Small Works Manager

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.

What you'll be doing

• 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.