Contracts Director in London

The Client

My client is a specialist mechanical and electrical contractor based in Manchester. For 15 years, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality building services solutions across a wide range of sectors. They operate across multiple market sectors, including retail, warehousing, commercial office developments, education, hospitality and healthcare. Providing a complete service from initial concept and design through to installation, commissioning, and completion, offering tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each project. Their approach is built on understanding their clients' requirements and delivering the most effective technical solution while maintaining full commercial awareness. They focus on achieving the optimum balance between performance, sustainability and cost, ensuring that each solution delivers long-term value. With a steady growth, they operate with a group turnover in excess of £25 million, supported by an experienced management team and skilled delivery workforce. My client prides themselves on building long-term relationships with clients, main contractors, consultants, and supply chain partners. This collaborative approach enables repeat business, consistent performance and successful project outcomes across all sectors in which they operate.

Role Overview

The Contracts Director is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all mechanical contracts, ensuring projects are delivered safely, profitably, on programme and to the highest quality standards. The role provides senior oversight across contract management, commercial performance, client relationships and operational delivery within the mechanical business.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Leadership
  • Provide senior leadership across all mechanical contracts and project delivery teams
  • Contribute to overall business strategy, growth planning and continuous operational improvement
  • Assist with bid / don't bid decisions
  • Mentor, support, and develop Project Managers, site managers and commercial staff
  • Promote and maintain a strong culture of safety, quality, professionalism and accountability
  • Assist with recruitment
• Contract & Project Management
  • Assist review designs, supplier / sub-contractor selections
  • Assist with validations, tech-subs and final as fitted / O&M information
  • Oversee multiple mechanical projects from pre-construction handover through to completion
  • Ensure contracts are administered in accordance with contractual, legal, and company requirements
  • Review, negotiate, and manage contract terms, variations and final accounts
  • Monitor programme performance and implement corrective actions where required
  • Audit sites and report back on findings H&S, quality, labour levels, issues to resolve, etc.
• Commercial & Financial Control
  • Maintain overall responsibility for contract profitability and effective cost control
  • Review and challenge project budgets, forecasts, valuations and cash flow
  • Ensure robust change management processes and timely commercial reporting
  • Work closely with commercial teams to manage risk and maximise project returns
  • Assist with credit control / debt recovery
• Client & Stakeholder Management
  • Act as a senior point of contact for key clients, consultants, supply chain partners and main contractors
  • Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships to support repeat business
  • Manage escalations, disputes, and high-level negotiations in a professional and commercial manner
• Health, Safety, Quality & Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with all legislation / standards and company policies
  • Drive high standards of quality, commissioning, and project handover documentation
  • Ensure all works comply with regulatory requirements

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in a senior contracts or operations role within a Mechanical, HVAC or M&E contracting environment
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical building services
• Excellent commercial and contractual knowledge, with experience of JCT and NEC forms of contract
• Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee multiple high-value projects concurrently
• Strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage teams and stakeholders effectively
• Financially astute, with proven experience in cost control, forecasting and commercial reporting

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering / Building Services, or a related discipline
• Professional membership such as CIBSE or IMechE
• SMSTS
• CSCS (Management level)
• First Aid certification
• Asbestos Awareness

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years experience working within the mechanical or M&E contracting industry
• Proven track record of successfully delivering mechanical projects from pre-construction through to completion
• Capable of undertaking the role of Project Manager as required.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, solution focused approach
• Results-driven and commercially focused
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Able to lead under pressure and manage complex stakeholder environments