Contracts Manager

Barhale Holdings Ltd; St Albans; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in civil engineering seeks a Contracts Manager to oversee project delivery and compliance. This role involves financial monitoring, health and safety leadership, and fostering customer relations. Join a company that values its people, offering job security and career progression within a supportive environment. You will lead project planning, ensure adherence to regulations, and maintain strong relationships with clients and stakeholders. If you're passionate about civil engineering and want to make a real impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Company Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical

Profit Share Scheme

25 Days Annual Leave

8 Hours Leave for Volunteering

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible Benefits

Company Car Scheme

Leadership Training

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in managing projects within civil/water environments.
• Good knowledge of contract conditions and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Monitor financials and ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards.
• Plan projects to prevent delays and manage procurement effectively.

Skills

Project Management

Health & Safety Compliance

Risk Management

Cost Control

Excellent Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

HNC/HND/Degree level

Tools

MS Projects

P6

Job description

About Barhale

Who are Barhale?

Barhale is a business founded on family values having been established by our Chairman, Dennis Curran in 1980. We are one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists in the UK, with over 40 years of experience in providing design, civil engineering and maintenance services working across multiple sectors including:

• Water
• Transport
• Built environment
• Energy

We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, working as part of large frameworks, joint ventures and alliances, as well as on individual standalone projects developing long-term relationships based on delivering to the Barhale values which have been integral to our business since their inception in 1985.

Our direct delivery model is at the core of everything we do as we believe that people are our greatest asset. Therefore, we robustly source, train and retain all our own frontline delivery teams as well as management and support services. We employ over 1,200 employees nationwide.

We possess a range of specialist skills to support our civil engineering and infrastructure activities including:

• Tunnelling
• MEICA
• Temporary and permanent design
• Steel-fabrication
• Signs (design and fabrication)
• Health & safety equipment and products including PPE

Why join Barhale?

• As Gold Investors in People, we are committed to a high standard of people practices, creating an inclusive environment and ensuring cultural alignment to our business strategy, ethos and philosophies.
• Job security, long-term secured work through various frameworks and large infrastructure schemes
• Broad range of civil engineering and mechanical and electrical schemes across some of the UK's largest infrastructure projects and clients
• Strong career progression as demonstrated by our track record in promoting from within as we believe this is a key driver to our success
• Skills Development and Training

Contracts Manager

The Role

Responsibilities of the Contracts manager include the financial monitoring and control of the contracts, ensuring Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality compliance is maintained, and the Company's procedures and objectives are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

Programme planning

• Ensure that projects are planned and programmed to a level of detail necessary for the site team to deliver the scheme without delays
• Ensure that procurement and reconciliation of materials are carried out in accordance with Company procedures to best value and prevent delays
• Ensure site team compliance with Company commercial policies and procedures
• Attend tender handover meetings (the tender handover should be done by the estimator) and deliver pre-start meetings to the site team
• Ensure a commercial plan and end-of-life forecast are in place and monitored monthly for the successful commercial delivery of the project
• Produce and analyse progress reports, updated costs, and forecasts
• Ensure correct commercial engagement of subcontractors
• Implement the risk management process, review risk registers and check risk controls
• Review the CVRs monthly with the project teams, implementing necessary actions.
• Complete and distribute the Contract Initiation/Completion form for each project
• Ensure weekly review of progress, budget resources and forward planning is carried out and look ahead programmes are in place
• Chair and attend internal and external meetings and ensure the production of accurate records of any discussions and actions
• Ensure timely management of both temporary and permanent design to meet the requirements of each project

Health, safety and environmental

• Set the highest possible standards of leadership in the promotion of HS&E procedures and best practices, and ensure minimum compliance with Company procedures and legal obligations
• Allocate HS&E responsibilities and duties for site personnel, check to understand and provide training as necessary
• Oversee and ensure that HSE-related documents are kept up to date and undertake senior manager site inspections, ensuring that audits and reports are produced, liaising with the necessary parties
• Liaise with third parties to ensure compliance with HAUC, NRSWA, Chapter 8 and other required regulatory standards

Quality

• Ensure that ITPs are produced
• Ensure that the QA File is produced and maintained
• Establish and promote best practice

Customer relations

• Build and maintain relationships with the customer, both the Client and external customers
• Chair and lead meetings with the customer and report on progress to date
• Ensure that works are carried out in a manner that minimises community impact

Key Measures and Targets

• Adherence to all deadlines set and Business Unit objectives
• Ensure final accounts are completed within three months of the construction completion
• Monthly and weekly reporting timescales are met
• Ensure 3 Pillar KPI measures are met
• Project delivery without safety incidents within time and within budget

Key Relationships

• Regional Manager
• Site teams
• Subcontractors and suppliers
• Clients and stakeholders

About you

Essential

• Extensive experience in managing projects within a civil/water environment
• Good working knowledge of contract conditions, CDM regulations, design management, programme and risk management and cost control including forecasting, actual cost, and value reporting
• Experience with MS projects (and P6 an advantage)
• Knowledge of the NEC contract including the Early Warning and Compensation Event mechanisms
• Educated as a minimum to HNC/HND/Degree level (or equivalent)
• SMSTS
• CSCS card
• Experience in the Pre-Qualification and Tendering process for a number of multi-discipline projects
• Excellent people management skills with the ability to influence and mentor
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with both customers and all levels of staff
• Problem-solving skills and analytical thinking

Desirable

• CEng MICE, or equivalent
• NEBOSH construction certificate

Caring and investing in you

Our values have been embedded at Barhale for over 40 years and they are our guiding principle regarding how we care and invest in people. Our values are our commitment to being a people-centric company.

As a Gold Investors in People company and a Sunday Times 100 Best Company to Work For, we are committed to investing in people. We are passionate about creating a working environment where people are supported throughout their careers, where people can enjoy security and be part of a company that cares about them.

From the moment you join us, your wellbeing and career aspirations will be supported by;

• Competitive salary
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical
• Profit share scheme
• 25 days annual leave in addition to 8 public bank holidays and loyalty days
• 8 hours leave of absence for volunteering
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental, physiological and financial wellbeing
• Flexible benefits via salary sacrifice
• Company car/green car scheme/car allowance/Van (dependent on position)
• Leadership & management training and coaching
• Regular line management engagement and appraisal to support your career progression
• Development supported by internal and externally delivered training
• Flexible working arrangements
• Annual salary review
• Continuous service awards