General Foreman - Highways in Oxford

General Foreman - Highways in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead site operations and manage engineering teams on a major highways project.
  • Company: Join a top-tier civil engineering contractor known for safety and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, company car, 35 days leave, and private medical cover.
  • Other info: Dynamic work environment with excellent training and growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on a high-profile project while developing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a General Foreman in highways, strong leadership, and communication skills.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

Your new company: You will be joining an industry-leading Tier 1 civil engineering contractor delivering a major, 3-year-long highways project in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Known for collaborative project delivery, strong safety culture and technical excellence, this contractor plays a key role in shaping major highways and infrastructure schemes across the UK. With a strong pipeline of long-term regional works and a genuine focus on developing its people, this is an excellent opportunity to build a sustainable career with a respected main contractor where you are empowered to make decisions and drive performance.

Your new role: As General Foreman, you will take a leading role in day-to-day delivery, overseeing site operations and managing engineering and supervisory teams on a £35m section of the project. This is a hands-on leadership position suited to an experienced civil engineering professional who combines strong technical knowledge with excellent people management skills.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Leading and managing the engineering team, including Site Engineers and Section Engineers
  • Ensuring full compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental standards across site operations
  • Monitoring and controlling all aspects of the works to achieve programme and budget targets
  • Managing and coordinating subcontractors to ensure productivity and quality standards are met
  • Liaising with clients, designers and key stakeholders
  • Attending monthly progress meetings and compiling reports
  • Managing quality and environmental plans on site
  • Controlling contract costs and ensuring works are delivered to specification
  • Driving a positive safety culture across the entire site team
  • Identifying opportunities for improvement, innovation and more efficient ways of working

This role offers genuine responsibility and influence on site, making it ideal for a General Foreman looking to make a lasting impact on a major highways project.

What you'll need to succeed: In order to be successful, you will bring:

  • Previous experience as a General Foreman within the highways and/or public realm sectors, delivering earthworks and/or structures packages
  • Excellent understanding of construction processes, plant, equipment and safety procedures
  • Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications and technical information
  • Strong leadership, organisational and communication skills
  • CSCS, SMSTS, First Aid at Work and a full UK driving licence

What you'll get in return: In return, you will receive:

  • Competitive salary
  • Company car (with fuel card) or car allowance
  • 35 days' annual leave (including bank holidays)
  • Pension scheme (increasing with seniority and length of service)
  • Private medical cover
  • Life assurance
  • Travel and subsistence allowance (where appropriate)
  • Funded professional memberships (ICE, CIOB, RICS, etc.)
  • Retail and lifestyle discounts
  • Enhanced family-friendly benefits
  • Strong pipeline of long-term regional projects
  • Industry-recognised training and development programmes
  • Supportive and collaborative work environment
  • Exposure to a major, high-impact project
  • Opportunity to grow and progress your career with an industry-leading Tier 1 contractor and more

What you need to do now: If you're interested in this role and meet the criteria above, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Please note - this contractor does not hold a licence for sponsored work visas.

General Foreman - Highways in Oxford employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited

Join an industry-leading Tier 1 civil engineering contractor in Didcot, Oxfordshire, where you will be part of a collaborative and safety-focused work culture. With a strong commitment to employee development and a pipeline of long-term projects, this role as General Foreman offers not only competitive benefits but also the opportunity to make a significant impact on major highways infrastructure. Experience a supportive environment that values innovation and provides pathways for career progression within a respected main contractor.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited

Contact Detail:

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land General Foreman - Highways in Oxford

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the civil engineering world, especially those who have worked on highways projects. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and people management skills. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams and ensured safety compliance on past projects. We want to see your hands-on leadership style!

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your passion for the industry! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, express your enthusiasm for shaping major highways and infrastructure. Let them know you're keen to make a lasting impact on their projects.

✨Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our team and help us deliver top-notch projects.

We think you need these skills to ace General Foreman - Highways in Oxford

Leadership Skills
Project Management
Health and Safety Compliance
Communication Skills
Technical Knowledge in Civil Engineering
Ability to Read and Interpret Drawings
Organisational Skills
Experience with Subcontractor Management
Budget Control
Quality Management
Problem-Solving Skills
Knowledge of Construction Processes
First Aid at Work Certification
CSCS Certification
SMSTS Certification

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the General Foreman role. Highlight your experience in highways and public realm sectors, and showcase your leadership skills. We want to see how your background aligns with our project needs!

Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how you've used them in real-world situations. Talk about your experience with health and safety compliance, managing teams, and delivering projects on time and within budget. We love seeing practical examples!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful – we want to feel your enthusiasm for the position!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen to join our team at StudySmarter!

How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited

✨Know Your Project Inside Out

Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the highways project you'll be working on. Familiarise yourself with the specifics of the project in Didcot, including its scale and objectives. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a General Foreman, strong leadership is key. Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully managed teams or improved site operations. Be ready to discuss how you foster a positive safety culture and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.

✨Demonstrate Technical Knowledge

Brush up on your understanding of construction processes, plant, equipment, and safety procedures relevant to highways projects. Be prepared to answer technical questions and explain how you interpret drawings and specifications, as this will highlight your expertise in the field.

✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement

Since liaising with clients and stakeholders is part of the role, think about how you’ve effectively communicated with various parties in previous positions. Prepare to discuss your approach to managing subcontractors and ensuring quality standards are met, as this will demonstrate your ability to drive performance.

General Foreman - Highways in Oxford
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Location: Oxford

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