At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage fire protection projects, ensuring safety and compliance from start to finish.
- Company: Leading specialist in passive fire protection with a strong safety reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company car, laptop, mobile phone, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Join a culture of excellence and continuous improvement with great career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in safety while leading exciting projects across various sectors.
- Qualifications: Experience in contracts management within fire protection or construction industries required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Northamptonshire
Salary: >£65,000 + Package
We are pleased to be working with a leading specialist manufacturer & contractor in passive fire protection, delivering high-quality fire stopping, fire doors, and compartmentation works across a wide range of sectors including residential, healthcare, education, and commercial projects. With a strong reputation for safety, compliance, and excellence, they pride themselves on their commitment to protecting lives and property through superior workmanship.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Manage multiple passive fire protection (PFP) projects from inception to completion, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to specification.
- Oversee both direct labour teams and subcontractors, maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and performance.
- Ensure compliance with all fire safety regulations, company procedures, and relevant standards (BS EN 1634, BS 8214, BS 9999).
- Maintain strong commercial awareness - monitoring budgets, costs, and project profitability.
- Act as the key point of contact for clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
- Produce and manage project documentation, programmes, and progress reports.
- Implement and monitor quality assurance processes, including Property Quality Plans (PQP) and Inspection and Test Plans (ITP), to ensure first-pass compliance and regulator-ready audit trails.
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying process efficiencies, value engineering opportunities, and cost-saving initiatives without compromising safety or compliance.
- Ensure subcontractors and operatives are suitably qualified, trained, and using accredited materials and products.
- Conduct site inspections, monitor defect resolution, and ensure all installations are recorded and traceable via Shellen's digital systems (Golden Thread).
- Liaise with design teams, clients, and third-party auditors to resolve technical issues and maintain programme momentum.
- Promote a culture of safety, compliance, and excellence across all project teams.
Experience:
- Proven experience as a Contracts Manager within the fire protection, construction, or fire & security industries.
- Strong understanding of fire stopping, fire doors, compartmentation, and containment.
- Experience managing large-scale projects (£2-4 million).
- Excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Commercially astute with the ability to manage budgets and contractual obligations.
- Full UK driving licence.
Salary and Benefits:
- Company car, laptop and mobile phone.
- Annual holiday allowance of 21 days plus Bank Holidays.
- Pension plan.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Manager - Firestopping in Kettering
✨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 Howells Solutions Limited, 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 Contract Manager - Firestopping at Howells Solutions Limited.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Manager - Firestopping in Kettering
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 Howells Solutions Limited
✨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!
