Location
Longford, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5

Hours
Full Time - Site-based delivery role

Salary
Competitive salary offered

About the Role
Designer Group is seeking an experienced Mechanical Project Manager to lead the delivery of mechanical building services works at Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5. This role is ideal for someone with strong mechanical project management experience within M&E contracting, aviation, infrastructure, industrial, pharmaceutical, mission critical, or large-scale commercial environments. You will take full ownership of mechanical project delivery in a live airport environment, collaborating closely with site management, engineering, commercial, procurement, quality, safety teams, subcontractors, and client stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include driving the mechanical scope from planning and procurement through installation, testing, commissioning, and handover. You will manage project teams, oversee subcontractor performance, track progress against programme, resolve technical and commercial issues, and ensure works are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the required technical standards.

Experience working in live, operational, security-controlled environments is highly advantageous, with previous airport, terminal, or airside experience considered a strong benefit. You will oversee mechanical building services packages including HVAC, pipework, public health, ventilation, plantroom works, mechanical containment, drainage, and associated systems.

Key duties include managing supervisors, engineers, subcontractors, and specialist suppliers; driving programme delivery and milestone achievement; identifying and mitigating project risks; supporting procurement planning, RFIs, technical submittals, and material approvals; reviewing drawings and design information to resolve buildability and coordination issues; coordinating with electrical, controls, fire, architectural, structural, and specialist trade packages; chairing and attending project meetings; monitoring labour, materials, plant, and resources; supporting testing, commissioning, system validation, documentation, and client handover; and maintaining strong relationships with all stakeholders.

You will promote and uphold Designer Group’s health, safety, quality, and environmental standards at all times, ensuring all work complies with site rules, airport protocols, access requirements, and live environment constraints.

Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in mechanical project management.
- Background with M&E contractors, mechanical contractors, principal contractors, or major subcontractors.
- Proven track record delivering mechanical projects from construction through commissioning and handover.
- Strong understanding of mechanical building services, site installation, technical coordination, and project delivery.
- Experience managing subcontractors, supervisors, engineers, and site-based project teams.
- Ability to manage programme, procurement, RFIs, technical submittals, progress reporting, and project risks.
- Strong commercial awareness and ability to collaborate with quantity surveying and commercial teams.
- Good knowledge of health and safety requirements in live construction or operational environments.
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, delivery-led site environment.
- High attention to detail and proactive problem-solving approach.
- Right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.

Experience that would be advantageous
- Previous experience working at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City Airport, or other live airport environments.
- Experience working in Terminal 5 or other live terminal environments.
- Airside, landside, aviation, rail, transport, infrastructure, or secure-site project experience.
- Experience delivering mechanical packages within airport terminals, baggage areas, plantrooms, logistics facilities, commercial buildings, or critical infrastructure.
- Experience with HVAC, ventilation, chilled water, heating, domestic water services, drainage, public health, plant replacement, pipework, and mechanical systems.
- Experience working in live operational environments with strict access, safety, security, quality, and programme controls.
- Experience with testing, commissioning, handover, and system completion processes.
- Experience using BIM, coordinated services drawings, technical submittals, and design review processes.
- Mechanical trade background, building services engineering qualification, or construction management qualification.
- Experience working with permits, access controls, shift working, live services, shutdown planning, and stakeholder-heavy delivery environments.

About you
You are a confident Mechanical Project Manager who enjoys taking ownership of site delivery. You are practical, organised, and commercially aware, with the ability to lead teams, manage subcontractors, and keep projects moving. You are comfortable working in a controlled, live environment where safety, coordination, communication, and planning are critical. You build strong working relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and internal teams.