Project Director

Role Profile – Project Director

The Role

A Project Director is an essential member of the Muse development team with overall responsibility for delivery of complex masterplans and developments.

Being a Project Director for Muse is exciting, rewarding and challenging. You will need experience in delivering complex, long term and sustainable places. With excellent communication skills that enable you to form strong relationships with partners and other stakeholders, you will also possess the ability to successfully lead a multi-disciplinary team.

A Project Director will have demonstrated the ability to contribute to winning new business and work closely with the Regional MD, Director of Project Management, Director of Development Management, Development Managers/ Directors and New Homes Team to ensure the successful delivery of projects and continued growth of the business throughout the region.

In the context of nationally significant regeneration programmes such as Marina Village, Barrow, this role will also require leadership across complex, multi-agency partnerships (including Government, Homes England, local authorities and strategic delivery vehicles) operating within evolving governance structures and accelerated delivery expectation.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for a Project Director are wide ranging, ensuring successful delivery of our developments and growth of the business. The Project Director will work with a Senior Project Manager or Project Manager to ensure the successful delivery of individual projects within the wider development masterplan but will maintain overall responsibility.

Depending upon on the specific requirements of a project responsibilities include: –

• Leading work bidding for new developments alongside the Development Management team.

• Establishing procurement strategies for projects and ensuring compliance.

• Establishing governance procedures to ensure developments are successfully controlled within budgets and expenditure approvals and delivered to meet stakeholder requirements.

• Taking overall responsibility for managing the development budget ensuring the project proceeds within agreed costs.

• Leading on establishing and concluding necessary consultant appointments, third-party agreements, agreements for lease and funding agreements.

• Ensure neighbourly matters (rights to light, party walls etc) are identified, understood and progressed as required.

• Take overall responsibility for delivery in accordance with Muse protocols and gateway approvals.

• Establish and lead project teams in conjunction with internal Development Managers. Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and drive the project team to ensure delivery of key outputs in line with programme.

• Procure consultants and oversee conclusion of Appointments.

• Manage project teams.

• Establish procurement strategy of main contractors and oversee conclusion of building contract documentation.

• Establish insurance requirements and ensure these are procured.

• Manage the approvals process to allow a start on site in accordance with Muse protocols.

• Establish quality management requirements and arrangements for monitoring construction quality and compliance with Muse’s brief.

• Ensure payments under the building contract, consultant appointments, drawdowns under funding agreements are being managed and manage cashflow expenditure .

• Ensure the completion and handover process is managed.

• Ensure the completion of any snagging / defects is managed.

• Provide reports for Muse board meetings and forecasts and to public sector partners.

• Communicate effectively with senior management on team progress, challenges and achievements.

• Help promote the importance of Social Value and Sustainability within projects and ensure ESG policy and corporate procedures are adhered to during project implementation.

• Work alongside the Director of Project Management in supporting the team to deliver projects in line with the project timeline.

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Project Managers (at all levels) ensuring they perform at their best and grow professionally.

• Attend and contribute to regular scheme reviews and quarterly forecast meetings

• Ensure lessons learnt from projects are shared with Muse colleagues.

• Develop key relationships with partners and the regional property / construction market.

• Build an understanding of general market conditions, challenges and trends and share with the Muse team.

• Consider areas where Muse can innovate, carry out research and development and challenge our ways of working and procedures.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Experience

• Experience in project management within property development, construction, or regeneration, with a strong track record of delivering complex, large-scale masterplans and developments from inception to completion

• Proven experience of leading project teams, including Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, and junior staff

• Demonstrable experience in full lifecycle project delivery, including:

• Selection of consultants

• Management of preconstruction process

• Procurement strategy and contractor appointment

• Budget management and cost control

• Construction delivery and quality oversight

• Completion, handover, and defect management

• Experience of managing development budgets, funding drawdowns, and cashflow

• Experience of negotiating and managing third-party agreements, including building contracts, agreements for lease, and funding agreements

• Strong experience of governance, approvals, and reporting processes at senior and board level

• Experience contributing to work winning, bidding, and business development activities

• Experience building and maintaining relationships with partners, stakeholders, and market participants

Skills

Leadership & People Management

• Strong leadership capability with the ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams

• Experience in resource planning, recruitment, performance management, and training development

• Ability to foster a positive, productive team environment

• Project & Programme Management

• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-phase developments

• Strong planning, organisational, and prioritisation skills to ensure delivery against programme and milestones

• Ability to maintain oversight across multiple projects within a wider masterplan

• Commercial & Financial Acumen

• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow management

• Commercially astute with the ability to ensure projects remain viable and within cost parameters

• Understanding of procurement strategies and contract management

• Communication & Influencing

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including board-level reporting and presentations

• Ability to influence and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building capability

• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

• Ability to think strategically and contribute to regional business growth

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage risk and make informed decisions

• Capability to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement

Knowledge

In-depth knowledge of the end-to-end development and construction process, including:

• Master planning and delivery of large-scale developments

• Procurement and construction methodologies

• Contract administration and delivery oversight

Strong understanding of:

• Development finance, budgeting, and cost control

• Legal agreements and contractual frameworks (e.g. building contracts, funding agreements)

• Governance frameworks, approval processes, and risk management

Knowledge of:

• Health & safety, quality assurance, and construction compliance requirements

• Planning policies and regulatory requirements relevant to development

• Awareness of market conditions, industry trends, and innovation in property and construction

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership presence with high levels of credibility and professionalism

• Results-driven with a focus on successful project delivery and business growth

• Highly organised, resilient, and able to manage complexity and pressure

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a proactive and supportive approach

• Commercially minded with a strong attention to detail

• Passion for delivering high-quality, sustainable developments