Contract Manager

Pertemps; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned civil engineering contractor in the North West is seeking a Contract Manager to oversee its civils and highways division. The ideal candidate will lead a small team, manage client relationships, and take responsibility for projects with a turnover of approximately £2 million, aiming to grow it to £5–6 million. Strong civil engineering knowledge and a hands-on leadership style are crucial, along with the ability to maintain high standards of safety and quality in project delivery. Competitive salary, company car, and benefits offered.

Benefits

Company Car

Pension

Benefits package

Qualifications

• Experience as a Contract/Business Development Manager in civils/highways is essential.
• Strong civil engineering knowledge with a solid commercial background.
• Able to read and interpret drawings effectively.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of civils & highways division with £2m turnover and help grow it.
• Manage local authority and related workstreams effectively.
• Lead and develop a team of Supervisors and gangs.

Skills

Contract Management

Civil Engineering

Project Management

Strong Communication

Education

HNC/HND in Civil Engineering

Site Tickets (e.g., SMSTS, CSCS, NRSWA)

Job description

Contract Manager – Civils & Highways

Salary: £70,000 – £80,000 + Company Car + Benefits (DOE)

Location: North West England (Greater Manchester)

About the Company

Our client is a long-established, family‑owned civil engineering contractor in the North West, with a turnover of around £30m. They have a strong reputation across highways and civils, delivering projects primarily for local authorities, with additional work from other established sources.

The civils / highways division currently delivers approximately £2m per annum, with a clear plan to grow this to £5–6m over the next few years. To support this, they are looking to appoint a senior Contracts/Business Development Manager to take ownership of this workstream and treat it as “their own business” within the wider group.

About the Role

This is a senior operational and commercial role with end‑to‑end responsibility for a portfolio of civils and highways projects.

You will lead a small existing team (including 3 gangs with Supervisors), manage local authority frameworks and projects, and be the main point of contact for clients. The role is office and site based (roughly 50/50), with a strong emphasis on being visible, hands‑on and building structure around the division as it grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of a civils & highways division currently at c.£2m turnover and help grow it towards £5–6m.
• Manage and grow local authority and related workstreams – including highways, Section 278 schemes, drainage, kerbs, car parks and associated civils.
• Lead and develop the existing team: approx. 3 gangs (each with a Supervisor) plus office/site‑based support, drawing on wider planning, plant and commercial teams.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle: tendering, programming, resourcing, day‑to‑day delivery, handover and final accounts.
• Manage commercial performance – costs, margin, change, variations and forecasting, working closely with the Financial Director and wider commercial support.
• Act as the key point of contact for clients, ensuring strong relationships, clear communication and repeat work.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, to the required quality and in line with agreed timeframes and specifications.
• Build systems, processes and reporting as the division grows – turning a solid operation into a scalable, well‑controlled business unit.
• Work collaboratively in a hands‑on, family‑business environment where everyone “chips in” when required.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience as a Contract/Business Development Manager in civils / highways, or a strong Project Manager ready to step up.
• Strong civil engineering knowledge with a solid commercial / QS background.
• Experience in local authority highways / Section 278 / general civils – confident with drainage, kerbs, concrete, car parks and associated infrastructure works.
• Able to read and interpret drawings and turn them into realistic programmes, resources and delivery plans.
• Track record of running a stable, profitable business area or portfolio of contracts (ideally multi‑million pound).
• Hands‑on leadership style – “mucky boots”, visible on site, credible with Supervisors and gangs.
• Strong communication skills – comfortable with clients, senior stakeholders and site‑based teams.
• Personality and style to fit a family‑run North West contractor – straight‑talking, team‑focused, and motivated by building something long‑term rather than chasing a quick uplift.
• Based within reasonable commuting distance (around 1 hour) of Greater Manchester and happy with a roughly 50/50 office/site split.
• Formal civil engineering qualifications and site tickets (e.g. HNC/HND, SMSTS, CSCS, NRSWA) would be an advantage but are not essential where experience and credibility are strong.

Package

• Basic salary: £70,000 – £80,000 (depending on experience and what you can bring).
• Company car (to be discussed).
• Pension and wider benefits.
• Scope to discuss a performance‑related element linked to division growth and delivery.

Apply

Apply online or contact Nathan Turley for a confidential discussion [e-mail]