General Foreman

Balfour Beatty's Highways; Penrith; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension

Share incentive plan

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Highways in Penrith, Cumbria, is recruiting a Senior General Foreman with Structures Experience to lead on the A66 NTP Scheme. You will manage on-site teams, drive safe systems of work, and ensure delivery to programme, quality, and budget targets.

This role requires CSCS, SMSTS/SSSTS, and a proven track record in major road projects. You will mentor staff, coordinate subcontractors, and uphold environmental and safety policies as part of a high‑profile nationwide highways

Qualifications

• CSCS qualification essential for site access.
• SMSTS or SSSTS qualification required to manage safety on site.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Works Section, ensuring resource levels and competency.
• Own and communicate safety, quality, and environmental policies on site.
• Coordinate with team leads to drive programme performance and KPI achievement.
• Oversee handover documentation and ITP processes for quality management.

Skills

CSCS Qualified

SMSTS/SSSTS Qualified

Job description

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a fantastic opportunity for a Senior General Foreman with Structures Experience to join our team on the Highways A66 NTP Scheme, this role will be based at Penrith, Cumbria Balfour Beatty Highways maintain, manage, and operate major highway networks across the UK and support local authorities creating communities where people want to live work and play. We provide high quality asset strategy, management, and planning consultancy services to a wide range of public and private sector customers. We provide specialist, reliable, sustainable, and creative advice for asset management planning and implementation in the UK. We put our customers first and prioritise completing schemes safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

Core:

• Live the Balfour Beatty Values
• Ensure a relentless focus on Zero Harm
• Support the delivery of CSUK's Sustainability activities
• Motivate team and manage performance; monitor the competency of team members and undertake training/ coaching as appropriate

Health & Safety & Environmental:

• Contributes to Accident / Incident Investigations. Directs the appropriate action arising (HFACS and Four Page Reports)
• Appraises improvement options and leads action / instigates as appropriate
• Be familiar with, and demonstrate commitment to the requirements of the Health & Safety and Environmental Policies
• Ensures that their staff receive or have access to copies of the Environmental Policy and are kept informed of environmental developments and issues
• Ensures that the Environmental Policy and appropriate parts of Environmental Procedures are effectively communicated to the workforce, particularly to those engaged on activities that have been identified as likely to have a significant environmental impact

Engineering Control:

• Ensures that sufficient resources are allocated to the Works Section and that each has an appropriate level of ability
• Identifies and arranges training as required

Quality:

• Implements systems and processes to manage the quality of the constructive works
• Periodic involvement in working groups focused on Improvement Areas
• Inputs into the setting of targets and KPI's in line with Project objectives and monitors performance
• Works with the Team Lead to ensure appropriate action is taken on findings from site audits / checks
• Ensures ownership of Handover Documentation for the works and implements ITP processes to improve quality management on site

Productivity:

• Able to carry out analysis of programme Understands the Project KPI's and is able to make suggestions to improve performance
• Apply skills and knowledge to assist engineering teams in planning stage programmes
• Implements and tracks the requirements of three week programmes and coaches others in ensuring programme requirements are fully understood, suggesting improvements as appropriate

Commercial:

• Involved in the procurement of subcontractors and advises on commercial aspects / preferred attendances
• Ownership of budget for the directly employed labour and plant, attends and reports on actual levels of resource in weekly cost meeting. Pursues correct allocation of plant and labour to assigned tasks, Understands the specific terms, conditions and outputs of relevant subcontractors and suppliers
• Produces and monitors the daily records, including holding reviews with team members to ensure proper record standards are maintained
• Understands material wastage allowances and recommends improvements to save materialsWorking knowledge of the NEC and other relevant forms of contract and able to develop professional relationship with Client representatives

The following qualities/experience are desirable:

• Excellent role model for the team and demonstrates required behaviours to align to business objectives
• Highly experienced in the delivery of high profile road projects, to ensure that customer expectations are exceeded and enhanced experience for all involved in the scheme
• Solution orientated individual with experience of analysing options to identified issues
• Experience in taking ownership of the works from start to finish, including the handover of the works

Why work for us Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UKs most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us? As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasnt rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package thats right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more

The following qualities/experience are essential: Core:

• Able to clearly communicate the requirements of a safe system of work to ensure that these are followed accurately
• Capable of taking ownership of tasks and communicating outcomes with clarity; experienced at encouraging direct reports to do the same and managing a team to ensure tasks are carried out effectively and key messages cascaded
• Strong work ethic with flexibility to work unsociable hours/nights, as required by the programme
• Able to work on own initiative and seek out opportunities in line with level of responsibility
• Must be a good team player, with experience of working with multi-discipline teams
• Excellent communication skills, with strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• CSCS Qualified
• SMSTS and/or SSSTS Qualified

Health Safety & Environmental:

• Understands Protocol with regard to Accident and Incident investigation
• Experienced in leading Safety & Environment Tours
• Experienced in planning shifts in line with EU regulations and section 61
• Uncompromising approach to the development, implementation and management of safe systems of work
• Good working knowledge of current H & S legislation
• Proficient in the application of Company Systems
• Innovative approach to enhancing safe systems of work
• Experienced in the delivery of engaging toolbox talks

Quality:

• Understands the relevant Business Management System and implements systems and processes (e.g. ordering plant, recruiting labour, disciplinary procedures)
• Understanding of construction tolerances
• Understands and implements the requirements of Inspection and Test Plans
• Encourages ownership within the team and fosters a culture of Right First Time

Balfour Beatty's Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at