Contracts Manager

Criterion Capital; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Criterion Capital is seeking a dynamic Contracts Manager to own the construction delivery of office-to-hotel conversions and mixed-use schemes across Central London. You will lead programmes, budgets and teams, ensure safety and quality, and manage contracts, variations and commercial negotiations to deliver projects on time and to budget.

The role requires 10+ years of experience in refurbishment or large-scale construction, with strong knowledge of procurement, contract administration and cost

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in construction/project management or contracts management.
• Proven experience delivering medium to large-scale construction, refurbishment or conversion projects.
• Strong existing-building and refurbishment experience; office-to-hotel, hospitality or residential experience preferred.
• Experience managing projects valued at £15m–£60m+.
• Strong knowledge of construction, procurement, contract administration, programme and cost management.
• Excellent commercial, negotiation, leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Confident managing and challenging contractors, consultants and design teams.
• Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in MS Project, Primavera or Procore or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery from commencement through to completion and handover, taking ownership of programme, budget, quality and risk.
• Develop and manage project programmes, budgets, milestones and delivery plans.
• Lead and coordinate contractors, consultants, design teams and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear accountability.
• Drive programme performance, proactively identifying and resolving issues, delays and risks.
• Manage and challenge contractors and consultants on cost, programme, quality, buildability and delivery.
• Oversee contracts, variations, change control, claims and commercial negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, building regulations, statutory approvals and quality requirements.
• Maintain clear project reporting, risk registers and project records.
• Work closely with Development, Design, Asset Management and Operations teams to ensure projects meet the wider business objectives.
• Lead completion, commissioning and handover, ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Contract administration

Cost management

Programme management

Procurement

Construction knowledge

Education

Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying or related discipline

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

Procore

Job description

Criterion Capital is seeking a dynamic and experienced Contracts Manager to take ownership of the construction delivery of our office-to-hotel conversion, hotel, residential and mixed-use development projects across Central London.

Working within a business that acts as developer, asset manager and owner/operator, you will work closely with our in-house design, construction, asset management and operations teams, alongside contractors and consultants, to deliver projects safely, on programme, to budget and to the required quality.

Projects range from £15m to £60m+, with responsibility for either one major project or multiple smaller schemes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery from commencement through to completion and handover, taking ownership of programme, budget, quality and risk.
• Develop and manage project programmes, budgets, milestones and delivery plans.
• Lead and coordinate contractors, consultants, design teams and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear accountability.
• Drive programme performance, proactively identifying and resolving issues, delays and risks.
• Manage and challenge contractors and consultants on cost, programme, quality, buildability and delivery.
• Oversee contracts, variations, change control, claims and commercial negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, building regulations, statutory approvals and quality requirements.
• Maintain clear project reporting, risk registers and project records.
• Work closely with Development, Design, Asset Management and Operations teams to ensure projects meet the wider business objectives.
• Lead completion, commissioning and handover, ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard.

About You

• 10+ years’ experience in construction/project management or contracts management.
• Proven experience delivering medium to large-scale construction, refurbishment or conversion projects.
• Strong existing-building and refurbishment experience; office-to-hotel, hospitality or residential experience preferred.
• Experience managing projects valued at £15m–£60m+.
• Strong knowledge of construction, procurement, contract administration, programme and cost management.
• Excellent commercial, negotiation, leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Confident managing and challenging contractors, consultants and design teams.
• Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in MS Project, Primavera, Procore or similar.

The Person

We are looking for a hands-on, commercially minded doer who takes ownership, makes decisions and drives projects forward.

You will:

• Take accountability for outcomes rather than simply coordinate activity.
• Challenge poor or unrealistic work and hold project teams accountable.
• Identify issues early and take decisive action to resolve them.
• Balance cost, programme, quality and risk through strong commercial judgement.
• Build effective relationships while maintaining clear accountability.
• Challenge conventional approaches and find practical solutions.
• Take pride in delivering high-quality projects from construction through to successful handover.