Location: Aberdeen
Employment: Full-time, permanent
Sector: Construction & Civil Engineering
The Opportunity
We are recruiting an experienced Contracts Manager to oversee the successful delivery of construction and civil engineering projects across Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
This senior operational role will manage projects from pre-construction through to completion, providing leadership to project teams and ensuring delivery is safe, on programme, within budget and to the required quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage multiple projects or a single large, complex contract from pre-construction through to handover.
- Lead and support Project Managers, Site Managers, Engineers and operational teams.
- Establish effective delivery strategies, programmes, resource plans and project controls.
- Monitor project performance across safety, quality, programme, cost and client service.
- Coordinate labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, design, procurement and commercial activities.
- Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and key stakeholders.
- Identify and manage project risks, opportunities and contractual changes.
- Provide accurate and timely reporting to senior management.
- Ensure projects are efficiently completed, handed over and closed out.
Health, Safety & Quality
- Provide visible leadership on health, safety and environmental standards.
- Ensure compliance with legislation, CDM requirements, client standards and company procedures.
- Promote a strong safety culture and ensure incidents and near misses are appropriately managed.
- Ensure works comply with specifications, drawings, approved designs and relevant standards.
- Promote right-first-time delivery and effective management of quality records, defects and handover documentation.
Programme & Commercial Management
- Establish realistic construction programmes and monitor progress against key milestones.
- Identify constraints early and implement recovery measures where required.
- Work closely with commercial teams to protect contract performance and margin.
- Support forecasting, cost control, cash flow and change management.
- Manage variations, compensation events, extensions of time and contractual obligations.
- Ensure operational decisions are commercially informed and appropriately recorded.
People & Client Leadership
- Build strong relationships with clients, consultants and project stakeholders.
- Lead, coach and develop project teams, setting clear expectations and standards.
- Promote collaboration across operations, commercial, design, procurement and support functions.
- Monitor subcontractor and supplier performance and address underperformance promptly.
- Maintain a strong focus on client satisfaction and opportunities for repeat business.
Experience & Knowledge
The successful candidate will have:
- Significant experience as a Contracts Manager or in a comparable senior construction delivery role.
- Experience with a principal contractor, civil engineering contractor or similar construction business.
- A proven track record delivering multiple projects or a large, complex contract.
- Strong knowledge of construction methods, planning, design coordination, procurement and temporary works.
- Good working knowledge of construction contracts and change-control procedures.
- Strong commercial awareness, including forecasting and cost control.
- Experience managing clients, subcontractors and multidisciplinary teams.
- Sound knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and CDM requirements.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
Qualifications
- Relevant degree, HNC/HND, apprenticeship or equivalent construction experience.
- SMSTS or equivalent health and safety qualification desirable.
- CIOB or ICE membership advantageous.
- Appropriate CSCS card desirable.
- Full UK driving licence required.
About You
You will be a visible, accountable and safety-focused leader with strong commercial awareness. You will be calm and decisive under pressure, collaborative in your approach and committed to developing teams and continuously improving project performance.
The role is based in Aberdeen and involves regular travel to construction sites and project meetings.
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
