Project manager
We’re looking for a Project Manager who sees what’s next. And then helps make it happen.
Someone who asks good questions, joins the dots and takes ownership. Who spots what a project needs, brings clarity to complexity.
We know that person is rare, but we think we can find them.
At Akerlof, we create betters, not just goods. Better decisions, better ways of working and better outcomes for people and the planet.
We’re a small, purpose-driven consultancy that punches above its weight in the built environment. Our industrialised construction (IC) and strategic advisory work is growing, and we need a project manager who wants grow with us.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
A little on Akerlof.
The built environment shapes society. What we build, and how we build it, matters.
Established in 2019, we work with ambitious clients across the public and private sectors. Our work spans industrialised construction, social and environmental outcomes and strategic advisory. We help the industry deliver more impact.
We’re a certified B Corp. We measure success by more than our profit margin.
Our people are ambitious, curious and practical. We’ve worked at the front line and at board level in some of the UK’s largest contractors and consultancies. We’re small enough to be agile and experienced enough to turn ideas into action.
The role.
Our clients run complex capital programmes across social infrastructure and private sector development.
You’ll help shape and delivery our work. We’re looking for someone who can:
- Anticipate what’s needed and take action
- Produce clear outputs that make the findings and next steps easy to understand
- Identify risks early, explore solutions and involve others when needed
You’ll work closely with our Partners across a portfolio of consultancy commissions, including industrialised construction advice, buildability guidance and strategic market assessments. You’ll hold the threads together and move things forward.
Day to day, this means:
- Managing client commissions from brief to delivery
- Walking into meetings ready to add value
- Producing insights clients can act on
- Helping us to learn and improve our standard on every project
- Building client and stakeholder relationships
- Contributing to bids and proposals
- Tracking progress, resources and fees and addressing scope creep early
Who we’re looking for.
You bring relevant experience, sound judgement and curiosity. There is more than one route into this role and we welcome different backgrounds and perspectives.
You’ll have:
- A background in project management, architecture, construction management or related built environment discipline. You’ve taken ownership of projects, packages of work and delivered under pressure.
- A working understanding of industrialised construction, DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly), offsite, platform design and kits of parts. You don’t need to be a technical expert, but you understand the principles and want to learn more.
- Relevant project experience, which could include health, custodial, residential, data centres or infrastructure.
You’ll be someone who is:
- Proactive and takes initiative
- Brings structure to complex work across projects and stakeholders
- Communicates clearly and makes complex ideas accessible
- Builds trust through collaboration and reliable delivery
- Raises problems early, explores solutions and asks for support when needed
- Cares about outcomes and looks for ways to deliver better
What we offer.
Application Process: Role advertised: 10 September. Window for application: 10 September – 30 September. Interviews: in person (London, Birmingham or Manchester as preferred) 6 – 8 October.
Role offered: 09 October.
Location: Hybrid. We have office space in London, Birmingham and Manchester – but mostly work remotely. UK travel for client programmes.
Contract: Full-time, permanent, but always flexible.
Salary: £45,000 – £55,000
Reports to: Jamie Hillier
Start: As soon as possible.
Holiday: 25 days, plus bank holidays and 3-day Christmas shut down
Healthcare: Private health care or £1,000 annually to support your health and wellbeing
Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
At Akerlof, we work hard to foster an environment that celebrates diversity, ensuring everyone can be themselves, feel respected and valued. We want the very best people to join us, uniqueness is powerful, and diversity of thought helps us to thrive.
Every one of our roles is largely homebased, but we all come together on the last Friday of every month to catch up and plan. If your preference is to be office based, we can arrange a shared working space for you.
Our commitment starts during recruitment. If you want to have a chat with us to find out more about life at Akerlof or the recruitment process, just drop Ellie a line: Ellie.jenkins@akerlof.co.uk
How to apply
If you are ready to apply, then please fill out the application form below. We have included some guidance below:
- Introduce yourself in your preferred format – you can write in the form below (no more than 400 words), send us a short video (no more than 2 minutes) or something else. Tell us why you want the role, what you bring and what you’d need from Akerlof to help you be the best version of yourself.
- Attach a CV, which is no more than two pages and includes your previous roles, notably how these align to our proposed role and priorities.
- Provide two references, with contact details; rest assured we will not approach references without your knowledge and permission.
If it would help to know anything upfront about the process or what day-to-day looks like in practice – just ask.
What happens next
We will hold one round of interviews between the 6th to 8th October. These will be in person in London, Birmingham or Manchester (depending on applicants). The interview will be competency based and an opportunity for you to get to know us.
The role will be offered (subject to reference checks) on 9th October.
Before accepting the offer, you are welcome to chat to another Akerlof team member, to complete your own reverse reference check.
