Unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of
climate change have caused delays and constraints on the construction of
infrastructure projects all over the world. However, by being agile,
managing expectations and identifying viable solutions to challenges,
strategic project managers have set themselves apart from the rest to lead
the delivery of complex projects.
At AtkinsRéalis and within our brands Atkins and Faithful+Gould, we design,
deliver and operate some of the most complex projects across the world for
clients in transportation, water, power & renewables, nuclear, defense,
industrial & mining, and more. Our people provide strategic project
management, dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its
people, creating
sustainable project management
solutions that connect people, data and technology.
What does strategic project management involve?
Project managers are vital members of multidisciplinary teams, and their
objective is to strategically plan and manage projects, from design to
construction, to ensure they are completed on time, on budget and of the
highest quality. To do this, they are expected to have experience with
contracts (such as NEC and/or JCT) and established knowledge and
understanding of component parts of a project and overall management
techniques. This enables them to provide effective reviews of contract
documents and familiarity with contractual obligations, breaches, and
remedies.
By liaising with a variety of stakeholders including engineers, project
coordinators, procurement professionals, clients, and subcontractors,
project managers learn how to communicate with parties, both on
straightforward projects and more challenging ones. It is essential for
project managers to have a comprehensive understanding of a client’s
objectives, the project scope, details and application of governance
structure and processes. In this respect, strategic project managers will
achieve success and win repeat business.
Experienced project managers add value and carry a great deal of responsibility for the team, but an
essential aspect is recognizing everyone’s contributions and encouraging
them to collaborate to deliver the best possible results. Being successful
in this role, therefore, involves being an ambassador for your profession and
mentoring those in their early careers, so it’s important to have the
ability to form effective working relationships with colleagues and
clients.
What does it take to be a strategic project manager?
Project management involves the ability to make difficult decisions,
sometimes under time limitations and within complicated circumstances - one of the essential skills in today's business landscape.
However, to be viewed as a strategic thinker,
Harvard Business Review
suggests demonstrating your knowledge to execute new ideas which will show
that your understanding exceeds the base level requirements. To be a
strategic project manager, you must therefore work to improve efficiencies
on projects, implementing new initiatives to save time, money, and prevent
waste.
To be successful, particularly in an engineering project management job, you will need a comprehensive
understanding of and competence in making decisions in various areas. This
includes, but is not limited to, commercial accountability, quality
assurance, environmental management, technical and legal matters, and
health and safety, applicable to the business and wider construction
industry. Stakeholder engagement is also a key skill that you will develop
throughout your career in project management.
What does career development look like?
Strategic project management is a rewarding career choice for those who
enjoy being organized, planning for the future and making industry-defining
decisions. With no two projects or teams the same, you’ll always be
learning something new, expanding your skillset and working with different
stakeholders to discover the best possible outcomes.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to gain an entry-level project management
job and following this, you could start as a project coordinator, for
example. In this role, you would be responsible for the coordination of
engineering and construction work, constantly communicating with all
project team members and identifying, planning, and implementing various
scopes of work. This will enable you to develop the experience that can
lead you to become a junior project manager and then on to a project
manager.
Career development in project management is fulfilling and you can navigate
which direction you want to go in.
Andrew, for example, was keen on taking on a more active, challenging and
engaging role, so he made a career change from quantity surveying to
project management to upskill and stay sharp.
Start climbing the career ladder and find your next opportunity with us
If you’re interested in pursuing a career with a varied workload, plenty of
progression opportunities and where you actively use your strategic
thinking skills, project management could be for you.
We create opportunities for the most innovative and bright minds. Our track
record puts us in a strong position to be involved in some of the most
exciting and challenging projects, which provides great opportunities for
our people to learn on the job. Surround yourself with recognized experts,
never stop learning and drive your career forward at AtkinsRéalis . If you
are looking for the next step in your career, browse our available
project management roles
today.
