Senior Contracts Manager - Retrofit

Senior Contracts Manager – Retrofit
Salary: £65,022 + Excellent Benefits
Location: Wooburn Green, High Wycombe or Letchworth Garden City
Hybrid working: Mixture of office, site‑based and home working
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 per week

Are you looking to join a growing, values-led organisation with a clear social purpose?

At Lifestone Homes, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 30,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve

If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.

About you

You will be an experienced operational leader with a strong track record of delivering complex housing, property, retrofit or investment programmes.

You'll be equally comfortable leading teams, managing contractor performance, presenting to senior stakeholders and driving service improvements. You'll understand the challenges and opportunities associated with large‑scale retrofit delivery and be passionate about delivering homes that are warmer, more energy efficient and fit for the future.

This role requires someone who is commercially minded, highly organised and able to balance programme delivery, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction and financial performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of retrofit and decarbonisation investment programmes from mobilisation through to completion

• Manage and develop a team of Retrofit Contracts Managers

• Oversee the performance of contractors, consultants and delivery partners across multiple workstreams

• Ensure programme delivery aligns with PAS 2035 requirements, funding conditions and organisational standards

• Manage retrofit programmes with annual budgets exceeding £20 million

• Lead procurement, contract mobilisation and ongoing contractor performance management activities

• Support external funding bids, business cases and grant funding applications

• Work with Asset Management and Stock Condition teams to develop long‑term retrofit investment strategies

• Monitor programme performance, quality standards, compliance and customer outcomes

• Lead workforce planning, succession planning and professional development activities across the team

• Ensure robust contract administration, health and safety compliance and CDM 2015 requirements are met

• Manage delivery risks and implement mitigation plans where required

• Present performance, compliance, financial and risk information to senior leaders, committees and governance groups

• Lead responses to audits, funding reviews and regulatory requirements

• Drive continuous improvement across programme delivery, contractor performance and customer satisfaction

Our expectations

• Retrofit programmes delivered safely, compliantly and within agreed timescales

• High levels of contractor performance and accountability

• Excellent customer satisfaction and positive resident feedback

• Strong compliance with PAS 2035, funding conditions and regulatory requirements

• Successful achievement of EPC improvement and decarbonisation targets

• Effective budget management and value for money delivery

• Reduced defects, rework and programme delays

• Positive audit outcomes and strong programme governance

• A high‑performing, skilled and motivated retrofit delivery team

Essential

Experience

• Significant experience managing contractors within housing, property services, retrofit, planned maintenance or construction environments

• Experience delivering large‑scale retrofit, energy efficiency or investment programmes

• Experience delivering government‑funded retrofit programmes, including WH:SHF, SHDF or similar funding streams

• Experience managing programmes valued in excess of £15 million annually

• Experience leading and developing operational teams and contractor networks

• Experience carrying out quality inspections and performance monitoring activities

• Experience managing health and safety compliance within construction or property environments

• Experience managing customer enquiries, complaints and service recovery

• Experience working within asset management or planned investment programmes

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of retrofit and energy efficiency measures, including insulation, ventilation, renewable technologies and low‑carbon heating systems

• Knowledge of PAS 2035 principles and retrofit delivery requirements

• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations and construction health and safety legislation

• Knowledge of contract management, procurement and performance frameworks

• Understanding of social housing asset management and investment planning

• Knowledge of compliance, governance and regulatory requirements relevant to retrofit delivery

Skills

• Strong contract management and contractor performance management skills

• Excellent leadership and people management skills

• Strong commercial awareness and financial management capability

• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Ability to interpret performance data and drive service improvement

• Strong customer focus and commitment to service excellence

• Competent user of Microsoft Office and contract management systems

Qualifications

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent within a relevant discipline, together with significant industry experience (or equivalent experience)

• HNC, HND, NVQ Level 4 or equivalent qualification in Construction, Building Studies, Property Maintenance or a related field (or equivalent experience)

• CIOB, RICS or equivalent professional membership, or substantial equivalent experience (or equivalent experience)

• SMSTS, SSSTS or IOSH certification (or equivalent experience)

• Full UK driving licence

Desired

• Retrofit, sustainability or energy efficiency qualification

• Experience working within social housing

• Experience supporting Net Zero and decarbonisation strategies

• Experience working across complex, multi‑contractor delivery environments

Benefits

At Lifestone Homes, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development, finances and work-life balance.

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days

• Christmas closure in addition to your annual leave entitlement

• Option to buy up to 5 additional days of annual leave each year

• Generous pension scheme with up to 10% employer contributions

• Annual performance bonus scheme, recognising individual contributions and achievements

• Enhanced family-friendly leave, including maternity and paternity benefits

• Health Cash Plan with support for everyday healthcare costs, virtual health services, gym discounts and free cover for up to four dependent children

• Life assurance worth three times your annual salary

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential support for your mental, physical and financial wellbeing

• Flexible and hybrid working, helping you balance work and personal commitments

• £200 annual flexible benefits allowance to spend through our benefits platform

• Generous sick pay and income protection cover

• Essential car user allowance and business mileage payments for eligible roles

And that's just the beginning! We also offer:

• Salary sacrifice car leasing scheme with electric and hybrid vehicle options

• Funded training, professional qualifications and apprenticeships

• Two paid Giving Back Days each year to support local communities and charitable causes

• Up to 5 days paid carers leave

• Up to 5 days paid emergency childcare leave

• Paid professional membership or subscription (one per year)

• Peer recognition and reward programme

• Sabbatical opportunities for eligible colleagues

• Mental Health First Aiders across the organisation

• Modern office facilities, including free parking and EV charging where available

Working Hours

• 37 hours per week

• 09:00 - 17:30 Mon - Thursday

• 09:00 - 17:00 Friday

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required.

Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.

Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.

Closing Date: 20th November 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the closing date should we find a suitable candidate.