Principal Project Manager

• Global Engineering consultancy with great career opportunities
• Hybrid working environment (3 days in North Sydney Office)
• Enjoy a role where you will make a genuine impact

About SMEC – Rail & Metro

Having collaborated on some of the world's most complex and challenging rail projects, SMEC is a trusted partner in the integration of rail planning, engineering, and project management. Our completed projects include Sydney Metro, Canberra Light Rail, Palembang Light Rail Transit System and North South commuter rail, Manila.

Every project poses its own unique challenges. At SMEC we utilise our global network to provide unique knowledge sharing opportunities for our clients and our partners. Our dedicated team members are committed to identifying risks early but when required we work together to defuse problems methodically and efficiently.

The Role

We are seeking to engage a Principal Project Manager to join our Rail Team in Sydney. In this role, you'll be primarily responsible for driving the success of complex, high-priority projects with accountability to senior management. This position manages a variety of divergent activities and large teams across various disciplines, providing specialist knowledge when required.

In addition to the above, you'll be responsible for sourcing, developing and fostering relationships with key clients and stakeholders, as well as providing effective leadership, management and development opportunities to employees and the project teams

Finally, a key part of your role will be leading successful negotiations of commercial and financial outcomes resulting in engagement on large scale and nationally significant disciplinary projects (fees $2.5-$6 million) and the successful delivery of the project's outcomes from original concept to final implementation including quality, time, cost and client relationships.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead project management and governance of large, complex and nationally significant projects to achieve reliable project performance in terms of commercial outcomes, design solutions, timeliness and quality;
• Source, build and maintain strong and effective client relationships through successful project delivery and targeted activities;
• Provide leadership and proactively collaborate with team members, contributors, and stakeholders to maintain quality, timeliness, and coordination of project deliverables;
• Significant active contribution to the commercial success of projects and the team; playing as essential role in driving successful business development activities.
• Effectively manages and leads a team of nominated direct reports to ensure optimal performance, resourcing, retention and professional development.
• Lead the commercial negotiations with the commercial manager providing technical justification to all monthly claims.
• Manage the relationship with the client's construction Manager
• Manage weekly meetings with the DJV CPS team
• Manage weekly meetings with the Clients CPS team.
• Attend site meetings on the SSTOM site – (St Mary's, Luddenham, Orchard Hills, Airport terminal Link, Aerotropolis, Airport Business Park and Service Maintenance Facility)
• Manage with the team the Construction Request for Information (CRFI) process.

About You

Suitable applicants will be/have:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Engineering (or equivalent);
• Project Management qualifications highly desirable
• 15-20 years of relevant professional experience in a similar role within Rail, with the ability to manage and direct major projects of $2.5-$6 million successfully to budget and client specifications
• Significant experience in the coordination, design, and delivery of complex projects of national significance within multi-disciplinary engineering projects;
• The ability to effectively lead, motivate, manage, develop, and resource a high-performing team
• Highly developed communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills

Link to benefits:

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online. To apply, click on the "Apply Now" link below and follow the prompts.

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Awestha Momand:

To find out more about SMEC, please visit our careers page at 

All recruitment activities go through our Recruitment & Talent function and currently, this role doesn't require agency input. Please do not forward resume directly to SMEC employees/managers; we do not accept unsolicited resumes and are not responsible for any associated fees.

At Surbana Jurong, we put talent, hard work, teamwork and a fun workplace together to approach problems and solve them creatively and collaboratively. Join us in making a positive impact on the world