Contracts Manager

J3A Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Pension contributions matched 8%

26 days annual leave

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a Contracts Manager to oversee a portfolio of AMP8 water infrastructure projects across Thames Valley, Oxfordshire and Cotswolds. You will lead Project Managers, drive safe, on-time delivery and ensure commercial objectives are met.

The role requires a Civil Engineering or Construction Management degree, CSCS card and a track record of managing major infrastructure programmes. A chartered status is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing multiple infrastructure or civil engineering projects simultaneously.
• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline; CSCS card.
• Professional accreditation or working towards chartered status (ICE, CIOB or equivalent) would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build lasting client relationships.
• Strong commercial awareness including budgets, forecasting, risk management and profitability.
• Experience delivering water industry projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of multiple water infrastructure projects, managing programme, budgets, quality and safety.
• Provide leadership to Project Managers, Site Managers, Engineers and wider teams.
• Develop relationships with Thames Water, subcontractors and key stakeholders.
• Take ownership of project performance, ensuring commercial and contractual objectives.
• Monitor budgets, resource allocation, forecasting and risk management.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to monitor profitability and expenditure.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements and more efficient delivery.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and environmental standards.
• Support development of delivery teams fostering accountability and high performance.

Skills

Project leadership

Budget management

Risk management

Stakeholder relations

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management

Tools

CSCS card

ICE/CIOB accreditation (advantage)

Job description

Contracts Manager - Thames Water AMP8 Projects

Location: Thames Valley / Oxfordshire / Cotswolds

Salary: £85,000 - £97,000 + Car Allowance + Excellent Benefits

Hours: Full Time - 40 Hours Per Week

Sector: Water Infrastructure | Civil Engineering | MEICA

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Contracts Manager to join a major infrastructure delivery programme supporting Thames Water's AMP8 investment across the Thames Valley, Oxfordshire and Cotswolds.

With approximately £250 million of secured projects allocated, this is a fantastic opportunity to join an established infrastructure contractor with a significant pipeline of work and long-term opportunities.

Projects range from £2.5 million to £25 million, covering civil engineering, mechanical, electrical and ICA works across the water infrastructure sector.

As Contracts Manager, you'll take responsibility for overseeing multiple projects, leading experienced delivery teams and ensuring works are completed safely, commercially and to the highest standards.

This position would suit an ambitious, commercially astute individual who enjoys taking ownership of major infrastructure programmes and driving successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the successful delivery of multiple water infrastructure projects, managing programme, budgets, quality and safety.
• Provide leadership and direction to Project Managers, Site Managers, Engineers and wider operational teams.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Thames Water, subcontractors and key stakeholders.
• Take ownership of operational performance, ensuring projects achieve commercial and contractual objectives.
• Oversee project budgets, resource allocation, forecasting and risk management.
• Work closely with commercial teams to monitor financial performance, profitability and project expenditure.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements, innovation and more efficient project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, environmental standards and internal procedures.
• Support the development of delivery teams, encouraging accountability, collaboration and high performance.

About You

To be successful as a Contracts Manager, you'll ideally have extensive experience overseeing multiple construction or infrastructure projects within a main contractor environment.

We're particularly interested in individuals who have delivered projects within the water industry, although those from wider heavy civil engineering and infrastructure backgrounds will also be considered.

Key requirements

• Proven experience managing multiple infrastructure or civil engineering projects simultaneously.
• Strong operational leadership with experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent commercial awareness, including project budgets, forecasting, risk management and profitability.
• Experience working within a main contractor environment.
• Strong understanding of construction delivery, contractual obligations and health and safety.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build lasting client relationships.
• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Appropriate CSCS card.
• Professional accreditation or working towards chartered status (ICE, CIOB or equivalent) would be advantageous.

Salary & Benefits

• Basic salary of £85,000 - £97,000, depending on experience.
• Car allowance.
• 26 days annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 3 days.
• Up to 3 additional long-service holiday days.
• Private medical insurance, with optional family cover.
• Life assurance and pension contributions matched up to 8%.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and parental leave.
• Flexible and agile working arrangements, dependent on operational requirements.
• Professional membership fees paid.
• Employee Assistance Programme and 2 volunteering days annually.
• Employee discounts across retail, travel, fitness and leisure.
• Optional benefits including dental insurance, critical illness cover, travel insurance and cycle-to-work scheme.

Interested?

With a substantial AMP8 programme already secured, this is an opportunity to join a business with genuine long-term stability, major infrastructure projects and the resources to deliver them.

Whether you're an established Contracts Manager looking for a fresh challenge or a senior construction professional ready to take the next step, we'd be keen to hear from you.