Contract Manager

Keystone Environmental Ltd.; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Keystone Environmental is a Midlands-based project management specialist delivering ecological contracting, land management, and habitat restoration services. The role focuses on organising and delivering a portfolio of works with an ecological emphasis, working closely with Keystone’s Habitats team to ensure high standards and regulatory compliance.

Ideal candidate excels in coordination, communication, and proactive problem solving, with a track record in quoting, tendering, and delivering

Qualifications

• Relevant industry experience in ecological contracting or practical land management.
• Exceptional communication skills demonstrated through client, subcontractor and supplier liaison.
• Experience in organising and managing a team of operatives and associated vehicles/plants.
• Ability to identify risks and opportunities and deliver on time and within budget.
• Commercial acumen in profitable project delivery and pursuing future opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day management of a large-scale landscaping and habitat management contract, ensuring delivery to programme and budget.
• Coordinate internal teams and subcontractors to maximise productivity.
• Monitor milestones and provide regular updates to clients and stakeholders.
• Manage project finances, expenditures and profitability.
• Liaise with clients, manage contracts and resolve issues promptly.
• Produce RAMS and ensure safety and compliance with legislation.

Skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Project management

Tendering/quoting

Driving licence

Education

SSSTS/SMSTS

CSCS or equivalent

Job description

Keystone Environmental is an Origin Enterprises business, forming part of the Environmental division.

At Origin Enterprises, we are dedicated to championing sustainable land use, and our Environmental teams support a diverse range of clients and projects—from land management and development to restoration and conservation.

At Keystone we pride ourselves on a professional family feel that attracts clients and employees alike. We share Origin’s values, People, Community, Partnerships, Integrity, and Innovation, which are reflected in all that we do and lie at the very core of our business.

We operate across a comprehensive range of sectors for public and private sector clients including supporting a number of the UK’s largest Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Keystone has established a first-class reputation for habitat creation, restoration, and mitigation, specialising in conservation driven projects that focus on nature restoration and Biodiversity Net Gain at scale.

The Role

The Project Manager is a strategic new appointment, primarily responsible for delivering an existing portfolio of works within the Midlands region . The role presents considerable opportunity for growth as Keystone continue to grow their regional presence.

We seek a highly organised and personable team player, with a ‘can do’ approach and strong attention to detail. As a proactive and driven individual, you will be primarily responsible for, organising and delivering a range of land management schemes with an underlying ecological drive, whilst adhering to Keystone’s quality assurance standards and risk management procedures. A genuine alignment with Keystone’s vision and values, and a demonstrable willingness to contribute to the successful growth of the Habitats team, is essential.

The ideal candidate will be able to embrace the challenge of delivering existing works through close coordination with the existing team, you will be responsible for client liaison, logistics, project planning, resourcing and delivery.

You will assist in quoting and tendering for local works, whilst also supporting the wider Keystone Habitats team in bidding for more complex tenders and opportunities. You will have the support of our Habitats Administrator yet be self-sufficient in administrative duties associated with efficient project management.

Keystone’s ability to offer end-to-end solutions, facilitated by our in-house consultancy offering, is our real strength. The successful candidate will work closely with our Ecology and Arboriculture Teams to ensure that our schemes are delivered with a focus on protected species and their associated habitats, and in compliance with relevant legislation.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Day-to-day management of a large-scale landscaping and habitat management contract, ensuring delivery to programme, budget and client requirements;
• Effective management and coordination of internal teams and subcontracted plant and labour resources to maximise productivity and efficiency;
• Programme management, monitoring progress against key milestones and providing regular updates to clients and stakeholders;
• Financial management and cost control, including monitoring expenditure and maintaining profitability;
• Client liaison, project management and contract administration, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution of issues;
• Conducting Quality Assurance inspections and producing detailed reports to ensure works meet required standards and specifications;
• Preparing and reviewing comprehensive Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS), ensuring works are planned and delivered safely and in accordance with relevant legislation and company procedures.

Additional Responsibilities may include;

• Line management, mentoring and professional development of junior staff, supporting their performance, skills development and career progression.
• Contributing to wider business strategy;
• Assisting with quotations, tenders and associated commercial documentation.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with new and existing clients to secure repeat and referral business.
• Identifying and maximising opportunities to win new work from prospective clients, including initiating contact and arranging introductory meetings.

Core Requirements:

• Relevant industry experience. This could be in ecological contracting or practical land management, including but not limited to habitat creation and restoration, conservation, forestry and arboriculture;
• Exceptional communication skills, evidenced via a track record of client, subcontractor and supplier communication and management;
• Experience in organising and managing a team of operatives and associated vehicles and plant on projects;
• Ability to identify risks and opportunities, avoiding/minimising the former and capitalising on the latter;
• A proven aptitude for understanding clients’ requirements and delivering these on time and within budget, without compromising industry standards;
• Demonstrable commercial acumen, both in profitable project delivery and in seeking future opportunities;
• Ability to balance and manage priorities, and maintain good working relationships with clients and colleagues whilst working under pressure;
• Solutions led and having an inherent ability to problem solve under pressure and in a range of environments;
• Quoting, tendering and project delivery experience;
• Experience in line managing and mentoring junior team members to achieve their full potential;
• Experience in writing site-specific risk assessments and method statements for jobs covering a range of sectors;
• Related qualifications or professional accreditations are preferred but not essential - SSSTS/SMSTS,
• CSCS or similar industry equivalent;
• Driving licence (clean) is essential, and towing experience would be advantageous.

Our Location

This is an exciting new role, offering the flexibility to initially work from home whilst supporting the delivery of existing projects. Ideally candidates would be situated within the Birmingham, Coventry, Tamworth area within commuting distance of existing site commitments ranging from Southam to Lichfield. As part of the role you will have access to a company vehicle suitable for active construction sites.

The successful candidate will have full support of our existing Head Office team based in Gloucestershire. There is a requirement to both visit and liaise closely with the team on a regular basis during the initial months.

At Keystone we strive to provide the kind of support that helps you find a work-life balance that enables you to fulfil your potential and grow with us. We offer a comprehensive industry leading benefits package, which is regularly reviewed, and currently includes:

What’s in it for you?

• £50, 000+ per annum dependant on experience
• Company Vehicle
• 25 days annual leave per annum (plus bank holidays)