Project Manager - Formula Student (10-month contract)
Birdcage Walk, Central London (with hybrid working)

We are now looking for a Project Manager to join us on a full-time basis for a fixed-term contract of approximately 10 months.

About Formula Student

Formula Student is Europe's longest-running educational engineering competition, challenging university teams to design, build and race a single-seat racing car. Recognised across the engineering and motorsport sectors, it equips future engineers with the practical experience, technical expertise and professional skills needed to thrive in industry.

The Role

As Project Manager, you will lead the delivery and development of our flagship student competition, Formula Student.

You will oversee the planning and delivery of competition events, including the annual week-long live event at Silverstone, managing logistics, suppliers, budgets and on-site operations and providing a high-quality experience for competitors, judges and volunteers.

Working with staff, volunteers, universities, sponsors and industry partners, you will manage key relationships and co-ordinate activities to achieve programme objectives.

You will also drive the competition’s ongoing development, identifying opportunities to improve participant experience, strengthen partnerships and support long-term sustainability.

Additionally, you will:

- Develop annual business plans, budgets and project schedules
- Monitor performance, milestones and programme targets
- Identify and manage operational, financial and safety risks
- Develop sponsorship and funding opportunities
- Maintain effective governance and reporting processes

About You

To be considered as a Project Manager, you will need:

- Extensive live events experience
- Significant experience leading complex programmes or large-scale events involving multiple stakeholder groups
- Experience handling budgets (£1m+) to achieve targets and maximise value
- Experience managing strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders
- Experience influencing and managing volunteer or matrix teams
- Experience managing programme risks, budgets and governance processes
- Strong commercial awareness, including sponsorship and partnership management
- The willingness to undertake regular travel as required, with frequent overnight stays

Other organisations may call this role Programme Manager, Events Project Manager, Events Manager, Event Operations Manager, Event Delivery Manager, Event Logistics Manager, Live Events Manager, Competition Manager, or Project Delivery Manager.

The Salary and Benefits

- Salary of circa £52,000 per annum, depending on experience
- 26 days’ holiday per annum plus bank holidays
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Benefits, including a stakeholder pension scheme, life assurance and private health cover
- A range of other wellbeing benefits

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced live events professional with a strong track record of leading complex programmes and managing multiple stakeholder groups to join our internationally respected organisation.

You will have the chance to take the lead on Formula Student, working at the centre of this high-profile programme that gives future engineers practical experience and helps prepare them for careers across engineering and motorsport.

Application

So, if you want to take ownership of an esteemed flagship competition and help shape an experience that supports the next generation of engineers, please apply via the button shown. The closing date for applications is Monday 23 November 2026.

This is a time-sensitive vacancy; therefore, we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. We therefore encourage early applications.

Whilst we appreciate the interest of all applicants, we are unfortunately unable to respond to each applicant individually. If you have not heard from us within 28 days of submitting your application, you should assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

About IMechE

With over 110,000 members in 140 countries, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has been at the heart of the mechanical engineering profession since 1847. We strive to improve the world through engineering by developing engineers, promoting engineering, informing opinion and encouraging innovation.

This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.

Webrecruit and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.