Senior Construction Manager - Nuclear

westlakesrecruit; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlakes Recruit is supporting a leading global infrastructure, engineering and construction organisation to appoint a Senior Construction Manager - Nuclear UK. You will lead safe, high‑quality construction delivery across nuclear projects in the UK, coordinating with project leadership, engineering, commercial and control teams to achieve timely, budgeted outcomes.

The role requires extensive EPC/EPCM experience, a strong safety culture, and the ability to manage contractors and supply chains

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in nuclear, defence, infrastructure or regulated sectors.
• Experience managing major construction projects in EPC/EPCM or framework environments.
• Proven ability to lead site delivery teams while maintaining safety and quality.
• Strong commercial, contractual and governance understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery across projects and work packages.
• Mobilise teams, contractors and site delivery arrangements.
• Develop and implement construction execution strategies.
• Ensure readiness of workforce, equipment, logistics and supply chain.
• Coordinate site activities across multidisciplinary teams.
• Champion nuclear safety culture and quality requirements.
• Manage interfaces with engineering, commissioning and client stakeholders.

Skills

Construction leadership

Nuclear experience

Safety leadership

Stakeholder management

Project delivery

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status (CEng/MCIOB/MRICS)

Job description

Senior Construction Manager - Nuclear UK

Location: Greater Manchester, Warrington or London

Travel: UK & Europe - up to approximately 40%

Security Clearance: Ability to obtain SC/DV clearance where required

Sector: Nuclear / Construction / Major Projects / Infrastructure

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

About the Opportunity

Westlakes Recruit is supporting a leading global infrastructure, engineering and construction organisation with the appointment of a Senior Construction Manager - Nuclear UK. Our client is an established international organisation with extensive experience delivering complex infrastructure, engineering and construction projects across highly regulated and safety-critical sectors. As part of an ambitious growth strategy, the organisation is developing its nuclear capability across the UK and Europe, with a focus on supporting some of the most significant programmes within the nuclear sector. The growing nuclear business will support opportunities across:

• Large-scale nuclear new build
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
• Defence nuclear infrastructure
• Nuclear decommissioning and waste management
• Life extension and asset management
• Advanced nuclear technologies
• Major nuclear infrastructure
• EPC and EPCM delivery

The UK represents a key growth market, creating an exciting opportunity for experienced construction professionals to join the organisation at an important stage of its development.

The Role

As Senior Construction Manager - Nuclear UK, you will be responsible for the safe, high-quality and efficient delivery of construction activities across assigned nuclear projects, programmes and major work packages. You will provide leadership across construction execution, construction planning, site management, logistics, contractor management, commissioning support, health and safety and field delivery activities. The position carries significant accountability for the successful execution of construction scope, ensuring that safety, quality, schedule and productivity objectives are achieved in accordance with project requirements. Assignments may include major nuclear infrastructure projects, EPC/EPCM delivery contracts, decommissioning programmes, defence nuclear projects, new nuclear developments or major construction work packages within larger programmes. You will lead construction teams and contractors, coordinate complex site activities, manage construction risks and opportunities and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, health and safety, quality and project requirements. Working closely with project leadership, engineering, commercial and project controls teams, as well as client and delivery partners, you will contribute to the successful delivery of complex nuclear projects while helping to establish a high-performing construction capability within a growing nuclear business. Ultimately, the role exists to deliver safe, predictable and efficient construction outcomes that support successful project delivery and long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Leadership & Delivery

• Lead construction delivery across assigned projects, programmes or major work packages.
• Successfully mobilise construction teams, contractors and site delivery arrangements.
• Develop and implement effective construction execution strategies.
• Ensure construction readiness across workforce, equipment, logistics and supply chain activities.
• Coordinate site activities across multidisciplinary construction teams.
• Drive productivity, constructability and operational efficiency.
• Ensure construction milestones and delivery objectives are achieved.

Nuclear Safety & Quality

• Champion a strong nuclear safety culture across all construction activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, contractual, health and safety and company requirements.
• Maintain high standards of quality throughout construction delivery.
• Identify and manage construction-related risks and opportunities.
• Promote a culture where safety is recognised as the overriding priority.
• Lead by example in demonstrating Safety First, Quality Always.

Contractor & Supply Chain Management

• Lead and manage principal contractors, subcontractors and specialist suppliers.
• Establish effective contractor management and performance arrangements.
• Monitor construction productivity, quality and programme performance.
• Manage interfaces between construction contractors and wider project teams.
• Support supply chain development and delivery capability.
• Ensure construction activities are appropriately planned, resourced and coordinated.

Construction Planning & Controls

• Develop and maintain construction execution plans and delivery strategies.
• Coordinate construction sequencing and interfaces with engineering and commissioning activities.
• Monitor progress against programme and agreed milestones.
• Identify potential delays, constraints and productivity issues.
• Implement appropriate mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Provide accurate construction performance information to project leadership.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationships with senior client representatives and project stakeholders.
• Manage interfaces across joint venture, alliance and delivery partner environments.
• Maintain strong relationships with contractors, supply chain partners and relevant industry stakeholders.
• Support effective engagement with regulators and local stakeholders where required.
• Promote a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to project delivery.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop Construction Managers, Site Managers, Supervisors and wider field delivery teams.
• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop construction leadership capability across the organisation.
• Promote high standards of professional conduct and site performance.
• Support succession planning and development of future construction leaders.

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Deliver construction scope within approved budgets and schedules.
• Monitor resource utilisation and construction productivity.
• Support effective management of change and variations.
• Contribute to project commercial performance through disciplined construction delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and value.

About You

We are looking for a highly capable construction delivery professional with significant experience managing major construction activities within the nuclear, defence, infrastructure, energy or another highly regulated sector. You will have a strong track record of managing complex construction works, multidisciplinary site teams, contractors and supply chains while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and delivery performance. You will combine strong construction leadership with excellent stakeholder management and a visible commitment to nuclear safety and operational excellence.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 10 years' experience within nuclear, defence, infrastructure, energy or another highly regulated sector.
• Significant experience managing major construction projects, construction packages or site delivery operations.
• Experience working within EPC, EPCM, alliance, framework or programme delivery environments.
• Demonstrable accountability for construction safety, quality, productivity and schedule performance.
• Experience managing subcontractors, construction supply chains and field delivery teams.
• Experience coordinating construction, commissioning and handover activities.
• Good commercial and contract management experience.
• Experience applying construction governance, assurance and site controls.
• Experience operating within highly regulated and safety-critical environments.
• Experience managing relationships with clients, contractors and project stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

Experience across one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• Major UK nuclear construction projects.
• Civil or defence nuclear infrastructure.
• Nuclear new build.
• Nuclear decommissioning and waste management.
• Small Modular Reactor programmes.
• Major infrastructure or energy projects.
• Civil, mechanical, electrical, process or infrastructure construction.
• Commissioning and handover activities.
• NEC, FIDIC or alliance contracting environments.
• Integrated Delivery Partner or long-term framework arrangements.

Qualifications

You will ideally hold:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.
• Chartered status such as CEng, MCIOB or MRICS, or demonstrable equivalent professional standing.
• Relevant construction, engineering, site management or project delivery qualifications appropriate to the seniority of the role.

Additional qualifications in construction management, project management, engineering management, commercial management or nuclear engineering would be advantageous.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Visible and authentic nuclear safety leadership.
• Strong construction and delivery focus.
• High levels of resilience and personal accountability.
• The ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
• Strong decision-making capability.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• High levels of integrity and professionalism.
• The ability to operate effectively within complex matrix organisations.
• A genuine commitment to developing people and construction capability.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a growing nuclear business at a pivotal stage of its development. You will have the opportunity to influence how major construction projects are mobilised and delivered, contribute to the development of new construction capabilities and help establish a high-performing delivery organisation. The role offers significant responsibility and visibility, with the opportunity to contribute to some of the UK's most strategically important nuclear programmes. For an experienced Senior Construction Manager, this represents an opportunity to take a leading role in the construction delivery of major nuclear projects while helping shape the capability of a growing organisation. Build safely. Deliver excellence. Create lasting value.

Location & Travel

The preferred locations for this role are:

• Greater Manchester
• Warrington
• London

Regular travel across the UK and Europe will be required, with the role expected to involve up to approximately 40% travel on average, potentially increasing during key project or business-critical periods.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK security clearance, including SC or DV, depending on project and programme requirements.