Senior Project Manager

About the role

We have a rare opportunity to join the team delivering The Art Works, one of the National Galleries of Scotland’s most significant capital projects and a major investment in the future of Scotland’s national art collection.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager who can operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels. You will bring strong project, financial and commercial acumen, with the judgement to manage risk, resolve issues, drive change and maintain focus on programme, cost, quality and outcomes.

Located in North Edinburgh as part of the wider Granton Waterfront development, The Art Works will create a new, free-to-visit experience and purpose-built home for more than 130,000 works of art, transforming how the national collection is cared for, researched, shared and accessed. Designed to Passivhaus principles, the project will also deliver important environmental, social and economic benefits for North Edinburgh and beyond. Having reached the end of RIBA Stage 4, the project is entering a critical phase, with enabling works planned to start before the end of 2026 and the main contractor due to be appointed for RIBA Stage 5 and the commencement of construction.

As Senior Project Manager, you will lead the day-to-day delivery of The Art Works through on-site enabling works, construction, handover, fit-out, move-in and readiness for occupation. You will provide strong client-side leadership across this complex and high-profile programme. Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary internal and external teams, you will work with professional advisers, the design team, contractors and colleagues across the organisation to ensure the project is delivered safely, successfully and in line with its objectives.

You must have a strong understanding of governance, value for money and compliance public-sector requirements. You will be confident providing direction through matrix management, bringing together different areas of expertise and overseeing external consultants and contractors.

An engaging and credible Senior Project Manager you will build trust and strong relationships across the organisation and with a diverse range of stakeholders. You will communicate with clarity and confidence, providing concise advice and recommendations to senior leaders and Board members, and bringing people together to achieve shared outcomes.

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in delivering a project that will have a lasting impact on how Scotland’s national art collection is cared for and shared.

The difference you’ll make
Reporting to the Director - Major Capital Programme your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
-Providing leadership of multi-disciplinary internal and external teams.
-Leading on first stage resolution of any issues and/or conflicting priorities. You will initiate and progress formal change control as and when appropriate, ensure timely resolution and successful outcomes in line with the brief, programme and budget.
-Intervening and providing direction to mitigate risk, ensuring timely corrective action and escalation through project governance structure when appropriate.
-Driving pro-active budget planning and management, financial reporting, public sector compliant procurement and reporting.
-Undertaking report writing including recommendations, presenting papers and doing presentations, (for example to the Extended Leadership Team, Leadership Team and at Board level).
-Chairing Project and Working Group meetings including defining agendas and papers to achieve outcomes.
-Presenting at other internal and external meetings as and when required.
-Working with the Learning & Engagement team including participating in relevant community engagement activities.
-Undertaking general administrative duties related to The Art Works project.

Please see the Job description for more information and who we are looking for and apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 12 September 2026.

Museum Website: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/careers