Contract Manager

Skilled Careers; Reading; On-site; GBP 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Travel expenses

Private Healthcare

Job summary

Skilled Careers is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager for the Southern Region (London, Thames Valley & surrounding areas). You will lead 2–3 live construction projects and 1–3 schemes through PCSA/pre-construction, providing strategic direction and ensuring delivery quality and safety.

You will manage Project Managers and site teams, drive commercial objectives, and foster strong client/stakeholder relationships while upholding high standards of health, safety and environmental compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience as Contracts Manager or senior operational role with a main contractor.
• Proven track record overseeing multiple construction projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of PCSA, procurement, construction delivery and handover.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring of Project Managers and delivery teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and risk, programme management and contractual obligations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of 2–3 live projects and 1–3 schemes in PCSA/pre-construction.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to Project Managers and site teams.
• Manage PCSA across multiple schemes with pre-construction, commercial, design and planning teams.
• Monitor programmes, budgets, resources, procurement strategies and milestones.
• Maintain client, consultant and stakeholder relationships.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to protect contractual objectives and manage risk.
• Ensure health, safety, QA and environmental standards across all projects.
• Mentor and develop Project Managers, driving accountability.
• Report performance and resource needs to regional leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Contracting

Programme management

Health & safety

Client/stakeholder management

Tools

PCSA process

Job description

Location: Southern Region – London, Thames Valley & Surrounding Areas

Salary: Up to £110,000 Basic + £6,000 Car Allowance + Travel Expenses + Private Healthcare

Sector: Main Contracting | Commercial, Education, Residential & Public Sector

Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Contracts Manager to join the Southern Region of one of the UK's leading privately owned Tier 1 main contractors.

With an annual turnover of approximately £1.4bn, a strong financial position and an established reputation for delivering high-quality construction projects, this business offers the security and resources of a major national contractor, alongside a collaborative and supportive regional working environment.

The Southern Region operates across London, the Thames Valley and surrounding counties, delivering a diverse portfolio of projects spanning commercial, residential, education and wider public sector developments.

The business is looking to appoint an experienced Contracts Manager to take responsibility for multiple live projects, alongside overseeing schemes through pre-construction, working closely with an established regional leadership team.

This is a senior operational appointment offering genuine autonomy, a varied workload and the opportunity to play an integral role in the continued development of the region.

The Role

Reporting into the regional senior leadership team, the successful Contracts Manager will assume operational responsibility for approximately 2–3 live construction projects, alongside overseeing 1–3 schemes progressing through PCSA and pre-construction.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across your portfolio, with experienced Project Managers reporting directly into you, ensuring projects are delivered safely, commercially and to the highest standards of quality.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the successful delivery of multiple construction projects across the Southern Region, from pre-construction through to practical completion and handover.
• Providing operational leadership and direction to Project Managers and their respective site delivery teams.
• Managing the PCSA process across multiple schemes, working closely with pre-construction, commercial, design and planning teams.
• Maintaining oversight of project programmes, budgets, resources, procurement strategies and delivery milestones.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants and key project stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with commercial teams to manage project performance, identify risks and protect contractual and commercial objectives.
• Ensuring the highest standards of health and safety, quality assurance and environmental compliance across all projects.
• Supporting, mentoring and developing Project Managers, encouraging accountability and high-performing project teams.
• Reporting on project performance, operational risks and resource requirements to the regional leadership team.

About You

We are looking for an established Contracts Manager with a strong background in main contracting, capable of overseeing multiple projects and providing effective leadership across both pre-construction and live delivery.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Previous experience operating as a Contracts Manager or in a comparable senior operational position with a recognised main contractor.
• A proven track record of overseeing multiple construction projects simultaneously.
• Strong experience across the full project lifecycle, including PCSA, procurement, construction delivery and handover.
• Excellent leadership skills, with experience managing Project Managers and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of project risk, programme management and contractual obligations.
• Experience delivering projects within commercial, residential, education or wider public sector environments.
• Excellent client-facing, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with the ability to lead teams and maintain high standards across multiple schemes.

Experience delivering Department for Education (DfE) projects would be particularly advantageous, although this is not essential. Candidates with a strong background across other relevant sectors will be equally considered.

The Business

Our client is one of the UK's most established and respected privately owned construction groups, with a substantial national presence and a history spanning more than a century.

Operating with an annual turnover approaching £1.4bn, the business has developed an enviable reputation for delivering complex, high-quality projects across a broad range of sectors.

With a strong financial foundation, established client relationships and a diverse forward workload, the business offers long‑term stability and genuine opportunities for career development.

The Southern Region benefits from the backing and resources of the wider group, while maintaining a regional structure that encourages collaboration, accountability and operational autonomy.

This appointment represents an opportunity to join a well‑established management team and make a meaningful contribution to the region's continued success.

Salary & Benefits

The successful Contracts Manager will receive a highly competitive remuneration package, including:

• Basic salary up to £110,000 per annum
• Long‑term career progression within an established Tier 1 contractor
• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of major construction projects
• The opportunity to take ownership of a substantial regional workload
• A supportive, experienced regional leadership team

Full package details will be discussed during the recruitment process.