Knights Brown is not just a company but a community where ambition and job satisfaction align perfectly. Our core values are at the heart of everything we do, crafting an environment where employees don't just work for us; they grow with us, creating careers that reflect their passions and aspirations.

At Knights Brown, you're not just joining a company; you're becoming part of a family that values your well-being, celebrates your achievements, and supports your growth every step of the way.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the UK’s fastest growing contractors as a Project Manager based in Dover.

Dynamic and entrepreneurial, this company is a great fit if you’re looking to work in a supportive but ambitious environment with clear career progression and proactive employee engagement.

Construction Project Manager (Marine/Port Environment)

We’re looking for a Construction Project Manager to lead the safe planning and delivery of construction and engineering works in a live 24/7 operational port environment. You’ll manage end-to-end project delivery across marine and landside scopes—driving safety, programme, cost control, quality, and stakeholder coordination across operations, security, engineering, contractors, and third parties.

JOB PURPOSE & CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORGANISATION

Ensure projects are delivered successfully, relationships with our customers are enhanced, project teams supported and priorities achieved to meet our business objectives. This role will have autonomy to deliver complex, higher valued projects for the business.

What you’ll be doing

• Attend tender handover meeting to understand the project deliverables, including contract obligations, project scope & methodology, identified customer priorities (win themes) and risk & opportunities.

• Organise and attend customer meetings, throughout the lifecycle of the project to ensure identified targets and expectations are being met or exceeded.

• Manage pre start meetings of subcontract packages in line with programme and build requirements.

• Review the project and target programmes with the site team to ensure activities are aligned to the planned sequencing of works, and an awareness of lead times for design and procurement is in place. Build and manage delivery plans and programmes (including lookaheads/rolling programmes), coordinating interfaces and various constraints with other contractors and stakeholders.

• Drive the performance of your site team, supporting their development and maximising their potential and effectively manage our subcontract relationships.

• Ensure environmental compliance and sustainable delivery (CEMP, dust/noise/vibration controls and waste management).

• Encourage all the site team to contribute towards good health, safety, quality and environmental management within their areas of activity and influence.

• Ensure site teams receive and understand necessary updates and skill development.

• Understand and comply with your responsibilities outlined within the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Statement.

• Lead safe delivery of works in line with CDM Regulations 2015, site rules, permits and project safety objectives.

• Manage contractor mobilisation and performance: inductions, access control, supervision arrangements, productivity, methods and working hours.

• Coordinate design management and assurance: define deliverables, manage a submittal schedule, coordinate reviews/acceptance and prevent works proceeding without required approvals.

What we’re looking for (essential)

• Proven experience delivering construction projects in complex operational environments (e.g., ports, airports, rail, highways, utilities, industrial sites) with tight access, security and interface constraints.

• Marine construction project experience.

• Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015 and UK construction health & safety regulations.

• Programme planning and control experience (critical path awareness, lookaheads, progress measurement and recovery planning).

• Commercial awareness and contract administration capability.

• Experience coordinating multi-discipline scopes (civils, mechanical, electrical, controls/automation, IT/telecoms) and commissioning/handover.

• Strong stakeholder management with clear written and verbal communication.

• High standards of quality management and documentation discipline (ITPs, inspection records, defect management and closeout packs).

Qualifications essential

• Relevant qualification in construction management, civil engineering, building services or similar (degree/HND/HNC or equivalent experience).

• SMSTS and appropriate CSCS card.

• Health & safety training.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain site/port access credentials and complete required inductions/training.

• Site-based role within a secure operational environment; compliance with security procedures, access controls and ID requirements is mandatory.

• Desirable: Temporary Works Coordinator/Supervisor; Appointed Person (Lifting Operations) / Lift Supervisor; First Aid at Work. Working pattern and environment

• Full UK driving licence and travel between project locations is preferred.

What success looks like

• Safe delivery with strong leading indicators and no reportable incidents.

• Minimal disruption to port operations, tenants, customers and third parties.

• Programme milestones achieved with clear management of risks, issues and recovery actions.

• Effective budget management with timely, well-evidenced change control.

• High-quality outcomes with strong commissioning and handover performance.

• Measurable reductions in environmental impacts where practicable.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer. Knights Brown actively promotes inclusiveness across the workplace, creating an environment where each individual has the equal opportunity to achieve his or her full potential and where employees feel respected. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.

We are a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community.