Mechanical Project Manager

James Lewis Recruitment; Basildon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

James Lewis Recruitment is seeking a Mechanical Project Manager for Basildon with projects across London and the South East. You will lead mechanical delivery from pre-construction through to handover, coordinating HVAC, pipework and plantroom works while managing subcontractors, procurement and client communications.

The role requires hands-on delivery, strong leadership, and a track record in mechanical building services. Salary £70,000-£80,000 plus package, dependent on experience.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Mechanical Project Manager in M&E contracting or related sectors.
• Ownership of programme, labour, procurement, client communication and commercial performance.
• Strong mechanical knowledge across HVAC, pipework, plantrooms, ventilation and related services.
• Commercial awareness with change management and cost impact.

Responsibilities

• Manage mechanical building services projects from pre-construction to handover.
• Drive programme, delivery, procurement, labour, subcontractors and close-out.
• Hold site teams and suppliers to actions and deadlines.
• Review scope, drawings, RAMS and client requirements.
• Manage HVAC, pipework, plantrooms, ventilation and public health works.
• Maintain project controls, reporting and action trackers.
• Identify risks early and escalate with commercial impact.
• Coordinate with commercial team on change and margin.

Skills

Mechanical project management

Leadership

Client communication

Budget management

Risk management

Planning & scheduling

Education

SMSTS

CSCS

Mechanical qualifications

Job description

Mechanical Project Manager

Basildon / London & South East | Building Services | Permanent

£70,000 - £80,000 + package

If you're a Mechanical Project Manager who is good at getting things done, not just talking about what needs doing, this is a strong opportunity.

You'll be joining an established mechanical building services contractor based in Essex, delivering projects across London and the South East. The work is expected to sit across commercial fit-out, plant upgrades, healthcare, education, hospitality, leisure and live building environments, with projects requiring proper mechanical delivery rather than loose coordination from a distance.

This role is being added to strengthen operational delivery. The business already has capability around planning, client relationships, stakeholder management, risk identification and team development. What it needs now is someone who naturally drives action, closes out issues, holds people accountable and keeps projects moving.

The role

You’ll take responsibility for mechanical project delivery from pre-construction and pre-commencement through to installation, commissioning, handover and defects close-out.

That means managing the programme, project team, subcontractors, labour, procurement, technical information, commercial position, client communication and day-to-day delivery.

The projects are expected to include HVAC, pipework, plantrooms, public health, ventilation, 4-pipe fan coil systems, riser modifications, refurbishments, fit-out works, live environment upgrades and associated mechanical services.

This is not a role for someone who waits for the next meeting to find out what has slipped. The successful person will be asking what the priorities are, who owns each action, when it will be completed, what the risk is if it is not delivered and what the commercial impact will be.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing mechanical building services projects from pre-construction through to handover.
• Driving programme, delivery, procurement, labour, subcontractors and project close-out.
• Holding site teams, subcontractors and suppliers accountable for agreed actions and deadlines.
• Reviewing project scope, drawings, specifications, installation methods, RAMS, technical submissions and client requirements.
• Managing HVAC, pipework, plantroom works, ventilation, public health, fan coil systems, risers and associated mechanical services.
• Working closely with clients, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers, site teams and internal management.
• Maintaining strong project controls, reporting discipline, action trackers and programme updates.
• Identifying risks and issues early, escalating where needed and making sure they are properly closed out.
• Working with the commercial team to identify, manage and protect change, variations, cost movement and margin.
• Monitoring project performance against programme, budget, quality and client expectations.
• Supporting procurement, subcontractor engagement and supply chain coordination.
• Chairing progress meetings, setting clear actions and making sure people are followed up properly.
• Managing commissioning, snagging, O&M information, handover documentation and defects close-out.
• Maintaining high standards around health and safety, quality, communication and site discipline.

What you’ll need

• You’ll need proven experience as a Mechanical Project Manager within M&E contracting, mechanical building services, commercial fit-out, refurbishment, healthcare, education, hospitality, leisure or live building environments.
• You should be comfortable managing projects from pre-construction through to commissioning and handover, with proper ownership of programme, labour, subcontractors, procurement, client communication and commercial performance.
• You’ll need a strong mechanical background and the ability to hold your own technically across HVAC, pipework, plantrooms, ventilation, public health, fan coil units, risers and associated building services.
• You should be commercially aware, able to identify change, understand cost impact and work closely with commercial support to protect the project position.
• Strong leadership is essential. This role needs someone who can drive performance through others, have difficult conversations, maintain urgency and keep accountability high throughout the project lifecycle.
• You’ll need to be organised, confident with reporting and capable of giving senior management a clear view of progress, risk, programme and commercial position.
• SMSTS, CSCS and relevant mechanical qualifications would be useful.

The right person

• You’re direct, practical and delivery-focused.
• You do not just identify problems. You push them through to resolution.
• You can manage clients, consultants, subcontractors and site teams without losing control of the detail. You understand that good project management is not just planning the work, it is making sure the work actually happens.
• You’ll suit this role if you are the type of Project Manager who naturally asks what needs doing, who owns it, when it will be completed, what happens if it slips and what it means commercially.

The salary is £70,000 - £80,000 plus package, depending on experience.