Project Manager – Strategic Government Programme Delivery

Location: United Kingdom (hybrid working – office and remote options available)
Travel: UK and occasional European travel required

My client is looking for an experienced Project Manager to take responsibility for a key workstream within a major, strategically important UK government programme operating within a global organisation. This role acts as a critical interface between UK government stakeholders, international headquarters in Germany, internal teams, and external partners. You will be embedded within a UK-based team while also working closely with global programme leadership and managing relationships with international suppliers and local contractors.

The successful candidate will bring strong project governance capability combined with the ability to operate effectively in a complex, multicultural, and highly regulated environment. This is a hybrid role with a mix of office-based and remote working. The role requires flexibility to travel within the UK and occasionally across Europe in support of project delivery and stakeholder engagement.

For candidates looking to work on a high-impact government programme within a complex international setting, this role offers significant scope for responsibility and visibility.

Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery & Execution

• Lead delivery across a major part of a complex government project lifecycle.
• Coordinate internal teams, suppliers, and contractors to ensure milestones are achieved.
• Apply structured project governance to support consistent execution and reporting.
• Identify and mitigate operational, technical, security, and logistical risks.

Financial & Budget Control

• Take ownership of project-level budget management.
• Monitor costs, manage forecasts, and prevent budget overruns.
• Ensure transparent financial reporting to international headquarters.
• Support procurement activities and manage associated financial risks.

Stakeholder & Government Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with UK government stakeholders, customers, and partners.
• Represent the organisation in formal meetings, presentations, and stakeholder forums.
• Navigate regulatory and administrative processes to support approvals and delivery progress.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and escalate issues where required.

International Interface & Corporate Governance

• Act as a key point of contact between UK operations and international headquarters in Germany.
• Provide clear and structured reporting on progress, risks, dependencies, and financial performance.
• Translate local delivery challenges into clear insights for senior leadership decision-making.
• Operate effectively within international governance frameworks, processes, and reporting structures.

Matrix Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• Work closely with cross-functional teams contributing to project delivery.
• Align priorities, timelines, and resources across departments without direct line authority.
• Manage competing priorities through influence, negotiation, and relationship management.
• Clearly communicate project rationale and objectives to ensure alignment and engagement.

About You
You will be an experienced Project Manager with a proven track record delivering large-scale, complex projects, ideally within government or similarly regulated environments. You will have:

• Demonstrable experience managing high-complexity projects end-to-end.
• Strong background working within international corporate environments.
• Proven ability to manage suppliers and contractors across multiple countries and time zones.
• Experience owning and controlling significant project budgets.
• Strong matrix management capability, delivering through influence rather than direct authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working with technical teams and IT-enabled deliverables.
• Knowledge of project methodologies such as PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent (certification advantageous).