Verstand Group is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager / Delivery Lead for a permanent, full-time position based in Darwin.

This is a senior, hands-on client-side delivery role for a major design and construct project. You will lead day-to-day project delivery, coordinate the project team and manage interfaces between the client, contractor, consultants, operational stakeholders and specialist advisers.

The initial assignment is anticipated to run for approximately 130 weeks and is subject to Verstand securing the engagement and the client's acceptance of the nominated candidate. The role is predominantly site and client-office based and is not a remote, hybrid, FIFO or DIDO position.

THE ROLE

Reporting to Verstand's Project Director and Superintendent's Representative, you will:

- Lead and coordinate day-to-day client-side delivery across design, construction, commissioning, handover and close-out.

- Set clear priorities for an embedded Project Manager and coordinate specialist commercial/QS and planning support.

- Establish and maintain effective governance, reporting, meetings, action tracking and decision support.

- Coordinate design development, staged submissions, stakeholder inputs, interfaces, approvals and readiness to progress.

- Monitor programme, risk, cost, change and emerging delivery issues, ensuring material matters are identified and escalated early.

- Coordinate factual reviews of progress payments, variations and extension-of-time claims, supported by specialist advisers where required.

- Manage contractor, consultant, client and operational-stakeholder interfaces in a live and sensitive operating environment.

- Coordinate inspections, quality and compliance follow-up, commissioning readiness, training, handover documentation and defect close-out.

- Prepare concise, evidence-based assessments and recommendations for the authorised decision-maker.





- Maintain clear authority boundaries: the role leads delivery but does not independently certify, determine, vary or bind the works contract unless expressly delegated in writing.

ABOUT YOU

You will bring:

- Demonstrated senior leadership of major D&C; building or infrastructure projects of comparable complexity.

- Substantial client-side project-management and contract-administration experience across design, construction, commissioning and handover.

- Strong knowledge of D&C; contracting, programme control, governance, risk, reporting, payment assessment, variations and extension-of-time processes.

- The ability to lead contractors, consultants and multidisciplinary stakeholders in a government or similarly governed environment.

- Experience managing work in a live operational setting where access, safety, continuity and stakeholder communication are critical.

- Strong written and verbal communication, disciplined record keeping and sound commercial judgement.

- A relevant tertiary qualification in project management, construction management, engineering, architecture, quantity surveying or a related discipline, or demonstrably equivalent senior delivery experience.

- Current recognised Australian professional project-management accreditation or certification, or demonstrable eligibility to obtain an appropriate equivalent credential.

- Australian work rights and the ability to obtain and maintain an NT Working with Children Clearance where required.





- Genuine availability to be based in Darwin and work predominantly at the project site and client offices.

Experience delivering Northern Territory Government projects, working under NPWC or comparable Australian public-works contracts, or delivering education, health, justice or other sensitive live-site projects will be highly regarded.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

You will create a coordinated delivery environment in which responsibilities are clear, project information is reliable, risks are raised early, specialist advice is integrated and matters requiring formal contractual authority reach the authorised decision-maker in time.

You will be comfortable challenging unsupported positions professionally, maintaining accurate and defensible records, and remaining accountable for follow-through in a demanding project workplace.

ABOUT VERSTAND GROUP

Verstand Group is an Australian commercial and project advisory consultancy providing quantity surveying, project management, project controls, commercial assurance, independent financial assurance and contract-administration services across major infrastructure, building and resources projects.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply through SEEK with your current CV and a brief cover letter outlining:

- the major D&C; projects you have personally led;

- your client-side delivery and contract-administration experience;

- your availability to work in Darwin; and

- your notice period and earliest realistic commencement date.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide project-specific evidence and complete qualification, work-right, clearance, referee and conflict-of-interest checks. Appointment to the initial assignment is subject to contract award, client acceptance, satisfactory due diligence and execution of a Verstand employment agreement.

📌 Senior Project Manager / Delivery Lead (Darwin)
🏢 Verstand Group
📍 Darwin