Director of Project Management – Aerospace, Defence & Advanced Manufacturing

Location: Cambridge (with regional site travel)

Position available and updated: May 2026

Cambridge and the wider East of England remain a vital hub for the UK’s aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and defence industries. With historic ties to aviation and a rapidly growing footprint in modern defence tech and secure infrastructure, the region has a continuous pipeline of highly complex, heavily regulated development projects.

I am working confidentially with a highly regarded, premier property consultancy in Cambridge to find a new Director-level Project Manager to lead their delivery across these highly specialised sectors. This is a senior, strategic appointment. You will be stepping into a top-tier project management team that oversees development and construction projects from inception to completion, ensuring maximum client satisfaction.

Operating at Director or Partner level, you will provide expert professional advice and act strictly in the best interests of your clients. This position focuses heavily on the aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising clients on project viability, design solutions, consultant selection, and tendering.
• Managing complex site logistics and embedding them into the design phase for projects in live, occupied environments.
• Developing project execution plans, client briefs, and defining project scopes.
• Driving business development by cultivating an internal and external professional network, generating opportunities within Project Management and cross-selling to other departments.
• Managing the commercial aspects of projects, including fee agreements, invoicing processes, and contract administration.
• Leading project management meetings and acting as the firm's representative at client events.

Because of the nature of the clients involved, this role requires a specific technical background and security profile.

• You must be MRICS or hold an equivalent qualification from a chartered industry body.
• You must possess an accredited degree in project management, building surveying, construction management, or architecture.
• You will have a proven track record of delivering projects within security-sensitive environments, such as the MoD, MoJ, or the private defence sector.
• You must have the ability to hold high-level security clearance with experience managing multiple overlapping projects and proficiency in Microsoft Project.
• A full UK driving licence is essential for travel to secure client sites that are off the public transport network.
• Candidates with an accredited NEC Project Manager qualification (or significant NEC experience) and an existing network within the aerospace, defence, or manufacturing sectors will be given priority.

Why Apply Through Me?

I am a fiercely independent recruitment specialist who has been working exclusively within the Cambridge and East of England built environment market for over 25 years. I don’t just pass on CVs; I build careers. I have placed professionals with this firm for years and know their senior leadership team personally, I can offer you total confidentiality and a granular level of detail that you won't find on a standard job board.

Our advantage will give you:

• A transparent overview of the consultancy’s culture and internal structure.
• Specific details on the project pipeline and the specific MoD/Defence clients you will be working with.
• Insight into the commercial expectations, and realistic progression pathways.

If you are an experienced Director with a strong Construction Project Management background working on behalf of Private Sector Consultancies and want to explore this confidentially, please get in touch with me directly.