Head of Construction- SEP Professional Services
Location: UK-based, with travel as required
Employment: Permanent, Full-time
Reporting to: Managing Director
Sectors: FMCG, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Advanced Manufacturing
Role Overview
The Head of Construction is responsible for the leadership, management and performance of SEP Professional Services' construction operations across its portfolio of engineering and capital projects.
The role provides strategic and operational oversight of construction delivery, ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently and in line with agreed programmes, budgets and client requirements.
Working closely with the Managing Director and wider leadership team, the position is responsible for strengthening construction management capabilities, developing delivery teams and maintaining consistent operational and commercial standards.
Key Accountabilities
1. Construction Leadership & Operations
- Lead and oversee construction operations across SEP's project portfolio.
- Develop and implement consistent construction management processes and delivery standards.
- Manage resource planning, workforce capability and subcontractor performance.
- Lead and develop Construction Managers, Site Managers and wider delivery teams.
- Support operational planning and the continued development of the construction function.
2. Project Delivery
- Maintain overall oversight of construction performance, programme, cost, quality and safety.
- Oversee construction activities from pre-construction and mobilisation through to commissioning and handover.
- Ensure effective coordination between construction, engineering, procurement and project management teams.
- Manage key project risks, delivery constraints and operational interfaces.
- Oversee construction within live manufacturing environments, minimising disruption to client operations.
- Oversee project budgets, forecasts, profitability and commercial performance.
- Work with commercial teams on subcontractor procurement, negotiations and contract administration.
- Monitor variations, change control and emerging commercial risks.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, project margins and delivery performance.
- Support tender pricing, construction cost planning and project execution strategies.
4. Health, Safety & Compliance
- Provide leadership on health, safety, environmental and quality performance.
- Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations 2015 and applicable Principal Contractor duties.
- Oversee construction risk management, quality assurance and site compliance.
- Ensure construction methodologies reflect the requirements of live, regulated manufacturing environments.
- Promote consistent safety standards and accountability across all projects.
5. Client & Business Development
- Maintain strong working relationships with clients, subcontractors and key stakeholders.
- Represent SEP in senior client meetings, project reviews and technical discussions.
- Provide construction input into tenders, proposals and pre-construction activities.
- Support the development of new opportunities and long-term client relationships.
- Contribute to the wider operational and strategic development of SEP.
Experience & Competencies
- Extensive construction management experience within industrial, manufacturing or process engineering environments.
- Proven ability to lead multiple multidisciplinary construction projects.
- Strong commercial awareness, including cost control, forecasting and subcontractor management.
- Experience delivering construction works within live operational facilities.
- Working knowledge of EPCM delivery models, CDM 2015 and Principal Contractor responsibilities.
- Strong leadership, stakeholder management and decision-making capabilities.
- Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.