Assistant Project Manager

Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Fit-Out | Client-Side Consultancy | Central London

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000, dependent on experience

Location: Central London, with site visits on projects across the UK

Working pattern: Office based

Sector: Retail, hospitality, and leisure interior fit-out (client-side)

Reporting to: Senior Project Manager and Project Managers

About the Consultancy

A growing, client-side project management and cost consultancy working across retail, hospitality, and leisure. They design and deliver spaces for founders, landlords, developers, and brands, with a client list in the F&B and hospitality world that you'll recognise from your weekend plans.

They sit on the client's side of the table. They manage cost, risk, and suppliers so their clients can focus on opening the doors. Clients describe them as tough with suppliers, flexible with clients, and calm when things get busy on site.

The founders are still closely involved in the work, rather than sitting behind layers of management. The team has grown quickly, they've recently moved into new offices in Central London, and with luxury hotels next on the horizon, the business is on the up.

About the Role

You'll join one of the consultancy's delivery teams and work closely with the Senior Project Manager and Project Managers across the full project lifecycle, on several live projects at once.

A big part of next year is a 35-store rollout for a fast-growing international food and drink brand, so you'll build real multi-site experience early on. You'll also run smaller capex projects yourself, with the senior PM team behind you.

Your Days Will Look Something Like This

Running your own projects

• Managing smaller capex projects with support from the senior PM team, and delivering them on time, on budget, and beyond what the client expected
• Negotiating and challenging smaller contracts and schedules of works for M&E and FF&E, with guidance from the Project Managers, to drive value for clients
• Communicating risks and options clearly to project stakeholders

Keeping projects on track

• Tracking projects and their status from pre-construction through to completion
• Updating project programmes so every delivery date is met
• Making sure purchase orders, programmes, minutes, and all other project information go out on time
• Managing project information, including site meeting minutes, programmes, cost reports, and H&S information
• Producing weekly update reports for clients as required

On site and with people

• Arranging and supporting site meetings, and writing detailed minutes that people actually use
• Attending site visits and making sure projects are delivered to the highest standards
• Supporting on-site activities, including chasing contractors for costs and snagging
• Being a reliable point of contact for contractors, suppliers, clients, legal teams, landlords, and consultants

Costs, tenders, and handover

• Supporting the cost reporting process, including project-specific reports, cost reports, and final accounts
• Generating tender lists for projects with the Project Managers
• Managing and improving the aftercare and handover process across the project list

Growing with the business

• Building your knowledge of costs and rates so you can negotiate larger contracts and schedules of works
• Developing your understanding of compliance and legislation, so the team and its clients always work to high safety standards and meet local authority and building control requirements

You Might Be Our Perfect Match If

• You have a proven track record supporting the project management lifecycle on retail, hospitality, or leisure interior fit-outs across the UK
• You've got experience of contractor or client-side contracts and project management in retail, leisure, or hospitality
• Multi-site or rollout experience would be a real plus
• You're super organised and diligent, and you know exactly where the latest programme lives
• You're an outstanding communicator who responds quickly and gets things moving
• You learn fast, grasp project requirements quickly, and want to keep building your construction knowledge
• You have a good understanding of construction safety requirements and H&S legislation
• You build trust easily and form strong client relationships
• You've got a strong work ethic, a self-starting mindset, and a problem-solving attitude
• You hold a clean UK driving licence

Why This One

• A 35-store rollout for a well-known international F&B brand, so you get multi-site experience from day one
• Your own smaller projects to run, with senior support when you need it
• A client-side seat, working directly with founders, brands, and landlords
• Exposure to the full lifecycle, from tender lists to final accounts and aftercare
• A clear route to building your commercial knowledge, including negotiating M&E and FF&E packages
• Founders who are still hands-on, with real ownership of your work and room to grow as the business does
• A brand new office in Central London
• Benefits including private medical, an annual bonus scheme, an employee referral bonus, and a full day off for your birthday