At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic water projects, ensuring safety and efficiency while fostering client relationships.
- Company: Join a top UK employer committed to diversity and community impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, health perks, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values innovation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in essential infrastructure while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in the water sector with strong leadership and operational skills.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
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.
We are seeking an exceptional Contract Director to lead a strategically important framework for a key M Group client within the water sector. The framework is forecast to grow beyond £30 million per annum and encompasses a diverse portfolio of water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including:
- Rising Main Replacements
- New Pumping Stations
- Deep Drainage Schemes
- Tunnelling Projects
- Service Reservoirs
- Strategic Water Mains, Trunk Mains and Reinforcement Mains
As Contract Director, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across the framework, ensuring safe, efficient and profitable delivery while maintaining strong client relationships and achieving outstanding business performance. You will be accountable for delivering contract margin, cash flow and WIP targets, while ensuring operational excellence and driving exceptional outcomes for both clients and stakeholders. A key aspect of the role will be maintaining industry-leading standards in health, safety, quality and environmental performance, whilst fostering high levels of employee engagement and development.
Working closely with the Business Unit leadership team, you will establish and deliver the framework vision, strategy and objectives, ensuring alignment with wider divisional goals and growth ambitions. Our success is built on our values, behaviours and people. As Contract Director, you will champion these principles throughout the business, developing high-performing teams and enabling colleagues and partners to deliver exceptional service and results.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement the long-term delivery strategy for the framework, ensuring compliance with the highest SHEQW standards and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and risk management.
- Take full accountability for achieving annual revenue, profitability, cash flow and working capital targets.
- Lead operational resources and delivery activities, driving efficiency and performance while meeting contractual obligations and service level agreements.
- Own and deliver the framework business plan, identifying opportunities to secure growth both within the existing framework and across the wider client relationship.
- Maintain exceptional levels of client, stakeholder and end-user satisfaction through proactive engagement and delivery excellence.
- Identify and implement operational improvements, efficiencies and cost-saving initiatives that enhance contract performance.
- Optimise cash flow across the framework, working collaboratively with project teams and clients to ensure timely payment in line with contractual terms.
- Build and manage a high-performing supply chain network, creating strong partnerships that support successful project delivery.
- Lead the effective resolution of commercial, contractual and operational disputes with both clients and suppliers.
- Coach, mentor and develop direct and indirect reports, creating robust succession plans and strengthening leadership capability within the framework.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, building confidence and supporting long-term strategic partnerships.
- Collaborate closely with project and contract teams, ensuring alignment with M Group values, objectives and ways of working.
- Promote and embed best practice, innovation and continuous improvement across all areas of responsibility.
Continuous Improvement and Leadership
You will be expected to:
- Develop and implement improvement plans focused on margin enhancement, WIP management, SHEQ performance, quality and operational delivery.
- Identify, share and embed best practice across the framework, wider contracts and M Group Water.
- Champion innovation, marketing and PR opportunities through case studies, award submissions and industry-leading initiatives.
- Act as a visible ambassador for M Group Water, strengthening the organisation's reputation with clients, partners and industry stakeholders.
This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for an experienced water sector professional who combines strategic vision, commercial acumen and operational excellence with a passion for developing people and delivering outstanding client outcomes.
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:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Employee assistance programme
- My Rewards portal, access to 1000s 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
- Recommend a friend - get rewarded for introducing people to us!
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
- Health Care Cash Plan, giving you and your family the ability to claim back medical expenses for things like dental, eyecare and physiotherapy and much more!
- Private Healthcare - Family cover
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Discretionary bonus scheme
About us
We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference. We’re one of the Top 100 UK companies actively supporting and recruiting veterans. Our ENABLE inclusion networks bring together people who have a shared passion, to help create an environment where everyone belongs.
Our values help to shape our culture and how we work with one another. We recruit with these values in mind, to ensure your aspirations, and ways of working, align with ours.
- We’re responsible and go further for our people, clients, communities and the planet
- We’re open and seek new and better ways of exceeding expectations
- We’re together and as one team; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
- We’re ambitious and embrace opportunity, to lead essential infrastructure services for life
Whether you’re a trainee, apprentice or graduate, or progressing through your career, our people benefit from industry recognised programmes, training and development. It’s an exceptional time to be a part of M Group.
Please note: Occasionally, job adverts might be closed before the stated closing date. Do apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered. For certain roles, successful candidates will be subject to 3rd party background checks as part of the hiring process. Some roles require drug and alcohol testing as part of induction and onboarding.
Contract Director in London employer: M Group
As an Engineer Project with us, you'll join a company that prioritises your growth and development at every career stage. Our supportive work culture fosters strong client relationships while providing you with a fully equipped service van and access to extensive training opportunities, ensuring you can excel in delivering essential infrastructure across the UK. With a commitment to employee well-being, we offer a range of benefits including a matched pension scheme, generous leave, and a focus on inclusion, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Director in London
✨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 M 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 Contract Director at M Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Director in London
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 M 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!
