Project Director

AJD

We are seeking an experienced Project Director to drive the successful execution of capital projects and real-estate initiatives across a globally scaled operation. This is a strategic role that combines technical project management discipline with commercial acumen, offering the opportunity to shape delivery approaches, influence tooling, and technology integration (including AI-enabled solutions), and elevate project delivery practice across the bank.

This is not a broad Project Director role; it is specifically focused on capital projects and real-estate delivery. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise in navigating complex, matrixed organisations, identifying and mitigating project risk, and engaging with both internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver outcomes consistently.

Required Experience & Competencies

Essential

Demonstrated success delivering capital projects, particularly in real estate, property, or infrastructure sectors.

Strong technical project management discipline: scope, schedule, budget, risk, and quality management.

Commercial acumen: understanding of contracts, procurement, vendor management, and commercial risk.

Proven ability to operate in matrixed organisations; influence without direct authority; build effective relationships across stakeholder groups.

Experience identifying, escalating, and mitigating project risks in complex environments.

Track record of delivering projects that generate reputational value and tangible business impact.

Desirable

Experience in financial services, banking, or regulated environments.

Exposure to or engagement with emerging technologies (AI, automation, data analytics) in project delivery contexts.

Track record as an agent of change; experience in organisational transformation or culture-building within project teams.

Professional qualifications (MAPM, MRICS,PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).

Purpose of the role

To manage and develop capital project proposals and operations aligned to the needs of the bank. 

Accountabilities

• Management, development and execution of building, real estate and physical asset security projects and proposals, including workspace, engineering, and facility upgrades.
• Management of planning, design, procurement, resourcing, reporting and construction processes to ensure deliverables are completed on time and within budget.
• Identification of potential risks and issues associated to capital projects and development of risk management strategies to mitigate them by monitoring risk exposure and taking corrective action.
• Management of project budget for real estate and physical security projects by tracking expenses, forecasting costs and identifying cost saving opportunities.
• Management of stakeholder relations including project sponsors, vendors, regulatory agencies, and the facilities management team to align capital project operations with the bank's objectives.
• Identification of opportunities to improve the delivery processes for capital projects and implement best practices to enhance project performance.
• Execution of capital projects that meet agreed quality standards, and are compliant with relevant laws, regulation, and policies.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.