Assistant Project Manager

82359 - Assistant Project Manager

This Assistant Project Manager will report to the Programme Manager and will work within Capital Programme based in our London office. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of £65,241, Inner London Allowance and a bonus of 3%.

Close Date: 14/04/2026

We also provide the following additional benefits

• 25 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
• Private Medical Cover
• Reservist Leave – Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
• Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
• Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme

Job Purpose:

The role of the Assistant Project Manager (APM) is to assist Programme Managers / Portfolio Manager in the delivery of the Capital Investment Programme of Projects and Connections projects. Prior experience in a similar role in the utility industry – preferably electricity utility, after the initial familiarisation, will deliver work packages as assigned within a single project, across several projects or deliver in totality smaller value projects.

You will work through a career pathway to consolidate existing knowledge through previous experience and as part of the APM role at UKPN, learn both general project management skills – including an understanding of inputs to, coordination and support required from different support departments to understand the requirements of the Project Manager role in UK Power Networks. This will include a structured development plan with both formal and on-the-job training requirements including that with multiple project support functions. Successful completion of the above process, coupled with the delivery of tasks / packages of work/ small projects will lead onto you being assigned small to medium projects. This will be based on regular – periodic reviews as agreed with the line manager. Based on the performance reviews and after the initial period of two years – upon successful completion of projects, the role change to a Project Manager will be at the discretion of the Portfolio Manager.

As part of the career pathway and the familiarisation of UKPN process and policies, there are two phases of development. These are:

1. Initial familiarisation and learning with no autonomous responsibilities for project delivery.
2. Phased introduction to managing with sole responsibility for defined contract, sub-packages and small projects within a single or multiple projects as part of the programme / portfolio.

Principal Accountabilities:

• To Support the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager in delivering large and high-profile projects, managing several contracts and important partners.
• To provide systems expertise to delivery colleagues including Project Managers and project teams, specifically related to use of SAP for purchasing, payment, and governance purposes.
• Support in gaining project approvals and subsequently manage project expenditure within the sanctioned budgetary limits. Governance gates B, C and D. This would include coordinating with multiple departments, alliance partners, external / third parties – agencies and collation of documentation for the project teams.
• Organise, attend, and coordinate for mission focused work team meetings including taking minutes, actions arising and follow up on behalf of the Project Manager / Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager.
• Represent the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager.
• Compile input to weekly safety reports with the programme and portfolio teams.
• Help prepare reports for monthly client reviews.
• Be proficient in use of Capital Programme's main project control systems (Primavera suite) and extend support to project delivery colleagues.
• To support the PM or SPM in the delivery of a portfolio of projects ensuring all safety, quality and environmental standards are followed.
• To support the Programme Manager / Portfolio Manager in delivering a portfolio of projects, to required Programme and Output Dates.
• To support the Programme Manager in the monthly reporting of Projects.
• Where required compilation of Project Execution Plans (PEPs), Project Quality Plans (PQPs) and ED1SON alliance Contractual Documents.
• Help manage project risks and opportunities.
• Ensure that project lessons learnt are captured and implemented within the team.
• Mitigate scope change and risk across projects.
• Coordinate with - support and follow up the Project Managers on behalf of the Programme Manager regarding quality, progress reporting, RIGS reporting, partner management, customer complaints, project hand overs and close out of projects observing UKPN policy

Stakeholder Management:

Internal

• Portfolio Manager – Will oversee the development of the Assistant PM and assign them to a project / programme of works.
• Programme Manager - The Assistant PM will take daily direction and guidance from while delivering the projects
• Project Manager – The Assistant PM will coordinate with and take day to day direction, guidance from while delivering the projects
• Quantity Surveyor – Liaison with the commercial team to ensure data is accurate for project forecasts and expenditure information for reporting.
• Procurement - Liaison with all Supply Chain strategies and representatives for supply of contracts and materials.
• Design Team – Consultation with the Design engineers on the specification and design Progress for delivering the project to time cost and quality of the design deliverables
• HSEQ Team - Ensure safety is at the forefront of the project delivery along with focus on quality
• Asset Management - Liaison throughout the project lifecycle to ensure scope and cost are managed and completed project meets project mandate.
• Connections Project Manager – Liaison with delivering Customer funded projects
• Programme Management Office (PMO) – Support in the reporting of all project reporting- monthly and yearly expenditure, risk, RIGs, review, and acceptance of gate papers to allow project progression within UK Power Networks budget, time, and quality parameters

External

• Local authorities, Councils, Police, Buses, Residents, Businesses
• Supply Chain Contractors
• Landowners
• Leaseholders

Knowledge, Qualifications:

• An engineering discipline along with a basic project management qualification to HNC level preferred; ONC or equivalent required.
• Accreditations like IOSH, SMSTS, ECS, CSCS, NRSWA, First Aid, manual handling, quality management would be useful.
• Membership of a professional institute IEE, ICE or APM or equivalent (or can demonstrate progress towards said membership)
• Safety Management CSCS / IOSH preferred but not essential
• Work experience – preferably with exposure to elements of project management in a project delivery capacity within the Electricity distribution industry or similar.
• Exposure to customer – partner management will be an added advantage.

Health & Safety Responsibilities:

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

If you have any queries in connection to this vacancy or your application, please contact us at careers@ukpowernetworks.co.uk quoting the vacancy reference number and a member of the team will get in touch with you as soon as possible.