Senior Contracts Manager (Contracts & Project Delivery) – Director level

Ward Personnel; Ireland; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ward Personnel represents Cork-based HVAC contractors seeking a Senior Contracts Manager to own contract and project delivery, reporting to the Managing Director. The role sits on a fast-track path to Director within 1–2 years and spans Ireland and Europe.

You will manage commercial control, governance, client relationships and project teams, ensuring programme delivery and governance across a portfolio of essential HVAC/multi-site projects in regulated sectors.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in mechanical/HVAC contracting or building services, at Contracts Manager or Senior Project Manager level.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale M&E/HVAC packages or turnkey projects.
• Strong commercial acumen, comfortable owning budgets, forecasts, margin and final accounts.

Responsibilities

• Own multiple contracts end-to-end, from award through to completion and final account.
• Set, monitor and protect project programmes across the portfolio, intervening decisively when delivery is at risk.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting and monthly commercial review across all live contracts.
• Act as the senior point of contact and escalation for clients, consultants and design teams.
• Lead, mentor and develop Project Managers and site teams, setting clear standards and accountability.
• Ensure all contract and site activity meets industry standards, safety regulations and GMP requirements.

Skills

Contract management

Project leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Risk management

Job description

Senior Contracts Manager (Contracts & Project Delivery) – Director level

A leading Cork-based specialist HVAC contractor delivering large-scale turnkey engineering solutions across the Pharmaceutical, Medical, Food and Technology sectors, as they continue their expansion across Ireland and Europe.

To support that growth, our client is seeking an exceptional senior operator to take ownership of contract and project delivery, working directly alongside the Managing Director. This is a deliberately broad role, created for someone with the ambition and capability to step into a Director position within one to two years.

The Opportunity

This is not a conventional Contracts Manager appointment. Our client is looking for a senior figure who can hold full commercial and contractual accountability for a portfolio of projects while remaining close enough to delivery to drive programme, resource and site performance.

You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Managing Director on the operational running of the business from contract award through to handover and final account and will be given genuine exposure to strategy, resourcing, client development and business planning. For the right person, this is a clearly signposted route to Director level.

Role Purpose

To lead and oversee multiple large-scale HVAC contracts simultaneously owning contractual obligations, commercial performance, programme delivery, risk and compliance while developing the project teams and systems that underpin our client's next phase of growth.

Reporting Line

• Reports directly to the Managing Director.
• Project Managers, Site Managers and project support staff report into this role.
• Works closely with QS/commercial, procurement, design and commissioning functions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Management & Governance

• Own multiple contracts end-to-end, from award through to completion and final account.
• Ensure all contractual obligations, specifications and performance criteria are met across the portfolio.
• Oversee contract documentation, change control, variations, claims and risk registers.
• Identify contractual risk early and drive the mitigation strategy with the MD.

2. Project Delivery & Programme Leadership

• Set, monitor and protect project programmes across the portfolio, intervening decisively when delivery is at risk.
• Lead the Project Managers in day-to-day delivery, planning, sequencing, procurement schedules and site coordination.
• Ensure labour, materials, plant and specialist subcontract resources are coordinated and available ahead of need.
• Drive handover, commissioning and validation readiness in line with client and regulatory requirements.

3. Commercial Control

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting and monthly commercial review across all live contracts.
• Own project margin; track cost against value and take corrective action where performance slips.
• Manage subcontractor procurement, performance, valuations and payment schedules.
• Support estimating and tender review, contributing delivery insight to pricing and programme assumptions.

4. Client & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the senior point of contact and escalation for clients, consultants and design teams.
• Lead formal progress reviews, commercial meetings and contract negotiations.
• Build long-term client relationships that generate repeat and negotiated work.

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and develop Project Managers and site teams, setting clear standards and accountability.
• Support resource planning and recruitment as the business scales.
• Strengthen delivery systems, reporting and processes as project volume grows.

6. Compliance, Quality & Safety

• Ensure all contract and site activity meets industry standards, safety regulations and our client's quality-first principles.
• Support audits, compliance reporting and commissioning quality checks.
• Uphold GMP and controlled-environment requirements on pharmaceutical, medical and food sector projects.

7. Strategic Contribution (Director Pathway)

• Work directly with the Managing Director on operational planning, workload forecasting and business development.
• Contribute to bid strategy, client targeting and expansion into new sectors and geographies.
• Take on increasing commercial and operational autonomy over the first 12–24 months, with a defined route to Director level.

Required Skills & Experience

• Substantial experience in mechanical/HVAC contracting or building services, at Contracts Manager or Senior Project Manager level.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale M&E/HVAC packages or turnkey projects.
• Strong commercial acumen, comfortable owning budgets, forecasts, margin and final accounts.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and leading project teams.
• Excellent understanding of industrial compliance environments.
• Strong negotiation, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ambition to progress to Director level, with the leadership presence to match.

Desirable

• Experience delivering mechanical packages in pharmaceutical, medical, food or technology environments.
• Mechanical Engineering or Building Services qualification (degree or trade-plus-qualification route both welcome).
• Experience supporting turnkey project models.
• Exposure to European projects or multi-site delivery.

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cork, County Cork