify site constraints.
• Basic awareness of CDM, RAMS, permits and QA/QC processes. Familiarity with NEC contracts is advantageous; further development will be supported through senior guidance.

Experience and personal attributes

• Around 2–4 years’ relevant experience in site engineering, assistant site management, junior project management, utilities delivery or similar construction roles.
• A civil engineering bias is preferred, particularly experience of groundworks, utility networks, street works or infrastructure. Heat network experience is advantageous rather than essential.
• Experience coordinating site information and working with contractors or project teams, with strong organisation, communication and attention to detail.
• Proactive and keen to develop, with the judgement to recognise limits of authority and escalate issues. Relevant CSCS certification and SSSTS or SMSTS training are desirable; street works awareness would be advantageous.