Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

As a Senior Project Manager, you are responsible for the strategic leadership and successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects, with a focus on retail and mixed-use developments, from early concept through to completion.

The role requires a highly proactive and commercially astute approach, ensuring delivery aligns with client objectives, brand requirements, operational constraints, and fast-track retail programmes. You will lead project teams, drive decision-making, and manage key stakeholder relationships, ensuring high-quality outcomes across all stages of design and delivery.

You are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, provide leadership across multiple workstreams, and act as a trusted advisor to clients.

Responsibilities

Contract & Scope

Lead project set-up, including contract finalisation, internal alignment and mobilisation of the team
Fully understand and manage the contract, ensuring compliance with key obligations and deliverables
Define, agree and manage scope across all disciplines, ensuring clarity of responsibilities
Lead the appointment and coordination of sub-consultants, including scope, fees and agreements
Identify and manage changes to scope, leading variation preparation, negotiation and agreement with the client
Ensure all deliverables meet WSP quality standards and client expectations

Communication & Team Leadership

Act as the primary interface with the client, operators, tenants, and key stakeholders
Provide clear leadership, establishing a high-performing one team culture
Lead client engagement, workshops and presentations, including executive-level reporting
Manage complex stakeholder environments, including retail tenants, landlords, operators and authorities
Support clients with strategic decision-making, balancing commercial, operational and design priorities
Proactively manage expectations, risks and issues to maintain trust and project momentum Programme
Lead development of detailed, realistic programmes aligned with retail delivery and tenant fit-out requirements
Manage programmes proactively, identifying and mitigating risks to delivery
Coordinate with design teams to ensure alignment with anchor tenant, F&B and retail unit handover milestones
Oversee integration of base build, shell & core, and tenant fit-out packages
Ensure programme reflects authority approvals, procurement strategies and phased handovers
Work with Planning & Controls to maintain robust P6 programmes and client reporting

Design & Technical Coordination

Lead multidisciplinary design coordination through all stages (Concept to IFC and construction support)
Ensure alignment between brand standards, operational requirements and technical design solutions
Oversee design reviews, ensuring buildability, compliance and coordination across disciplines
Drive high-quality outputs through structured QA/QC processes
Ensure coordination between landlord criteria and tenant requirements

Risk Management

Establish and lead the project Risk Register, ensuring regular review and active management
Identify key risks associated with retail phasing, tenant changes, authority approvals and programme constraints
Develop and implement mitigation strategies
Escalate critical risks to senior leadership and clients as required

Commercial Management

Lead all project commercial aspects, including budget management and financial reporting Manage project invoicing, cost tracking and financial performance
Lead preparation, negotiation and agreement of variations
Provide commercial advice to clients, particularly relating to programme impacts and tenant-driven changes

Delivery & Handover

Oversee project delivery through to completion, ensuring alignment with client and operational objectives
Coordinate phased handovers, including base build and tenant fit-out interfaces
Ensure smooth transition to supervision / construction teams
Lead project close-out, ensuring all deliverables, approvals and documentation are complete

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field
13+ years professional experience, with a strong focus on retail, mixed-use or commercial developments
Proven track record delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects from Concept through to IFC and construction
Demonstrable experience in retail delivery, including tenant coordination and fit-out integration
Experience working with major developers, operators or retail brands preferred
Experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders

Core Competencies

Strong leadership and ability to operate at a senior, client-facing level
Strategic thinking with ability to manage competing priorities
Excellent stakeholder management, particularly within complex retail environments
Commercial acumen and contractual awareness
Strong programme and risk management capability
Ability to drive quality, coordination and technical excellence
Collaborative and proactive communication style
Ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams
Strong understanding of health and safety in design

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.

Senior Project Manager / Project Director (retail)