Project Lead

Job description

Project Lead | Residential Development.

Essex / Hertfordshire.

£95,000 + Benefits.

Cognisant Search has been appointed by a privately owned residential developer to recruit a Project Lead for a major multi-phase residential development in Essex.

This is a senior delivery role, reporting directly to the Managing Director, with responsibility for taking overall ownership of the project through its key delivery phases.

The role requires someone with genuine volume residential delivery experience and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy. They will need to be commercially aware, programme-driven and comfortable making considered decisions where cost, time, quality and delivery all need to be balanced.

This is a role for someone who looks ahead, identifies problems early and focuses on solutions, particularly when programmes come under pressure.

The remit

• Take overall responsibility for delivery of a major multi-phase residential development
• Coordinate multiple phases and workstreams running concurrently
• Own programme, budget, quality and delivery performance
• Drive programme recovery where delays or issues arise
• Make commercially informed decisions around sequencing, procurement, logistics and site operations
• Bring together Construction, Technical and Commercial teams around the overall project
• Identify risks early and take ownership of resolving them
• Maintain a high standard of build quality throughout delivery
• Work directly with the Managing Director on key project decisions

Who we are looking for

We are interested in those with a strong track record across complex, multi-phase or volume housing developments (Traditional build or Timber Frame)

You are likely to be operating at Project Director, Project Lead, Senior Project Manager or equivalent level, with experience across the wider development and delivery process.

The successful candidate will be programme-driven, commercially aware and confident making considered decisions. Just as importantly, they will be proactive — someone who looks for ways to recover time and solve problems rather than simply report them etc.

Dan Petrie

07487 795148

Director | Cognisant Search

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Essex

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

01-09-2026

Profession type

Technical

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English