Senior Contract Manager

Paxton Personnel Ltd; Beauly; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An Inverness-based civil engineering and construction contractor is seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to lead a portfolio of infrastructure and renewables projects. The role focuses on strategic leadership, contract delivery, and commercial performance across multiple projects.

You will manage client and subcontractor relationships, drive risk management, and mentor project teams, ensuring projects meet programme, budget, and quality targets within NEC/major contract frameworks.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Senior Contracts Manager or equivalent in civil engineering/construction.
• Experience delivering major infrastructure, energy or renewable projects.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across major infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
• Take overall responsibility for contractual, commercial and operational performance.
• Lead and develop Contracts Managers, Project Managers and delivery teams.
• Manage client relationships and act as a senior point of contact throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with contract requirements, programme, budget and quality expectations.
• Identify and manage commercial opportunities, risks, variations and contractual obligations.
• Collaborate with commercial and estimating teams to maximise project performance and profitability.
• Ensure effective implementation of health, safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Provide regular performance updates to the senior leadership team.
• Support business development and pre-construction activities where required.
• Drive continuous improvement and best practice across project delivery.

Skills

Senior leadership

Contract management

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Job description

A leading civil engineering and construction contractor, recognised as a leader in the infrastructure and renewables sectors, is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to join its growing team in Inverness.

With an established reputation for delivering complex infrastructure and renewable energy projects, the business is at the forefront of supporting the development of critical infrastructure and the UK's transition towards a more sustainable energy future.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished contracts professional with a strong background in civil engineering and construction. You will take responsibility for the successful commercial, contractual and operational delivery of major projects, working closely with project teams, clients, subcontractors and senior management.

The role would suit someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is commercially astute, and has the leadership skills to drive projects from mobilisation through to successful completion.

The Role

As Senior Contracts Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the effective management and delivery of a portfolio of projects across the infrastructure and renewables sectors, ensuring they are completed safely, commercially successfully, on programme and to the required quality standards.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership and direction across major infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
• Taking overall responsibility for contractual, commercial and operational performance.
• Leading and developing Contracts Managers, Project Managers and wider delivery teams.
• Managing client relationships and acting as a senior point of contact throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with contract requirements, programme, budget and quality expectations.
• Identifying and managing commercial opportunities, risks, variations and contractual obligations.
• Working closely with commercial and estimating teams to maximise project performance and profitability.
• Reviewing project programmes, costs, forecasts and performance against agreed targets.Supporting contract negotiations, procurement and the management of key subcontractors and suppliers.
• Ensuring effective implementation of health, safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Providing regular performance updates and reports to the senior leadership team.
• Supporting business development and pre-construction activities where required.
• Driving continuous improvement and best practice across project delivery.

About You

You will be an experienced construction professional with a proven track record of successfully managing major civil engineering, infrastructure or renewable energy projects.

Ideally, you will have:

• Significant experience in a Senior Contracts Manager or similar position within civil engineering/construction.
• Experience delivering major infrastructure, energy or renewable projects.
• A strong understanding of NEC and/or other major forms of construction contract.
• Proven experience managing complex projects from pre-construction through to completion.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness.
• Experience managing and developing project teams.
• Excellent client, stakeholder and subcontractor management skills.
• Strong financial, programme and risk-management capabilities.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and leadership skills.
• A relevant degree, HNC/HND or professional qualification in civil engineering, construction management or a related discipline.

Professional membership of ICE, CIOB or a similar institution would be advantageous.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established and forward-thinking contractor that is a recognised leader in infrastructure and renewables, with an exciting pipeline of major projects across Scotland.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Play a key leadership role within a successful and growing civil engineering business.
• Lead high-profile infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
• Work on projects that are helping shape Scotland's future infrastructure and energy landscape.
• Work alongside an experienced and supportive senior management team.
• Develop your career within a business operating at the forefront of the infrastructure and renewables sectors.
• Receive a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Make a genuine impact on the performance and continued growth of the business.