Contracts Manager - Road Surfacing

Building Careers UK Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional package and benefits

Job summary

Building Careers UK Ltd is recruiting a Contracts Manager for Road Surfacing in Manchester. You will oversee multiple road surfacing and highways contracts, coordinating site teams, programmes, and commercial performance to deliver safe, timely and profitable projects.

The role demands leadership, strong planning and cost control, with a track record in road surfacing or highways. You will work with clients, subcontractors and management to maintain high standards and ensure contractual

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Contracts Manager or similar senior operational role within road surfacing, highways or civil engineering.
• Strong understanding of road surfacing operations, methodologies and project delivery requirements.
• Experience managing multiple contracts, site teams and operational resources simultaneously.
• Understanding of contract programmes, project costs, commercial performance and cost control.
• Experience coordinating labour, plant, materials and subcontractors.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and manage operational teams.
• Good understanding of health and safety requirements within highways and surfacing environments.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make effective decisions under pressure.
• Commercial focus on productivity, quality and profitability.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites across the North West.

Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of multiple road surfacing and highways contracts across the North West.
• Oversee projects from pre-start planning and mobilisation through to completion and handover.
• Develop and monitor programmes of work, ensuring projects are delivered within agreed timescales.
• Coordinate labour, plant, materials and subcontractors to ensure resources are deployed efficiently.
• Monitor progress across sites, identifying potential delays and implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure all works are completed in accordance with specifications, contractual requirements and client expectations.
• Attend pre-start meetings, progress meetings and client reviews as required.
• Take responsibility for the commercial performance and profitability of allocated contracts.
• Work closely with the commercial team to monitor budgets, costs, variations and additional works.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, control expenditure and maximise contract margins.
• Monitor resource utilisation and ensure labour, plant and materials are managed effectively.
• Assist with forecasting, cost reporting and the resolution of commercial issues.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients and support the development of repeat business.
• Manage and support site managers, supervisors and operational teams.
• Provide clear direction to ensure projects are properly planned and delivered efficiently.
• Monitor site performance, productivity and workmanship across all allocated contracts.
• Resolve day-to-day operational issues and make timely decisions to keep projects moving.
• Promote a positive working culture focused on accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective communication between site teams, management, clients and the wider business.
• Ensure all works comply with health and safety legislation, company policies and site requirements.
• Promote safe working practices across road surfacing and highways operations.
• Ensure risk assessments, method statements and other required documentation are in place.
• Monitor quality standards and ensure works meet specifications.
• Investigate operational issues, incidents and non-conformances, implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure environmental requirements and traffic management arrangements are properly considered throughout project delivery.
• Maintain effective working relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate subcontractor activities and monitor performance against agreed requirements.
• Manage client expectations and provide regular updates on project progress.
• Address issues promptly and professionally to maintain service standards.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen client relationships and support future contract opportunities.

Skills

Contract management

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Programme coordination

Job description

Contracts Manager - Road Surfacing

Location: Manchester

Salary/Package: £50,000 - £75,000 + Package

Job Type: Permanent

About the Company

Our client is an established specialist contractor operating within the road surfacing, highways and civil engineering sectors, delivering a range of projects for clients across the North West.

With a strong focus on quality, safety and reliable project delivery, the business has developed a reputation for providing effective surfacing solutions while maintaining high standards across its operations.

Due to ongoing project demands and continued business development, they are looking to recruit an experienced Contracts Manager to oversee road surfacing contracts, coordinate operational teams and ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and profitably.

The Role

As Contracts Manager, you will take responsibility for the successful delivery of multiple road surfacing contracts, overseeing projects from initial planning and mobilisation through to completion and final account.

Working closely with site managers, supervisors, commercial colleagues, clients and subcontractors, you will coordinate resources, manage programmes and maintain control over project costs, quality and health and safety.

This is a key operational role requiring a commercially aware and hands‑on individual who understands the demands of road surfacing and highways projects. You will be responsible for ensuring works are properly planned, resources are allocated effectively and projects meet contractual requirements, programme deadlines and client expectations.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in road surfacing or highways, with the leadership skills to manage site teams, resolve operational challenges and drive consistent project performance.

Key Responsibilities

Contract & Project Management

• Manage the delivery of multiple road surfacing and highways contracts across the North West.
• Oversee projects from pre‑start planning and mobilisation through to completion and handover.
• Develop and monitor programmes of work, ensuring projects are delivered within agreed timescales.
• Coordinate labour, plant, materials and subcontractors to ensure resources are deployed efficiently.
• Monitor progress across sites, identifying potential delays and implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure all works are completed in accordance with specifications, contractual requirements and client expectations.
• Attend pre‑start meetings, progress meetings and client reviews as required.

Commercial Management

• Take responsibility for the commercial performance and profitability of allocated contracts.
• Work closely with the commercial team to monitor budgets, costs, variations and additional works.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, control expenditure and maximise contract margins.
• Monitor resource utilisation and ensure labour, plant and materials are managed effectively.
• Assist with forecasting, cost reporting and the resolution of commercial issues.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients and support the development of repeat business.

Operational Leadership

• Manage and support site managers, supervisors and operational teams.
• Provide clear direction to ensure projects are properly planned and delivered efficiently.
• Monitor site performance, productivity and workmanship across all allocated contracts.
• Resolve day‑to‑day operational issues and make timely decisions to keep projects moving.
• Promote a positive working culture focused on accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective communication between site teams, management, clients and the wider business.

Health, Safety & Quality

• Ensure all works comply with relevant health and safety legislation, company policies and site‑specific requirements.
• Promote safe working practices across road surfacing and highways operations.
• Ensure risk assessments, method statements and other required documentation are in place.
• Monitor quality standards and ensure works meet the required specifications.
• Investigate operational issues, incidents and non-conformances, implementing corrective actions where necessary.
• Ensure environmental requirements and traffic management arrangements are properly considered throughout project delivery.

Client & Supply‑Chain Management

• Maintain effective working relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate subcontractor activities and monitor performance against agreed requirements.
• Manage client expectations and provide regular updates on project progress.
• Address issues promptly and professionally to maintain service standards.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen client relationships and support future contract opportunities.

About You

To be considered for this opportunity, you should have:

• Proven experience in a Contracts Manager or similar senior operational role within road surfacing, highways or civil engineering.
• A strong understanding of road surfacing operations, methodologies and project delivery requirements.
• Experience managing multiple contracts, site teams and operational resources simultaneously.
• A sound understanding of contract programmes, project costs, commercial performance and cost control.
• Experience coordinating labour, plant, materials and subcontractors.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and manage operational teams.
• A good understanding of health and safety requirements within highways and surfacing environments.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and make effective decisions under pressure.
• A commercially minded approach, with a focus on productivity, quality and profitability.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites across the North West.
• Relevant highways, roadworks or health and safety qualifications would be advantageous.

What's on Offer?

• £50,000 - £75,000 salary, depending on experience.
• Additional package and benefits.
• The opportunity to join an established road surfacing and civil engineering contractor.
• Responsibility for a varied portfolio of road surfacing and highways contracts.
• A key role within the operational management team.
• The opportunity to influence project delivery, team performance and commercial results.
• Long‑term career development within a specialist contracting business.

Building Careers UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.