Contract Manager

WPS; Winchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

WPS (Wates Property Services) in Winchester seeks an experienced Contract Manager to lead a South Responsive Maintenance contract. You’ll oversee safe, compliant, and profitable responsive repairs, including DTD, Voids, Planned and Disrepair works, by guiding a high-performing team and partnering with clients and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include managing budgets, delivering on-time works, and driving performance metrics while ensuring Health & Safety compliance and customer

Qualifications

• Relevant construction or maintenance management background required.
• Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and budgets.
• Broad knowledge of housing maintenance and social housing context.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract to meet performance, delivery, quality and margin targets.
• Own financial performance including turnover and profitability.
• Manage service delivery ensuring timeliness and quality.
• Drive customer satisfaction and manage complaints swiftly.
• Deliver KPI performance and weekly/monthly reports.
• Identify opportunities for contract growth and new business.
• Lead inductions, PDRs and team briefings.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Commercial awareness

Problem-solving

Multi-project management

Customer-first approach

MS Office

Education

HNC or equivalent in Construction

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Permanent | Responsive Contract

Contract Manager – Responsive Maintenance

Winchester

WPS (Wates Property Services)

WPS is looking for an experienced and driven Contract Manager to lead a South Responsive Maintenance contract based out of Winchester. This is a high‑profile role with full responsibility for delivering a safe, compliant, and profitable responsive repairs service, covering DTD, Voids, Planned and Disrepair works. You'll lead from the front – delivering operational excellence, driving performance, developing people, and exceeding client and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and lead the contract to meet performance, delivery, quality, and margin targets
• Manage all aspects of service delivery, ensuring works are completed on time, to cost, and to quality
• Own the financial performance of the contract – turnover, margin & profitability
• Lead, motivate and continuously develop a high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary team
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, SHEQ, and contractual obligations
• Drive customer satisfaction and manage complaints swiftly and effectively
• Deliver KPI performance and produce clear weekly and monthly performance reports
• Build strong collaborative relationships with clients, commercial teams, and internal stakeholders
• Identify and support opportunities for contract growth and new business
• Lead inductions, 1‑2‑1s, PDRs, toolbox talks and team briefings

Financial & People Responsibility

• Full responsibility for operating and capital budgets
• Deliver the contract in line with (or better than) tender assumptions

Leadership Of

• Supervisors
• Multi‑Skilled Engineers
• Supply Chain Partners
• Schedulers / Planners
• Administrators

What We’re Looking For

• Strong understanding of housing maintenance & social housing
• Proven commercial and financial acumen
• Experience managing responsive maintenance contracts
• Knowledge of KPI management and SOR codes
• Experience mobilising and managing contracts

Qualifications

• HNC (or equivalent) in Construction or related discipline
• Minimum 3 years' experience leading a successful unit/contract
• SMSTS or IOSH qualification

Skills

• Strong leadership and people management capability
• Excellent communication (written & verbal)
• Commercial awareness and problem‑solving mindset
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively
• Customer‑first approach with a passion for continuous improvement
• Confident using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Behaviours

• Leads by example and inspires others
• Resilient, energetic and proactive
• Highly organised with excellent time management
• Assertive, confident and collaborative

Why Join WPS?

• Work for a respected, industry‑leading contractor
• Be trusted to run a flagship contract
• Develop your career within a supportive, high‑performing environment
• Make a real impact in social housing and local communities

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre‑employment checks.

WPS is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement, as we value transferable skills and assess all applications fairly.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme. Reasonable adjustments are available.