At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage exciting mechanical small works projects from pricing to completion.
- Company: Specialist building services contractor with a strong reputation for quality.
- Benefits: Starting salary of £45,000, direct exposure to leadership, and genuine progression opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity to develop commercial skills and support an apprentice.
- Why this job: Take ownership, build client relationships, and grow your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Mechanical building services background and experience in managing small works projects.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 45000 £ per year.
The Company
This is a specialist building services contractor delivering mechanical projects across commercial environments, including offices, retail, live buildings, refurbishments, HVAC upgrades, plant replacement and decarbonisation-led works. The business is established, technically led and growing, with a strong reputation for quality delivery and client relationships. They are not a huge national contractor with layers of management. This is a business where you will have direct exposure to senior leadership, real responsibility and the chance to make a visible impact. The company has offices across the South West and South Wales, with this role being based from Bristol.
Why this role exists
The business is looking to strengthen its small works function. At the moment, smaller mechanical projects sit within a developing department, with works ranging from minor AC upgrades through to refurbishments and mechanical packages up to around £250k. Larger projects, typically from £250k to £3m, sit separately within the main projects team. They now want someone who can take ownership of the small works side, manage delivery properly, build client relationships and help develop the department commercially. This could become a proper Small Works Manager role over time. For the right person, there is a genuine opportunity to come in, take responsibility and help shape the function as it grows.
The Role
You will sit under the Service Director and manage a varied workload of mechanical small works projects, with responsibility for up to around £2m of work per year. Projects could include anything from a £15k air conditioning job, through to a £110k office refurbishment, or a £250k mechanical package. The work will be varied, fast-moving and client-facing. You will be involved across the full process, including pricing, planning, procurement, cost management, health and safety, labour coordination, client communication and quality delivery. This is not just a project monitoring role. You will be expected to understand the work, manage the detail, deal with clients, help price jobs and support future work-winning.
- Managing multiple mechanical small works projects at one time.
- Taking responsibility for projects from pricing through to completion.
- Managing labour, subcontractors, materials and programme.
- Keeping control of costs, quality and health and safety.
- Visiting sites and ensuring works are progressing properly.
- Building strong relationships with clients.
- Identifying opportunities for additional work.
- Working closely with the Service Director and senior team.
- Supporting an apprentice within the department.
- Working with part-time service administration support.
The Person
This could suit someone already working as a Small Works Manager, Mechanical Project Manager, Contracts Supervisor or Junior Contracts Manager. It could also suit someone from a strong mechanical background who is ready to step up, provided they have the right attitude, commercial awareness and willingness to learn. You will need:
- A mechanical building services background.
- Experience across HVAC, air conditioning, plant rooms, pipework, heating, ventilation or wider mechanical works.
- Experience managing or coordinating small works, live-site projects, refurbishments or commercial mechanical packages.
- Confidence dealing with clients, engineers, subcontractors and internal teams.
- Good organisation and the ability to manage several jobs at once.
- A practical understanding of cost, labour, materials, programme and quality.
- The ambition to develop commercially, including pricing and helping win work.
You do not need to be the finished article, but you do need to be self-sufficient, proactive and willing to take responsibility.
The Package
Salary: £45,000 starting salary, progressing depending on experience. Bristol-based role. Direct exposure to senior leadership. Genuine progression into a Small Works Manager function. Varied mechanical projects across commercial environments. Opportunity to develop pricing, commercial management and work-winning experience. Support from an apprentice and part-time service administrator.
What do you do now?
This is a good opportunity for someone who wants more ownership, more commercial exposure and the chance to grow with a business rather than simply inherit a fixed role. If you are looking for a mechanical small works role where you can take responsibility, build client relationships and develop into a broader management position, click apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Consulting Engineer (Permanent) in Bristol employer: Nimble Recruitment
This company is an excellent employer for those seeking a dynamic and impactful role in the mechanical building services sector. With a strong focus on employee development, you will have direct access to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape the small works function as it grows. The supportive work culture encourages ownership and innovation, making it an ideal environment for professionals looking to advance their careers in Bristol.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Consulting Engineer (Permanent) in Bristol
✨Networking in the Right Circles
Dive into communities focused on building systems and supply engineering. Join LinkedIn groups, attend industry-specific trade shows, and don’t shy away from local meetups. These are golden opportunities to connect with industry professionals who could help you land that full-time role at places like Nimble Recruitment.
✨Showcase Your Projects
If you've worked on any projects—big or small—related to building systems, make sure to showcase them! Creating a portfolio or a detailed case study on your approach can do wonders. It’s all about showing prospective employers, like Nimble Recruitment, that you’ve got hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the field.
✨Leverage University Resources
Are you still connected with your university? Tap into their career services! Many universities have relationships with firms in the building systems sector and can provide leads on exclusive job openings. This could be your ticket to landing the full-time job you want.
✨Get Involved in Professional Bodies
Consider joining professional organisations related to building systems and supply engineering. These often have job boards, career development events, and networking opportunities. Engaging with these can significantly increase your visibility to firms like Nimble Recruitment and may help you secure that full-time position sooner!
We think you need these skills to ace Consulting Engineer (Permanent) in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Engineering Skills:In the building systems supply engineering field, make sure to highlight your technical skills in your CV. Include any relevant software certifications or engineering tools you’re proficient with. Demonstrating your ability to use industry-specific technologies can really set you apart!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles. When detailing your work experience, try to include quantifiable achievements—like how you improved a system’s efficiency by a percentage or managed a project that saved your last company X amount. This shows you're results-driven and could help us at Nimble Recruitment.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just reuse the same old cover letter! Personalise it for the Consulting Engineer (Permanent) role at Nimble Recruitment. Talk about your passion for building systems and why this position excites you. We want to see your personality shine through and how you envision contributing to our team.
Include Relevant Projects:If you’ve worked on specific projects related to building systems supply engineering, don’t forget to mention them! Include any reports or case studies that showcase your problem-solving abilities and project management skills. This portfolio of work can really illustrate your expertise to us.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nimble Recruitment
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
For a role in building systems supply engineering, make sure you're clued up about the latest technologies and tools in the field. Brush up on your knowledge of HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical layouts, and any relevant software used in modelling or design.
✨Showcase Real Projects
Since this is a full-time position, the interviewers will be keen to see your relevant experience. Bring along a portfolio that highlights the projects you've worked on, focusing on your role and the impact you had. Be ready to discuss the challenges faced and how you overcame them.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during your interview. They may ask how you would approach a specific design challenge or troubleshoot an existing system. Think about examples from your past work where you successfully tackled problems, and be ready to articulate your thought process.
✨Understand the Industry Landscape
It's crucial to have a good grasp of the current trends affecting building systems, like sustainable engineering practices or smart technology integration. Familiarise yourself with recent advancements and be prepared to discuss how they might influence your work at Nimble Recruitment.
