Shopfitting Project Manager

Optima Site Solutions Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Pension contribution

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Job summary

Optima Site Solutions Ltd is seeking a commercially aware Project Manager to lead fast-paced shopfitting and interior fit-out projects from pricing through handover. Based in Croydon with regular travel across London, the Southeast and beyond, you’ll blend delivery with estimating and QS duties.

The role requires direct experience in shopfitting and multi-trade projects, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to manage budgets, programmes and client relations.

Qualifications

• Direct experience delivering shopfitting, retail fit-out, hospitality fit-out or fast-track commercial interior projects is essential.
• Full ownership from pricing or pre-construction through to handover.
• Strong commercial awareness alongside practical project management ability.
• Experience preparing estimates, take-offs and project costings.
• Knowledge of valuations, variations, applications, cost control and final accounts.
• Experience managing multi-trade subcontractors and suppliers.
• The ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications.
• Confidence managing budgets, programmes, procurement and site delivery.
• Strong client communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to manage several live projects and competing deadlines.
• A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel regularly for site visits and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing architectural drawings, construction information and project specifications.
• Producing estimates, take-offs, cost plans, quotations and procurement schedules.
• Preparing and managing project budgets, valuations, applications and commercial reports.
• Identifying, pricing and agreeing variations.
• Procuring and managing subcontractors, suppliers, labour and materials.
• Developing and maintaining project programmes.
• Monitoring costs, progress, quality and profitability throughout delivery.
• Attending site meetings and maintaining regular communication with clients and project teams.
• Resolving programme, design, procurement and commercial issues before they affect delivery.
• Ensuring projects meet health and safety, quality and client requirements.
• Managing final accounts and supporting a smooth project close-out.

Skills

Project ownership

Commercial awareness

Estimating & costings

Subcontractor management

Construction drawings reading

Budget management

Client communication

Program management

Travel willing

UK driving licence

Education

Quantity Surveying

Construction Management

Project Management

Job description

Project Manager – Shopfitting & Retail Fit-Out

Location: Croydon, South London

Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience

Benefits: Company vehicle, pension contribution, 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Travel: Regular travel to projects across London, the Southeast and wider UK

Employment type: Permanent, full-time

The Opportunity

An established shopfitting and interior fit-out contractor is looking for a commercially aware Project Manager to take ownership of fast-paced retail, hospitality and commercial fit-out projects.

This is a varied, hands-on position combining project delivery with estimating and quantity surveying responsibilities. You will manage projects from the initial enquiry, pricing and pre-construction stages through procurement, site delivery, commercial control and final completion.

The role would suit someone who understands how fast-turnaround fit-out projects operate and can confidently manage clients, subcontractors, budgets and programmes without relying on a large support structure.

You will be based from the Croydon office when not visiting sites, with regular travel required across London, the Southeast and occasionally other UK locations.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will take commercial and operational responsibility for multiple shopfitting and fit-out projects, including:

• Managing projects from initial pricing and pre-construction through to completion and handover
• Reviewing architectural drawings, construction information and project specifications
• Producing estimates, take-offs, cost plans, quotations and procurement schedules
• Preparing and managing project budgets, valuations, applications and commercial reports
• Identifying, pricing and agreeing variations
• Procuring and managing subcontractors, suppliers, labour and materials
• Developing and maintaining project programmes
• Monitoring costs, progress, quality and profitability throughout delivery
• Attending site meetings and maintaining regular communication with clients and project teams
• Resolving programme, design, procurement and commercial issues before they affect delivery
• Ensuring projects meet health and safety, quality and client requirements
• Managing final accounts and supporting a smooth project close-out

What We’re Looking For

Direct experience delivering shopfitting, retail fit-out, hospitality fit-out or fast-track commercial interior projects is essential.

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Full project ownership from pricing or pre-construction through to handover
• Strong commercial awareness alongside practical project management ability
• Experience preparing estimates, take-offs and project costings
• Knowledge of valuations, variations, applications, cost control and final accounts
• Experience managing multi-trade subcontractors and suppliers
• The ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Confidence managing budgets, programmes, procurement and site delivery
• Strong client communication and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to manage several live projects and competing deadlines
• A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach
• A full UK driving licence
• Willingness to travel regularly for site visits and project delivery

Experience gained solely within residential construction, social housing, drylining or a single specialist subcontract package is unlikely to provide the breadth required unless you have also managed complete, multi-trade fit-out projects.

A qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or Project Management would be beneficial but is not essential where equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

The Projects

The contractor delivers fast-moving fit-out and refurbishment schemes for clients across sectors including:

• Retail
• Restaurants and hospitality
• Commercial interiors
• Office fit-out and refurbishment
• Leisure and customer-facing premises

Projects can involve demanding programmes, live trading environments and multiple subcontract packages, so the ability to make decisions quickly and maintain control of both delivery and cost is important.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a stable, family-run contractor where your contribution will be visible and valued.

The company offers:

• Salary of up to £60,000, depending on experience
• Company vehicle
• Pension contribution
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Varied projects across London and the UK
• Long-term career progression
• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• The autonomy to manage projects and influence how they are delivered

Location and Travel

Applicants should live within a practical commuting distance of Croydon, South London. Regular office attendance is required when you are not visiting project sites.

Travel is a fundamental part of the position. Most projects are located across London and the Southeast, although nationwide travel will also be required when necessary.