Principal Project Manager


Company:	FCDO Services
Salary:	£75,055 to £77,259 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Milton Keynes, MK19 7BH
Working pattern:	Hybrid - 2 days remote
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	25 Sept 2026
Closing date:	18 Oct 2026

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Summary

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Designing engineering solutions. Earthquake-proofing embassies. Managing construction contracts in challenging locations. Just a few examples of the incredible work our Engineering team does. They're the people who plan, design, and deliver innovation across all corners of the globe. Now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Bringing energy to embassies

Designing systems that protect

Realising the power of your skills

It all matters

Deliver the technical projects that help to keep the UK safe and secure

When you join us in this pivotal leadership role, you will be accountable for the successful delivery of a strategically important Engineering and Operations portfolio comprising complex programmes and projects. You will provide visible leadership across the portfolio, ensuring effective governance, robust planning and resource management, rigorous project controls, lifecycle cost management, and high-quality reporting to clients and senior stakeholders.

You will lead a portfolio of programmes and projects from concept and initiation through to handover and operational acceptance, ensuring delivery to agreed scope, schedule, budget and quality standards. As a senior leader, you will proactively manage risks, issues and escalations, drive informed decision-making, and create the conditions for successful project outcomes. Equally important will be your ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and excellence in project delivery.

You will provide leadership and direction to a team of Senior Project Managers, project professionals and contract personnel, ensuring resources are effectively deployed and aligned to business priorities. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will build strong relationships, influence at all levels and maintain confidence through clear, timely and professional communication.

You will be responsible for ensuring projects are delivered in compliance with corporate governance, Health & Safety requirements and contractual obligations, while achieving agreed commercial outcomes, including portfolio profitability and gross margin targets. You will oversee resource planning, approve key project documentation, review and authorise significant change requests, and provide assurance that projects remain aligned with strategic objectives.

Working collaboratively with colleagues and peers across the organisation, you will play a key role in developing capability, improving project delivery processes and embedding best practice. You will champion professional development, coaching and mentoring, helping to build project management expertise across the business. You will also lead the resolution of complex customer, commercial and delivery challenges, ensuring risks are effectively mitigated, resources remain optimised and project teams are empowered to deliver exceptional results.

Use all your skills, knowledge and expertise as you support our global mission

To be a success in this important post you should hold Prince 2 Practitioner, APM PMQ or an ISEB Certificate in Project Management or their equivalent and/or have or working towards ChPP and have well developed experience of all the relevant Health & Safety standards and procedures, including Construction Design Management 2015.

It’s essential that you have good knowledge of applying project management methodologies relating to the design, planning, development and implementation of multi-disciplinary projects as well as a track record of leading design and delivery teams through projects.

In addition, we’ll also look for understanding and experience in the operation, maintenance and deployment of construction and security infrastructure projects and experience of using NEC4, GC works or Fidic contracts and documentation used in procuring construction projects is an essential.

Your excellent interpersonal and communication skills will allow you to inspire, motivate and lead project teams, and in addition to sound knowledge of financial controls and a track record of working successfully with enterprise financial systems such as Oracle, you’ll have experience of deploying complex projects in a secure environment as well as some experience of delivering projects in overseas locations.

A practical understanding of products such as M_o_R®, MSP® and M_o_V® would be desirable, as would. Membership of APM or equivalent or RIBA, RICS, ICE, IStruct E, MCIOB or CIBSE.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

We’re always looking to improve – just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

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