At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead major construction projects, ensuring safety and quality from design to handover.
- Company: Join JSM Group, a leader in power and digital infrastructure engineering.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and innovation in the construction industry.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on essential infrastructure for future generations.
- Qualifications: Experience in contracts management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 58349 - 71315 £ per year.
About the Company
JSM Group delivers turnkey engineering design, installation and advisory across power and digital infrastructure, combining civil, electrical and digital engineering under one roof for tier-1 clients across the UK, Europe and beyond. This role sits within JSM Power – From Ideas to Energy – where our teams take projects from design through to construction and handover on networks from 11kV to 400kV. We back that work with clear values: personal responsibility, sound judgment and a genuinely connected way of working across engineering, commercial and delivery teams.
Role Purpose
We're looking for an experienced and inspiring Senior Contracts Manager to lead the safe and successful delivery of major projects across our portfolio of power projects. This is an opportunity to influence projects that matter, lead high-performing teams and shape how we deliver essential infrastructure for generations to come. As Senior Contracts Manager, you'll provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of major construction projects, ensuring they are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards. You'll play a key role in connecting with colleagues, supply partners and clients, providing assurance, insight and leadership throughout project delivery from a construction and buildability perspective. Reporting to the Construction Director, you'll lead teams of construction professionals and work closely with our supply chain partners to create a collaborative, high-performing delivery environment. This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to influence decisions, drive continuous improvement and make a lasting impact on the success of JSM.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of construction activities across multiple new connections or infrastructure projects, from design development through to construction and final handover.
- Lead, manage, and mentor a team of Project Managers, including setting objectives, managing performance, and the creation of structured development pathways.
- Champion a culture of safety, wellbeing and continuous improvement.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with supply chain partners and internal stakeholders.
- Build trusted relationships with our clients, resolve escalations and drive positive customer satisfaction.
- Oversee subcontractor and supply chain performance, ensuring delivery quality, adherence to programme, commercial compliance and a safety-first approach.
- Review subcontract packages, supply chain appointments and consultant agreements.
- Maintain commercial governance, reporting and contract controls across a portfolio of projects. Protect gross margin, cash flow and entitlement through effective management of contract terms, change control and payment mechanisms.
- Lead the administration of construction contracts (NEC, JCT, FIDIC) across a portfolio of multi-million-pound projects, ensuring all contractual notices, early warning, compensation events, and change control processes are handled in accordance with contract timelines.
- Manage claims, extensions of time, and final account negotiations with clients and subcontractors.
- Ensure inhouse engineering teams and supply partners adhere to JSM SHEQ procedures, the Distribution Safety Rules and CDM regulations.
- Define construction strategy for 11kV to 400kV projects, from design through to final commissioning, ensuring alignment with JSM engineering policies & procedures.
- Interface with pre-construction, design, and commercial teams to ensure an integrated delivery.
- Promote the sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and best practice across the Operations team.
- Carry out thorough pre-contract review and risk analysis on new tenders and framework appointments, flagging key commercial, programme and legal risks to JSM Legal.
- Provide input into bids and tenders, ensuring construction methodologies and programmes support a competitive and commercially sound tender submission.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure appropriate resource planning, structure, and capability are in place to meet business needs.
- Represent JSM at client meetings, industry working groups and support trade exhibition events.
Skills, Qualifications & Experience
- Significant experience in a senior contracts or commercial management role within utilities infrastructure, or regulated network operator environments.
- Strong commercial acumen with proven experience protecting margin and managing contractual risk across framework and project delivery models.
- In-depth understanding and demonstrable practical experience of managing construction contracts (NEC, JCT, FIDIC).
- Proven ability to lead negotiations and influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience in supporting tendering and work-winning activities.
- A strong commitment to health, safety and wellbeing.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and identify root causes.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and present confidently.
- Demonstrable track record of self-motivation and inspiring change in an evolving industry with increased utilisation of technology.
- Flexible and pragmatic approach, able to work independently while also being a team player.
- A recognised professional project management qualification (APM, Prince2).
- IOSH Managing Safely, SMSTS or similar qualification.
- Full UK driving License, and willingness to travel to site in the UK, as required.
Desirable
- A degree-level qualification in Engineering, Construction, Project Management or a related discipline.
- Chartered status or working towards chartership.
Construction Manager in Leeds employer: JSM Group
At JSM Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly within our Power Division where safety and quality are paramount. Our collaborative work culture fosters continuous improvement and professional growth, offering employees the chance to engage in meaningful projects while ensuring compliance with industry standards. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we provide a supportive environment that values individual contributions and encourages career development across our sites in Cardiff and Somerset.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Construction Manager in Leeds
✨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 JSM Group, 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 Construction Manager at JSM Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Construction Manager in Leeds
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 JSM Group
✨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!
