Ecological Contracts Manager - Keystone Habitats in Birmingham

About Keystone

Keystone Environmental is an Origin Enterprises business, forming part of the Environmental division. At Origin Enterprises, we are dedicated to championing sustainable land use, and our Environmental teams support a diverse range of clients and projects - from land management and development to restoration and conservation. At Keystone we pride ourselves on a professional family feel that attracts clients and employees alike. We share Origin’s values, People, Community, Partnerships, Integrity, and Innovation, which are reflected in all that we do and lie at the very core of our business. We operate across a comprehensive range of sectors for public and private sector clients including supporting a number of the UK’s largest Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Keystone has established a first-class reputation for habitat creation, restoration, and mitigation, specialising in conservation driven projects that focus on nature restoration and Biodiversity Net Gain at scale.

The Role

The Contracts Manager is a strategic new appointment, responsible for developing and leading a Midlands delivery team, supported by the wider business. The role presents considerable opportunity for growth as this regional hub emerges. We seek a highly organised and personable team player, with a ‘can do’ approach and strong attention to detail. As a proactive and driven individual, you will be primarily responsible for organising and delivering a range of land management schemes, whilst adhering to Keystone’s quality assurance standards and risk management procedures. A genuine alignment with Keystone’s vision and values, and a demonstrable willingness to contribute to the successful growth of the Habitats team, is essential.

The ideal candidate will be able to embrace the challenge of delivering existing works, whilst helping to grow our client base in the Midlands. Through close coordination with the existing team, you will be responsible for logistics, project planning, resourcing and delivery. You will assist in quoting and tendering for local works, whilst also supporting the wider Keystone Habitats team in bidding for more complex tenders and opportunities. You will have the support of our Habitats Administrator yet be self-sufficient in administrative duties associated with efficient project management.

Keystone’s ability to offer end-to-end solutions, facilitated by our in-house consultancy offering, is our real strength. The successful candidate will work closely with our Head of Ecology and Head of Arboriculture to ensure that our schemes are delivered with a focus on protected species and their associated habitats, and in compliance with relevant legislation.

The Keystone Habitats Team

Keystone’s expertise covers all aspects of ecological consultancy, yet it is the specialist engineering knowledge of our Habitats team that enables the design and delivery of first-class mitigation schemes across the UK. We are renowned for our sensitive approach to protected habitats and species, a modern range of equipment and a resourceful approach to deployment in complex and challenging situations. We specialise in habitat creation, restoration, and management solutions that deliver maximum conservation gain whilst meeting the needs of our broad range of clients.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Day-to-day management of a large-scale landscaping and habitat management contract, ensuring delivery to programme, budget and client requirements;
• Effective management and coordination of internal teams and subcontracted plant and labour resources to maximise productivity and efficiency;
• Programme management, monitoring progress against key milestones and providing regular updates to clients and stakeholders;
• Financial management and cost control, including monitoring expenditure and maintaining profitability;
• Client liaison, project management and contract administration, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution of issues;
• Conducting Quality Assurance inspections and producing detailed reports to ensure works meet required standards and specifications;
• Preparing and reviewing comprehensive Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS), ensuring works are planned and delivered safely and in accordance with relevant legislation and company procedures.

Additional Responsibilities may include:

• Line management, mentoring and professional development of junior staff, supporting their performance, skills development and career progression.
• Contributing to wider business strategy;
• Assisting with quotations, tenders and associated commercial documentation.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with new and existing clients to secure repeat and referral business.
• Identifying and maximising opportunities to win new work from prospective clients, including initiating contact and arranging introductory meetings.

Ideally you will have the following skills and experience. However, this is an exciting and dynamic role with scope for refinement of responsibilities depending on the strengths of the successful candidate. If you don’t meet all requirements but believe you could thrive in this role, please consider applying or get in touch for an informal chat.

Core Requirements:

• Relevant industry experience. This could be in ecological contracting or practical land management, including but not limited to habitat creation and restoration, conservation, forestry and arboriculture;
• Exceptional communication skills, evidenced via a track record of client, subcontractor and supplier communication and management;
• Experience in organising and managing a team of operatives and associated vehicles and plant on projects;
• Ability to identify risks and opportunities, avoiding/minimising the former and capitalising on the latter;
• A proven aptitude for understanding clients’ requirements and delivering these on time and within budget, without compromising industry standards;
• Demonstrable commercial acumen, both in profitable project delivery and in seeking future opportunities;
• Ability to balance and manage priorities, and maintain good working relationships with clients and colleagues whilst working under pressure;
• Solutions led and having an inherent ability to problem solve under pressure and in a range of environments;
• Quoting, tendering and project delivery experience;
• Experience in line managing and mentoring junior team members to achieve their full potential;
• Experience in writing site-specific risk assessments and method statements for jobs covering a range of sectors;
• Related qualifications or professional accreditations are preferred but not essential - SSSTS/SMSTS, CSCS or similar industry equivalent;
• Driving licence (clean) is essential, and towing experience would be advantageous.

Our Location

This is an exciting new role, offering the flexibility to initially work from home whilst supporting the delivery of existing projects. Ideally candidates would be situated within the Birmingham, Coventry, Tamworth area within commuting distance of existing site commitments ranging from Southam to Lichfield. The successful candidate will have full support of our existing Head Office team based in Gloucestershire. There is a requirement to both visit and liaise closely with the team on a regular basis during the initial months.

What’s in it for you?

At Keystone we strive to provide the kind of support that helps you find a work-life balance that enables you to fulfil your potential and grow with us. We offer a comprehensive industry leading benefits package, which is regularly reviewed, and currently includes:

• A supportive, experienced and friendly team
• 25 days annual leave per annum (plus bank holidays)
• Socials & volunteering days
• Enhanced Company pension
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• Salary: £40,000+ pending experience
• Hours: 40hr week