Contracts Manager – Civil Engineering Main Contractor – Yorkshire

Location: Leeds / Wakefield / Yorkshire-based projects

Salary: Very competitive package, dependent on experience

A well-established and highly regarded civil engineering contractor is looking to appoint an experienced Contracts Manager to join its regional delivery team.

This is a strong opportunity for a proven civil engineering professional looking for a long-term role with a financially secure, award-winning contractor delivering varied infrastructure schemes across Yorkshire and the surrounding regions.

The business delivers a range of civil engineering projects, including:

• Highways
• Drainage
• Public realm
• Structures
• Cycleways
• Footpaths
• General infrastructure works
• Design and build civil engineering schemes

Current and upcoming projects are across areas including:

• Leeds
• Wakefield
• Kirklees
• Calderdale
• Rotherham
• Barnsley
• York
• Bradford
• Hull
• North Yorkshire
• Lincolnshire
• East Riding

The role offers regional work only, with no requirement to lodge away.

The Role

As Contracts Manager, you will be responsible for the successful delivery of civil engineering projects across the region.

Depending on the size, complexity and flow of workload, the role could involve either:

• Overseeing a batch of live projects, typically three to four schemes at one time; or
• Taking a more site-based Contracts Manager role on one larger, more complex civil engineering project.

You will be expected to provide strong operational leadership, support project teams, manage client relationships and ensure works are delivered safely, commercially and to the required quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Oversee civil engineering projects from pre-start through to handover and final account.
• Manage either multiple regional schemes or one larger, more complex project.
• Support and lead Project Managers, Site Agents, Engineers, Supervisors and wider site teams.
• Ensure labour, plant, materials and subcontract resources are planned effectively.
• Monitor progress, identify risks early and help remove blockers.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme and in line with client expectations.

Health, Safety, Quality and Environment

• Promote and maintain high standards of health and safety across all projects.
• Ensure site teams are working in line with RAMS, Construction Phase Plans and environmental requirements.
• Support audits, inspections, quality checks and close-out processes.
• Drive a culture of safe, organised and professional site delivery.

Programme and Planning

• Review and challenge project programmes and short-term plans.
• Ensure site teams understand priorities, constraints and key deliverables.
• Identify delays or issues early and support recovery plans where required.
• Provide accurate progress reporting and forecasting to senior management.

Commercial and Contractual

• Work closely with the commercial team to monitor cost, risk, change and subcontractor performance.
• Support the management of NEC contracts, including early warnings, compensation events and change control.
• Ensure project teams are commercially aware and managing contractual requirements properly.
• Help protect project margin through strong operational and commercial discipline.

Client and Stakeholder Management

• Act as a senior client-facing representative for the business.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, local authorities and subcontractors.
• Communicate clearly around progress, risks, issues and solutions.
• Represent the business professionally at all times.

People Leadership

• Lead, support and develop site-based teams across the region.
• Set clear expectations around safety, quality, programme and commercial performance.
• Support Project Managers, Site Agents and Engineers with day-to-day delivery challenges.
• Help raise standards and support succession within the team.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience as a Contracts Manager, Senior Project Manager or similar within civil engineering.
• A strong civil engineering main contractor background.
• Experience delivering works such as highways, drainage, public realm, structures, infrastructure, cycleways or footpaths.
• The ability to manage multiple projects at once or lead one larger, more complex project.
• Strong practical knowledge of NEC contracts.
• Good understanding of programme management, change control, risk and commercial reporting.
• Strong client-facing communication skills.
• The ability to lead, support and develop site teams.
• Good organisational, planning and reporting skills.
• A full UK driving licence.

Qualifications such as an HND, degree or similar in Civil Engineering or Construction Management would be advantageous, although strong practical experience will also be considered.

Professional membership such as ICE or CIOB would also be beneficial, but is not essential.

Package and Why Join

• Very competitive salary and benefits package.
• Company car or car allowance.
• Pension and standard industry benefits.
• Regional work only.
• No requirement to lodge away.
• Varied and interesting civil engineering schemes.
• Strong pipeline of secured and upcoming work.
• Genuine long-term progression opportunity.
• Opportunity to join a respected, financially secure contractor.

Apply / Confidentiality

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Your details will not be shared with any third party until we have discussed the opportunity in more detail and you are happy to proceed.

The name of the hiring company will also be disclosed during that conversation.

To apply, simply click “Apply for this Job” on this listing, or email your CV to: cv@fulcrumrecruit.com