At a Glance
- Tasks: Supervise highways projects, ensuring safety and quality while leading a motivated team.
- Company: Leading civil engineering contractor with a strong growth trajectory.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company vehicle, pension scheme, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Long-term career progression opportunities in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team and work on impactful infrastructure projects in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in highways or civil engineering, strong leadership skills, and relevant certifications.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
Location: Bedford
Salary: Up to £55,000 - £60,000 + Package
Our client is a leading civil engineering and highways contractor delivering a range of highways improvement, maintenance, and infrastructure projects across Bedfordshire and the surrounding counties. Due to continued growth and a strong pipeline of secured work, they are looking to recruit an experienced Highways General Foreman to join their expanding team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established business offering long-term career progression, a supportive working environment, and the opportunity to work on a variety of local authority and National Highways projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise and coordinate day-to-day highways site operations, ensuring works are delivered safely, efficiently, on programme, and to the highest quality standards.
- Lead and motivate site operatives, subcontractors, and plant resources, working closely with the Site Manager, Site Agent, engineers, and wider project team to achieve project milestones.
- Promote and maintain a strong health and safety culture, ensuring all works are carried out in accordance with company procedures, risk assessments, method statements, and Chapter 8 traffic management requirements.
- Plan and organise daily site activities, allocating labour, plant, and materials effectively to maximise productivity and ensure efficient project delivery.
- Monitor site progress, quality, and productivity while ensuring compliance with specification, client requirements, and environmental standards.
- Coordinate deliveries, traffic management, temporary works, and utility interfaces to minimise disruption and maintain programme.
- Maintain accurate site records including diaries, inspections, permits, and quality documentation.
- Support the successful delivery of highways schemes including junction improvements, road widening, drainage, kerbing, surfacing, earthworks, structures, and public realm works.
Requirements
Essential
- Proven experience as a General Foreman or Senior Foreman within the highways or civil engineering sector.
- Experience supervising direct labour, subcontractors, and plant on highways infrastructure projects.
- Valid CSCS card relevant to the role.
- SMSTS certification.
- Strong understanding of highways construction techniques and sequencing.
- Excellent knowledge of health, safety, and environmental legislation.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
- National Highways experience.
- Temporary Works Supervisor qualification.
- NRSWA Supervisor.
- Street Works qualification.
- HSG47 Avoiding Danger from Underground Services.
- First Aid at Work.
- CPCS Appointed Person or Crane Supervisor.
- NH Passport.
- Environmental awareness training (SEATS).
- Experience managing directly employed gangs.
What's on Offer
- Salary up to £60,000 depending on experience.
- Competitive benefits package.
- Company vehicle or vehicle allowance.
- Pension scheme.
- Annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Long-term career progression within a growing civil engineering contractor.
- Opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of highways and infrastructure projects across Bedfordshire and the surrounding region.
- Supportive, collaborative, and safety-focused working environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Foreman in Bedford
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Carrington West, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like General Foreman at Carrington West.
We think you need these skills to ace General Foreman in Bedford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington West
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
