Contracts Manager

Calco Services Limited; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading civil engineering contractor in the UK is seeking a Contracts Manager to oversee multiple projects from pre-start to completion. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership and financial control experience, with a background in delivering civil engineering and groundworks projects. The role offers a competitive salary of £80k to £125k, with significant career advancement opportunities within a growing firm.

Benefits

Competitive overall package

Long-term career progression

Support from senior leadership

Qualifications

• Proven experience within civil engineering and groundworks required.
• Experience managing multiple projects concurrently is essential.
• Sound knowledge of UK construction contracts (NEC / JCT) is a must.

Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for delivering multiple civil engineering projects.
• Control project budgets and forecasts effectively.
• Champion health & safety across all projects.

Skills

Proven experience as a Contracts Manager

Strong leadership skills

Excellent commercial awareness

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction

Chartered or towards CIOB/ICE/RICS

Job description

JOB SPECIFICATION: CONTRACTS MANAGER

Job Title: Contracts Manager – Civil Engineering / Groundworks

Head Office Location: Maulden, Bedfordshire (MK45)

Project Locations: Northern Home Counties

Salary & Package:

£80,000 – £125,000 per annum
Package negotiable depending on experience and background

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Contracts Manager will take full responsibility for the delivery of multiple civil engineering and groundworks contracts, managing projects from pre-start through to completion. This role requires strong operational leadership, commercial awareness and the ability to manage several projects concurrently while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and programme performance.

You will typically manage 5–6 live projects at any one time, with individual project values ranging from £2m to £20m.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Contract & Project Delivery

• Overall responsibility for the delivery of multiple civil engineering and groundworks projects.
• Manage programmes, resources, logistics and sequencing of works.
• Ensure contracts are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to specification.
• Lead progress meetings and manage risk, variations and change control.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Control project budgets, forecasts, valuations and final accounts.
• Work closely with commercial teams to maximise value and protect margin.
• Contribute to pre-construction handovers and value engineering solutions.

Health, Safety, Environment & Quality

• Champion a strong health & safety culture across all projects.
• Ensure full compliance with company policies, industry regulations and best practice.
• Oversee quality assurance and site compliance standards.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior point of contact for clients, consultants and supply chain partners.
• Build and maintain strong long‑term relationships.
• Represent the business professionally at all times.

Team Leadership

• Lead and support Site Managers, Engineers and delivery teams.
• Drive performance, accountability and professional development within the team.

Working Week / Location Split

The role is operationally focused, with the majority of time spent on site overseeing project delivery. A typical working week would involve:

• Site‑based work: Majority of the week across live projects
• Office‑based work: 1–2 days maximum at head office (Maulden)
• Client / stakeholder meetings: Integrated throughout the week as required

Flexibility is expected depending on project demands.

KEY SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Proven experience as a Contracts Manager (or Senior Project Manager) within civil engineering and groundworks.
• Strong background delivering multiple projects concurrently.
• Excellent commercial awareness and financial control experience.
• Sound knowledge of UK construction contracts (NEC / JCT).
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering or Construction.
• Chartered or working towards professional accreditation (CIOB / ICE / RICS).
• Experience working with in‑house labour and owned plant fleets.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Highly organised and commercially astute.
• Confident decision‑maker with a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Strong communicator capable of managing senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, growth‑focused environment.

WHAT’S ON OFFER

• Salary of £80k–£125k, dependent on experience
• Competitive overall package
• Long‑term career progression within a growing contractor
• High‑value, technically interesting projects
• Strong support from senior leadership

Please send your CV to [e-mail]