At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage contracts for complex construction projects, ensuring successful delivery and client satisfaction.
- Company: Dynamic Norfolk-based company focused on innovative project delivery in the construction sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary package, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work on large-scale projects with a focus on quality and efficiency.
- Why this job: Join a leading team to shape modern housing solutions and make a real impact in the community.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in construction or contracts management with strong leadership and client engagement skills.
Roles & Responsibilities
Client Overview
Our client is a Norfolk-based company specialising in complete project delivery. They work closely with local authorities, housing associations, commercial developers, and private developers to deliver projects that meet modern regulatory standards and support evolving housing needs.
Pre-Construction Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership across pre-construction, working with the Quantity Surveyor and senior team to define programmes, budgets, commercial parameters, and delivery strategy.
- Oversee subcontractor pre-qualification, pricing, evaluation, negotiation, and appointment to ensure best value and delivery capability.
- Lead contract negotiation activity, ensuring commercial terms, risks, and obligations are clearly understood and managed.
- Develop project execution plans, procurement routes, budgets, controls, and reporting processes for complex construction projects.
- Prepare and deliver client pitch materials, tender presentations, and senior-level project briefings.
Construction Delivery Leadership
- Lead, manage, and mentor the contracts team and subcontractor partners to ensure safe, efficient, commercially successful delivery.
- Drive Value Engineering to improve quality, programme certainty, cost efficiency, and buildability.
- Act as the senior client contact, maintaining strong relationships and managing expectations professionally.
- Monitor programme, commercial performance, quality standards, and key project metrics, providing clear updates to senior stakeholders.
- Identify, assess, escalate, and mitigate project risks to protect programme, budget, and quality objectives.
- Oversee formal project communications, meeting outputs, stakeholder correspondence, and progress reporting.
- Coordinate clients, consultants, contractors, designers, and internal teams to ensure timely decisions and milestone delivery.
- Work with finance, procurement, commercial, and operational departments to maintain governance, cost control, and delivery alignment.
Close-Out and Fit-Out Leadership
- Lead close-out documentation with the client’s document controller, ensuring warranties, as-built drawings, manuals, certificates, and handover records are completed and delivered.
- Oversee local authority inspections, compliance requirements, and occupancy processes.
- Support the client with owner-direct vendors, specialist consultants, and third-party stakeholders through fit-out and handover.
Qualifications & Senior-Level Experience
- Minimum 12 years’ relevant experience in construction, project delivery, or contracts management, including senior leadership experience.
- Recognised qualification in project management, construction management, a construction-related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- RICS or CIOB membership preferred, though equivalent senior-level industry experience will be considered.
- Confident client-facing operator, able to engage board, executive, operational, and site-level stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of large-scale technical projects, construction methodology, contract administration, risk, and delivery governance.
- Proven leader able to manage multidisciplinary teams, influence outcomes, and drive high standards across delivery partners.
- Experience delivering large-scale new build, refurbishment, and complex multi-stakeholder projects.
A competitive senior-level salary package will be offered, dependent on experience and capability.
Senior Contracts Manager in Norwich employer: Highbury Recruitment
As a Norfolk-based company specialising in complete project delivery, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With a strong focus on professional development, we offer numerous growth opportunities and competitive benefits, ensuring that our team members are well-equipped to lead complex projects while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Join us to be part of a dynamic environment where your expertise will directly contribute to shaping modern housing solutions for our communities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Contracts Manager in Norwich
✨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 Highbury Recruitment, 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 Senior Contracts Manager at Highbury Recruitment.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Contracts Manager in Norwich
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 Highbury Recruitment
✨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!
