Contracts Manager in Durham

Location: Durham / North East

Employment Type: Permanent

Salary: Competitive salary + package

Sector: Civil Engineering / Regional Contractor

Fulcrum Recruitment is working with a long-established, privately owned civil engineering contractor that is looking to appoint an experienced Contracts Manager to oversee the delivery of multiple civil engineering schemes across the North East. This is a permanent opportunity with a respected regional contractor delivering a varied range of civil engineering projects, including site clearance, remediation, brownfield development, external works, landscaping, river and coastal flood protection, water infrastructure and recreational / sports facility schemes.

The role would suit a hands-on Contracts Manager who is comfortable leading several live projects, working closely with commercial teams, managing client relationships and driving safe, efficient and high-quality project delivery.

The Role

As Contracts Manager, you will take responsibility for a portfolio of civil engineering projects from pre-construction through to completion and handover. Depending on workload, this may include one or two larger schemes or several smaller projects running concurrently. You will lead delivery teams, manage programmes, oversee subcontractors, work closely with the commercial team and act as a key client-facing contact. The role requires someone who can lead from the front, maintain strong standards across health, safety, quality and programme, and ensure projects are delivered safely, commercially and to the required standard.

Project Types

Projects can include site clearance, remediation, brownfield development, external works, landscaping, river and coastal flood protection, water and utilities work, civil engineering packages, sports facilities and wider regional infrastructure schemes. The contractor works with a mix of commercial, retail, public sector, utility and framework clients, with regional schemes delivered across the North East.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage civil engineering projects from pre-construction, mobilisation and delivery through to handover and final account.
• Build, manage and update programmes, including sequencing, critical path, short-term lookaheads and progress meetings.
• Lead health, safety, environmental and quality standards, ensuring RAMS, permits, audits, inspections and site records are properly managed.
• Administer NEC contracts, including early warnings, compensation events, change control, risk registers and commercial records.
• Work closely with Quantity Surveyors on procurement, valuations, CVRs, subcontract management, payments and final accounts.
• Procure, brief and manage subcontractors and suppliers, monitoring performance, quality and compliance.
• Act as the main client-facing contact, providing clear reporting on progress, risk, cost, programme and project performance.
• Plan and allocate people, plant and resources while mentoring and supporting Site Engineers, General Foremen, Site Managers and wider delivery teams.
• Ensure ITPs, inspections, testing, as-built records and handover documentation are completed accurately and to the required standard.
• Capture lessons learned and promote best practice across projects to support continuous improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience as a Contracts Manager, or similar senior operational role, within civil engineering or regional contracting.
• Background as a Site Engineer, or a time-served construction route with clear progression into site and contracts management, would be suitable.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent civil engineering schemes across varied work types.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC3 / NEC4 contracts, change management, risk management and commercial processes.
• HNC, HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering or a related discipline would be beneficial.
• CSCS card, strong health and safety awareness and a full UK driving licence are required.
• Programme-literate, well organised and confident managing master programmes, short-term lookaheads and project reporting.
• Strong leadership, communication and client-facing skills, with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, with experience using planning tools such as MS Project, CS Project or similar being advantageous.
• SMSTS, First Aid at Work and Temporary Works awareness or coordination experience would also be beneficial.

The Opportunity

This is a strong long-term opportunity for a Contracts Manager seeking autonomy, influence and progression within a collaborative regional contractor. You will be joining a business with a varied project portfolio, established client relationships and a strong reputation for safe delivery, quality workmanship and early collaboration with clients and the supply chain. The role would suit someone who enjoys being close to the work, understands practical site delivery and wants to progress towards a more senior contracts management position over time.

Package

The package includes a competitive salary and wider company benefits. The role also offers autonomy, varied regional civil engineering projects, strong operational and commercial support, and clear progression opportunities within a respected North East contractor.

For further information on this opportunity, please contact David Fletcher of Fulcrum Recruitment.