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- Tasks: Manage diverse refurbishment projects for Defence housing, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Company: Growing organisation supporting the UK Defence estate with a focus on military families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, pension contribution, and private medical cover.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on Defence accommodation standards while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management within housing or construction and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with excellent career growth opportunities and a supportive team environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 54000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and highly motivated Billable Works Manager to join a growing organisation supporting the UK Defence estate. This role plays a key part in delivering a diverse programme of refurbishment, maintenance, and improvement works across a substantial Defence housing portfolio of more than 30,000 properties. With over £100m of billable works delivered annually, you will be central to ensuring projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
The Role
- You will oversee the full lifecycle of projects - from early scoping and design through procurement and delivery to final handover.
- Projects range from minor remedial works and full internal refurbishments to major seven-figure schemes such as £3m re-roofing and façade upgrades.
- Working closely with regional leadership, project managers, and maintenance teams, you will:
- Manage refurbishment and improvement works across Defence housing
- Oversee contractor and supply chain performance
- Ensure full compliance with contractual, MOD, and regulatory standards
- Maintain strict adherence to Health & Safety legislation, including CDM and asbestos regulations
- Monitor budgets, forecasts, and programme performance
- Produce performance and contract management reports
- Scope works accurately, identify risks, and provide technical input where required
- Ensure excellent customer experience for Service families throughout delivery
This is a fast-paced, high-volume role requiring strong organisational skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to maintain strategic oversight while managing day-to-day delivery.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven project management experience within housing, property services, or construction
- Strong commercial understanding and contractor management experience
- Experience managing refurbishment or capital works programmes
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- A structured and analytical approach to planning and reporting
- Recognised construction or property qualification
- SMSTS certification
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including MS Project
- Commitment to continued professional development
You will be proactive, organised, and confident managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high standards of safety, compliance, and customer service.
What’s On Offer
- 6% matched pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave
- Single private medical cover
- Company car or car allowance
- Life assurance (2x annual salary)
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a well-established and evolving organisation supporting military families across London and Kent, where your work will directly contribute to improving Defence accommodation standards.
Locations
Project Manager in Gillingham, Kent employer: Mainstay Industrial
Contact Detail:
Mainstay Industrial Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager in Gillingham, Kent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential employers on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. We recommend practising common interview questions and having examples ready that showcase your project management skills. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We suggest mentioning something specific from your conversation to make it personal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager in Gillingham, Kent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing refurbishment and improvement works, and don’t forget to showcase your strong commercial understanding and contractor management skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Mention your proven project management experience and how you can contribute to improving Defence accommodation standards.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how they relate to the job. Talk about your structured approach to planning and reporting, and how your SMSTS certification makes you a great candidate for ensuring compliance with Health & Safety legislation.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on board to help us support military families across London and Kent!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mainstay Industrial
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the types of projects the company handles. Familiarise yourself with their recent works, especially in refurbishment and maintenance within the Defence sector. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in past projects. Highlight your communication skills and how you've managed expectations while ensuring a high level of customer service. This is crucial for a Billable Works Manager, so be ready to discuss specific scenarios.
✨Demonstrate Your Compliance Knowledge
Brush up on Health & Safety legislation, particularly CDM and asbestos regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles. This will show that you take safety seriously and understand the importance of adhering to regulatory standards.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Budget Management
Since you'll be monitoring budgets and forecasts, come prepared with examples of how you've successfully managed project finances. Talk about any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will highlight your commercial awareness and ability to keep projects on track financially.
