At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage diverse refurbishment projects for Defence housing, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Company: Growing organisation supporting 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 commitment to professional development.
If you would like to know a bit more about this opportunity, or are considering applying, then please read the following job information.
Location: Brompton Office (covering London & Kent) – On-site role
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: up to £45,000 (depending on experience)
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.
Project Manager in Gillingham employer: Mainstay Recruitment Solutions Ltd
Contact Detail:
Mainstay Recruitment Solutions Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager in Gillingham
✨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 that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in managing refurbishment and improvement works. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. We suggest focusing on your project management experience and how you handle challenges in high-pressure situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team in making a difference for Defence families.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager in Gillingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in project management, especially in housing or construction, and showcase any specific achievements that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Billable Works Manager position. Mention your passion for improving Defence accommodation standards and how your skills can contribute to our mission.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your organisational skills and commercial awareness in your application. We want to see how you’ve successfully managed multiple projects and maintained high standards of safety and compliance in your previous roles.
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 ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mainstay Recruitment Solutions Ltd
✨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 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. This is crucial for a Billable Works Manager, so be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you excelled.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness
Brush up on your understanding of budget management and contractor performance. Be prepared to discuss how you've monitored budgets and ensured compliance with regulations in previous roles. This will show that you have the commercial insight needed for this position.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Safety and Compliance
Given the importance of Health & Safety legislation in this role, come prepared with examples of how you've maintained safety standards in past projects. Discuss any relevant certifications you hold, like SMSTS, and how they contribute to your approach to project management.