Construction Leader - UK & Ireland

Innovo Global Talent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovo Global Talent is seeking an experienced Construction Leader to oversee construction and installation across major airport projects in the UK and Ireland. The role provides operational leadership to Site Management teams, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery in live airport environments.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, safety performance, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement across multiple projects, coordinating interfaces,

Qualifications

• 5-10 years' experience leading construction on large-scale projects.
• Experience in live operational environments, ideally airports or regulated sectors.
• Full lifecycle knowledge from pre-construction through handover.
• Knowledge of CDM Regulations and Principal Contractor responsibilities.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams, contractors and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to improve operational performance and standardisation.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead construction and installation activities across airport projects.
• Ensure safe, efficient delivery in line with best practices.
• Act as operational lead for site management teams with coaching and support.
• Manage resources, workforce utilisation and contractor performance.
• Coordinate complex interfaces and SIMOPS.
• Conduct readiness reviews covering permits, labour, logistics and stakeholders.
• Support mobilisation, delivery, commissioning and handover activities.
• Chair coordination meetings and escalation forums.
• Collaborate with project management, engineering, H&S, planning, procurement and logistics.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and productivity gains.
• Provide visible safety leadership and timely resolution of safety actions.
• Build relationships with airport stakeholders and project partners.

Skills

Construction leadership

Stakeholder management

Safety leadership

CDM Regulations

Team leadership

Project lifecycle understanding

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Construction Leader to oversee construction and installation activities across a portfolio of major airport projects throughout the UK & Ireland.

This position provides operational leadership to Site Management teams and is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery of construction works within live airport environments. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, safety performance, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement across multiple projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate construction and installation activities across multiple airport projects.
• Ensure works are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with construction management best practices.
• Act as the operational lead for site management teams, providing leadership, coaching, and support.
• Manage resource allocation, workforce utilisation, and contractor performance.
• Coordinate complex work interfaces and simultaneous operations (SIMOPS).
• Conduct construction readiness reviews covering design, permits, labour, logistics, materials, and stakeholder approvals.
• Support project mobilisation, delivery, commissioning, and final handover activities.
• Chair construction coordination meetings and escalation forums.
• Work closely with project management, engineering, health & safety, planning, procurement, and logistics teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through lessons learned, performance reviews, and productivity enhancements.
• Act as a visible safety leader, promoting a proactive safety culture and ensuring timely resolution of safety actions.
• Build strong relationships with airport stakeholders, operational teams, contractors, and key project partners.

Candidate Requirements

• 5-10 years' experience leading construction or installation activities on large-scale, complex projects.
• Experience working within live operational environments, ideally airports, transport infrastructure, or other highly regulated sectors.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle from pre-construction through to handover.
• Knowledge of CDM Regulations and Principal Contractor responsibilities.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams, contractors, subcontractors, and stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to improve operational performance, productivity, and standardisation across projects.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery principles.
• Must be based within a commutable distance of Heathrow, London, as regular on-site presence is required for the successful delivery of this role

Preferred Qualifications

• SMSTS
• NEBOSH General Certificate
• NVQ Level 6 or 7 in Construction Management (or equivalent)
• CSCS Black Management Card
• Key Performance Indicators
• Safety performance
• Programme delivery and schedule adherence
• Installation productivity and operational efficiency
• What's on Offer
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Private medical cover
• Enhanced wellbeing support and employee assistance programmes
• Strong career development and progression opportunities
• Reward and recognition programmes
• Additional lifestyle and family-friendly benefits

This role would suit a Construction Manager, Installation Manager, Project Construction Lead, Senior Site Manager, or Principal Contractor Representative with experience delivering complex infrastructure projects in live operational environments.