At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead diverse mechanical projects across London and the South East, ensuring quality delivery.
- Company: Established building services contractor with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, varied projects, and ownership of your work.
- Other info: Stable role with excellent career growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Enjoy project variety and make a real impact in mechanical services.
- Qualifications: Experience in mechanical project management and strong technical knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
If you want proper variety without moving into a faceless major contractor, this is the sort of Mechanical Project Manager role that should be on your radar. You will be joining an established building services contractor delivering mechanical and M&E projects across London, Kent, Essex and the wider South East. The work is varied, technically interesting and rarely repetitive. One month you could be involved in a commercial CAT A refurbishment with exposed services and major roof plant, the next you could be delivering education, healthcare, industrial, research, heritage or live-environment refurbishment works.
This is not a role where you sit miles away from the detail. You will have ownership of the mechanical delivery, direct contact with clients and main contractors, and a proper say in how projects are planned, procured, coordinated, delivered and handed over. The project history is strong. Commercial refurbishments, office fit-outs, school extensions, healthcare upgrades, live building works, plant replacement, VRF installations, AHUs, FCUs, ventilation, public health, BMS interfaces, smoke extract, heating and cooling systems, and technically sensitive environments where planning and coordination matter.
What you’ll be doing
- You will take responsibility for the mechanical delivery of projects across London, Kent, Essex and the South East.
- You will manage mechanical packages across LTHW, CHW, ventilation, ductwork, AHUs, FCUs, VRF, public health, plumbing, drainage, plantrooms, smoke extract, sprinklers interfaces, thermal insulation, controls interfaces and associated building services systems.
- You will work across a varied project mix that may include commercial CAT A refurbishments, office fit-outs, education schemes, healthcare projects, live building upgrades, industrial facilities, research environments, heritage buildings and high-spec residential projects.
- You will manage projects from pre-start and mobilisation through to procurement, installation, commissioning, snagging and handover.
- You will work closely with clients, main contractors, consultants, design teams, site managers, supervisors, subcontractors, suppliers, commissioning teams and internal commercial teams.
- You will manage programme, procurement, labour, subcontractors, RAMS, technical submissions, RFIs, variations, progress reporting, QA, testing, commissioning and O&M information.
- You will make sure mechanical works are properly coordinated with electrical services, fire alarm, sprinklers, BMS, builders work, architectural finishes and existing building constraints.
- You will drive subcontractors and site teams while keeping control of safety, quality, progress and commercial performance.
- You will support design reviews, buildability input and value engineering where drawings, site conditions or existing services need proper thought.
- You will keep clients updated, protect relationships and make sure projects are delivered properly from start to finish.
What you’ll need
- You will need experience as a Mechanical Project Manager, Mechanical Contracts Manager, Mechanical Package Manager or Senior Mechanical Project Engineer.
- You will need strong mechanical building services experience, ideally gained with an M&E contractor or mechanical contractor.
- Experience across commercial refurbishment, education, healthcare, industrial, research, public sector, heritage, high-end residential or live-environment projects would all be relevant.
- You should have a good technical understanding of mechanical systems including LTHW, CHW, ventilation, ductwork, AHUs, FCUs, VRF, public health, plumbing, drainage, BMS interfaces and commissioning requirements.
- You will need to be comfortable managing projects commercially as well as operationally, including procurement, subcontractor performance, change, variations, cost control and client reporting.
- You should be confident managing supervisors, engineers, subcontractors and labour across fast-moving project environments.
- Experience working in occupied or technically constrained buildings would be useful, especially where shutdowns, access, existing services, plant replacement or phased handover need to be properly managed.
- SMSTS, CSCS and a mechanical trade or building services background would be highly beneficial.
Why this role
This is a strong move for a Mechanical Project Manager who wants better project variety and more ownership. You will not be stuck on one repetitive project type. You will be delivering mechanical services across commercial, education, healthcare, industrial and live-environment schemes, with enough technical detail to keep the work interesting. The business has a long-standing reputation in building services and a strong project history across London and the South East. For someone who wants a stable permanent role, a sensible-sized contractor and the chance to stay close to the delivery rather than being lost in a corporate structure, this is a good opportunity. Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Mechanical Project Manager in Dartford employer: James Lewis Recruitment
At James Lewis Recruitment, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our West London location provides access to cutting-edge projects in the data centre sector, while our commitment to employee growth ensures that you will have ample opportunities for professional development and advancement. With a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare and car allowance, we are dedicated to supporting our team members both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical Project Manager in Dartford
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like James Lewis Recruitment.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like James Lewis Recruitment love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of James Lewis Recruitment and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Mechanical Project Manager in Dartford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for James Lewis Recruitment and the Mechanical Project Manager role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at James Lewis Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at James Lewis Recruitment.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at James Lewis Recruitment.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with James Lewis Recruitment, making you a more appealing candidate.