Senior Contract Manager

Senior Contracts Manager / Head of Construction

Manchester | Hybrid Working | Full-Time, Permanent

Up to £90,000 basic salary + circa £30,000 performance-related bonus + company vehicle or car allowance

Total earning potential of circa £120,000, plus vehicle provision. Package negotiable for the right candidate.

The Opportunity

I am partnering with a rapidly growing main contractor to appoint a Senior Contracts Manager / Head of Construction to take a leading role in its operational delivery and continued development.

Reporting directly to the Group Managing Director, this appointment combines hands-on oversight of construction projects with the authority to strengthen delivery teams, improve operational processes and influence the direction of the business.

The opportunity would suit an accomplished Senior Contracts Manager ready for a broader remit, or an established Head of Construction or Operations Manager seeking greater influence within an ambitious, expanding organisation.

My client is looking for someone who understands the practical and commercial realities of main contracting: how to organise multiple live schemes, lead capable site teams, resolve difficult issues and deliver quality work while protecting project margins.

About the Business

My client is a Manchester-based main contractor operating across the North West and wider UK. The business forms part of an established multidisciplinary property and construction group, bringing together building consultancy, structural engineering and construction delivery. This provides access to complementary technical expertise throughout the project lifecycle, from initial investigation and design development through to construction and completion.

Its portfolio encompasses commercial refurbishment, structural alterations, industrial and warehouse projects, office fit-outs, extensions and planned maintenance. Work spans private and public-sector environments, including commercial premises, healthcare facilities, schools and local authority property. Projects frequently involve existing or occupied buildings, where careful sequencing, technical understanding and effective communication are central to successful delivery.

The business is entering a significant phase of expansion. Alongside delivering its projects, it is investing in the people, management structures and operational discipline required to support a larger contracting operation.

This appointment will be central to that development, offering direct access to the Group Managing Director and a meaningful opportunity to influence how the construction business operates and grows.

The Role

You will assume substantial responsibility for the day-to-day running of the contracting operation, overseeing projects from pre-construction through to practical completion, handover and final account.

The remit requires someone comfortable balancing smaller, technically demanding schemes with larger construction contracts. Relevant experience should include projects from approximately £250,000 upwards, with a proven delivery record across the £1 million–£10 million-plus range.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking operational ownership of multiple concurrent projects, maintaining clear oversight of programme, quality, cost, resources and client expectations.
• Leading and developing site managers, contracts managers, subcontractors and directly employed delivery teams, establishing clear responsibilities and consistent standards.
• Reviewing construction programmes, procurement schedules and critical-path activities, anticipating constraints and implementing practical recovery measures where required.
• Coordinating design and technical input, challenging buildability, sequencing and construction methodology, and resolving issues with consultants and delivery teams.
• Working closely with commercial colleagues on budgets, forecasting, procurement, payment applications, variations, subcontractor accounts and final accounts, with a clear focus on protecting margins.
• Applying sound JCT knowledge to manage contractual obligations, notices, extensions of time, delays and disputes, ensuring risks are identified and addressed promptly.
• Maintaining oversight of health, safety, environmental and quality performance, including CDM compliance, inspections, handovers and defects management.
• Strengthening operational reporting, procedures and project controls, while contributing to tender reviews, value engineering, recruitment, resourcing and wider business planning.

You will also be a senior point of contact for clients and professional teams, chairing progress meetings, communicating clearly on performance and maintaining confidence when projects encounter challenges.

The position requires a visible, practical leader who remains close to delivery while giving teams the direction and accountability they need to perform.

About You

My client is seeking a construction professional with substantial experience within an established UK main contractor. The priority is demonstrable operational capability rather than a particular job title.

You should bring:

• A successful track record as a Senior Contracts Manager, Head of Construction, Operations Manager, Construction Director or in a comparable main-contracting role.
• Experience overseeing several live projects simultaneously, including direct responsibility for delivery within the £1 million–£10 million-plus range.
• Strong commercial judgement, with a detailed understanding of project profitability, cost control, procurement and JCT contractual requirements.
• Broad technical construction knowledge, particularly across commercial refurbishment, industrial projects, structural alterations and work within occupied buildings.
• Proven ability to lead site teams and subcontractors, manage demanding client relationships and make well-considered operational decisions.
• A full UK driving licence and the flexibility to maintain an effective presence across the office, project sites and client meetings.

Experience helping a regional contractor develop its team, systems or delivery capacity would be particularly valuable, as would established relationships with reputable North West subcontractors and suppliers.

CIOB membership or another relevant professional qualification would be advantageous. A degree or equivalent qualification in Construction Management, Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline is also desirable.

Working Environment & Progression

This is a hybrid position based around Manchester, combining office leadership, site attendance and home working in line with project and operational requirements.

You will work closely with the Group Managing Director on both immediate delivery priorities and the longer-term development of the construction business. There is scope to influence recruitment, strengthen the supply chain, establish reporting structures and develop the next generation of delivery leaders.

As the business expands, the appointment offers potential progression into a Construction Director or wider operational leadership position, depending on the successful individual’s experience and contribution.

The package comprises up to £90,000 basic salary, a performance-related bonus of circa £30,000 and a company vehicle or car allowance. Salary and the overall package are negotiable for the right candidate.