Contract Director in Preston

• Right across infrastructure, there\’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you\’re at in your career, with us you\’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.

Where will you be working?
We help our clients safeguard the water supply, improve environmental performance and manage demand for future generations. We enhance and extend asset life, ensuring compliance with water quality and environmental standards. We\’re problem solvers with over 140 years of combined experience in engineering and infrastructure.

This role will be within our water and wastewater capital project delivery team. Our teams deliver large-scale capital programmes aimed at keeping water infrastructure resilient for the long-term while protecting the environment.

Want to be a part of it?

What will you be doing?
As the Contract Director you\’ll lead strategic and operational delivery of contracts, driving margin, cashflow, and performance to world-class standards. Sets vision and objectives aligned with M Group Water strategy, ensuring safety, quality, and employee engagement. This role will be based in the North West Area.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and deliver contract strategy, revenue, and profitability targets
• Achieve cashflow and operational KPIs
• Ensure SHEQ excellence and behavioural safety
• Lead and develop contract teams, succession planning, and engagement
• Drive growth, client relationships, and new business opportunities
• Oversee contract compliance, resource allocation, and performance improvement
• Champion health, safety, wellbeing, and continuous improvement

What You\’ll Bring
We value you for who you are and will provide appropriate formal training and development. However, we will look favourably if you can demonstrate:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in construction, engineering, utilities, or a business-related discipline (desirable)
• Relevant management or professional qualifications
• Previous experience in senior management within a utility contracting or similar environment
• Strong commercial experience with a proven ability to drive improvement
• A consistent track record of senior management success in utility contracting or related sectors
• Demonstrable client management and business development skills
• Excellent leadership capabilities, including coaching and mentoring
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and present ideas effectively at senior levels
• In-depth knowledge and experience of SHEQW policies, procedures, and management
• Strong commercial and sector awareness
• A customer-focused approach with an emphasis on end-user satisfaction
• Understanding of statutory frameworks, including contracting law, SHEQ, and employment law

What\’s in it for you?
We offer a range of benefits designed to support your life in and out of work, some of which include;

• Matched or contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000\’s of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme

In addition, this role offers;

• Company car and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice our salary sacrifice EV/ Hybrid car scheme
• Private health care for you and your family plus health Care Cash Plan, giving you the ability to claim back medical expenses for things like dental, eyecare and physiotherapy and much more
• 25 days annual leave plus