CLERK OF WORKS FULL TIME in Oxford

We are seeking a Clerk of Works for our client to be based in Culham, Abingdon. This is a contract role to run for 18 months. 5 days based on site. Monday - Friday 8.00 - 4.30. Inside IR35.

Principal Duties include:

• Manage the Quality of works as defined in the scope, with particular reference to the quality annex.
• Carry out regular site inspections of construction work, workmanship, materials, temporary protection and completed works against contract drawings, specifications, schedules, samples, mock-ups, method statements and relevant standards.
• Identify defects, non-conformances, poor workmanship, incomplete works, design coordination issues, quality risks and potential latent defects at the earliest practical stage.
• Prepare clear inspection records, daily or weekly site reports, photographic evidence, measurement notes, sample records and snagging/defect schedules.
• Monitor whether works are progressing generally in accordance with the agreed programme and advise the project team of observed slippage, sequencing constraints, access issues or resource concerns.
• Liaise professionally with the contractor's site management team to communicate observations and obtain factual responses, without undermining formal contract communication procedures.
• Check that specified materials and products are used, appropriately stored, protected and installed in accordance with manufacturer requirements and the contract documents.
• Attend site progress meetings, quality meetings, technical workshops, inspections, hold-point reviews, testing activities and completion inspections as required.
• Observe and report obvious health, safety, welfare, environmental or access concerns to the appropriate duty holder or client representative, while recognising that statutory safety management duties remain with the responsible parties.
• Support handover by reviewing readiness for commissioning, witnessing inspections where required, monitoring close-out of snags and assisting with practical completion evidence.
• Undertake routine health and safety inspection observations while on site, including review of visible site conditions, access and egress, housekeeping, segregation, PPE compliance, welfare arrangements, working at height controls, excavations, lifting operations, temporary works interfaces, fire precautions and emergency arrangements where relevant to the project scope.
• Record health and safety inspection observations in the agreed site report or H&S inspection checklist, identifying immediate concerns, recurring trends, required follow-up actions and escalation requirements.
• Escalate any serious or imminent health and safety concern immediately to the UKAEA Construction Project Manager and Principal Contractor Project manager and UKAEA SHEQ representative, while recognising that statutory health and safety management duties remain with the appointed duty holders.

Output requirements:

• Reports are issued within the agreed timescale, are factual, clearly referenced and supported by appropriate photographic evidence.
• Observations are communicated promptly and tracked to an evidenced conclusion without exceeding delegated authority.
• Planned hold points and inspections are covered or any inability to attend is escalated sufficiently early for an alternative arrangement.
• Diary, issue and defect records remain current, searchable, coordinated and suitable for audit or contractual review.
• Handover advice accurately records outstanding inspections, defects, tests and documentation.

Health and safety inspections

• The Clerk of Works shall include health and safety inspections within the regular site inspection regime, proportionate to the project risk profile and agreed scope of appointment.
• H&S inspections should be factual observations of site conditions and controls, not a transfer of statutory duty from the Principal Contractor, Principal Designer, contractor, employer or other duty holders.
• Inspection records should note area inspected, date/time, activity observed, visible control measures, non-compliance or concern, photographs where appropriate, action required, action owner and target close-out date.
• Where an unsafe condition presents an immediate risk to life, health or public safety, the Clerk of Works must stop the inspection activity if necessary, move to a safe position and immediately escalate the matter through the project's agreed emergency/escalation procedure.

Records and reporting requirements

• Produce concise written reports at an agreed frequency, normally daily, weekly or aligned to project governance reporting cycles.
• Include objective facts: date/time, weather where relevant, operatives/plant observed, work areas inspected, drawings/spec clauses referenced, photographs, defects, recommended follow-up actions and responsible party where known.
• Maintain inspection registers, defect logs, non-conformance observations, sample approval records, material delivery checks, site instruction references and action close-out status.

Knowledge, skills and competencies

• Strong technical understanding of construction materials, trades, workmanship standards, sequencing, tolerances, temporary protection and practical buildability.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, details, installation guidance, inspection and test plans and contractor quality records.
• Excellent written reporting skills, with the ability to record findings objectively, concisely and with sufficient evidence for later audit, dispute avoidance or defect resolution.
• Professional judgement, impartiality, confidence to challenge poor workmanship and a collaborative manner that promotes "right first time" delivery.
• Good digital capability, including photographs, tablets/field reporting systems, document management platforms and common Microsoft 365 tools.

Qualifications and experience

• Typically requires significant practical construction experience, often gained through a trade, site supervision, building surveying, construction management, civil engineering, M&E inspection or quality management background.
• Desirable qualifications may include HNC/HND, degree, NVQ/SVQ, construction management, building studies, civil engineering, building services, site inspection or relevant trade qualifications.
• Membership or progression towards membership of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI) may be desirable depending on the employer and project type.
• A current CSCS card or appropriate site competency card may be required for access to construction sites.

Typical deliverables

• Site inspection reports with photographic evidence.
• Defect, snagging and non-conformance registers.
• Material delivery and storage inspection records.
• Quality observation reports and recommendations for corrective action.
• Input to progress reports, risk reviews, practical completion reviews and handover readiness assessments.
• Attendance notes from inspections, hold points, mock-up reviews, testing and commissioning observations.
• Health and safety inspection records, observation checklists and escalation logs, where included in the role scope.