Construction Manager – Highways in Northampton

A leading infrastructure delivery organisation is seeking an experienced Construction Manager to support the delivery of highways renewal and improvement schemes across a live network environment. Reporting to a Senior Delivery Manager, you will be responsible for managing construction activities on site, overseeing contractors, and ensuring works are delivered safely, to programme, and in line with contractual and statutory requirements. You will play a key role in the successful delivery of multiple concurrent schemes, each with values of up to approximately £5m.

Key duties will include:

• Administering the construction contract.
• Overseeing Principal Contractor responsibilities under CDM 2015 and NEC conditions.
• Maintaining robust construction programmes.
• Managing site operations to avoid delay or overrun.
• Ensuring Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality standards are embedded across all works.
• Chairing progress meetings and preparing monthly reports.
• Supporting financial reporting and managing change control.
• Ensuring all records are maintained to the required standard.
• Overseeing temporary works, traffic management and network occupancy activities.
• Stakeholder liaison and contractor performance management.

To be considered, you will hold SMSTS and have proven experience delivering highways schemes in a Principal Contractor role, including work in restricted and night-time environments. Strong programme, commercial, leadership, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with a collaborative approach to delivery.

This is an excellent opportunity for a driven Construction Manager seeking a key delivery role on complex infrastructure projects within a supportive, partnering environment.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Manage and administer construction works in accordance with the contract.
• Prepare, maintain, and monitor robust construction programmes, taking corrective action to avoid delay or overrun.
• Oversee and coordinate all site operations, ensuring efficient sequencing and delivery of works.
• Chair regular progress meetings with contractors and attend monthly progress meetings with senior stakeholders.
• Manage the concurrent delivery of multiple schemes with individual values up to approximately £5m.

Health, Safety, Environment & CDM:

• Oversee the delivery of Principal Contractor duties under CDM Regulations 2015 and obligations under the NEC form of contract.
• Ensure safety leadership is embedded across all activities, including training and competence, risk assessments for every task, site inductions for all workers, and safe systems of work.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Construction Phase Plan, site inductions, and site rules.
• Carry out regular Safety, Health and Environmental inspections and attend SHE meetings.
• Ensure all accidents, incidents, and near-misses are reported and investigated appropriately.
• Verify that working practices comply with approved Quality Plans, Method Statements, Risk Assessments, and Inspection & Test Plans.
• Carry out quality checks, witness works, and manage the reporting and close-out of non-conformances.
• Promote a right-first-time culture and continuous improvement.
• Manage all changes to the works, ensuring they are agreed, properly communicated, and formally instructed.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and support financial reporting activities.
• Ensure accurate collection and reporting of data required for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Provide clear definition of roles and responsibilities within the site team.
• Lead, advise, and motivate site management staff to ensure effective performance.
• Identify training and development needs and arrange appropriate support where required.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance team culture.
• Ensure temporary works are designed, checked, and installed in accordance with approved procedures and design details.
• Ensure compliance with the duties associated with the Temporary Works Co-ordinator role where applicable.
• Oversee contractor performance, ensuring safe execution of works and compliance with programme requirements.
• Promote a partnering approach based on trust, respect, and open communication.
• Oversee network occupancy activities including traffic management proposals, roadspace bookings, stakeholder liaison, and updating client network occupancy systems.
• Ensure all records required for handover are compiled, including Health & Safety Files, as-constructed drawings, and asset registers.
• Promote innovation and the capture and sharing of lessons learned and best practice.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• SMSTS (5-day CITB Site Manager’s Safety Training Scheme).
• Proven experience delivering Principal Contractor duties under CDM 2015 and/or acting as Supervisor under NEC contracts.
• Experience delivering highways renewals and improvement schemes, including restricted access and night-time working.
• Demonstrable experience delivering projects to tight time and budget constraints.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent schemes.
• Strong working knowledge of construction programming and risk management.
• High level of commercial awareness.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrable leadership and people management capability.
• Flexible, committed, and delivery-focused approach.
• Positive attitude to collaborative working in a partnering environment.
• Degree or HND in Civil Engineering (or equivalent).
• Progression toward Chartered status.
• CSCS (Manager / Contracts Manager) card.
• Experience working for a major contractor at Senior Agent level or above.
• First Aid qualification.
• Temporary Works Co-ordinator certification.
• Appointed Person (Lifting Operations).
• Fire Safety Co-ordinator / Marshal certification.
• Detailed knowledge of Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) and Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB).