Contracts Manager

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.

Purpose of the role

We have a great opportunity for a Contracts Manager to join Colas Ltd, you will lead the safe and efficient delivery of winter and reactive works within the Local Roads Maintenance contract for Cheshire West & Chester, based at our Guilden Sutton depot, CH2 4EX. The role is responsible for ensuring that all activities are delivered in line with client expectations, contractual requirements, and operational performance targets. Acting as the primary interface with the client, the Contract Manager will maintain strong working relationships through regular communication, site engagement, and performance reviews. The role requires full accountability for operational delivery, health and safety compliance, and commercial performance, ensuring that works are delivered efficiently, safely, and within agreed budgets while promoting a culture of continuous improvement and high standards across all teams.

Main Responsibilities

The Contract Manager will provide strong and visible leadership across operational and site-based teams, driving a positive safety culture and ensuring adherence to all health, safety, environmental and quality standards. They will lead the planning and execution of reactive highway maintenance, urgent defect repairs, winter maintenance operations, and associated activities such as drainage, street lighting, minor civil engineering works, and structures maintenance. The role involves prioritising urgent works to meet contractual response times, ensuring winter service readiness and resilience, and coordinating resources effectively to maintain service continuity. The successful candidate will act as the main point of contact for the client, managing relationships through structured meetings, reporting, and ongoing communication to ensure expectations are met or exceeded. They will hold full responsibility for the commercial performance of the contract, including budget management, forecasting, cost value reconciliation, and maximising recovery through variations and additional works. Working closely with commercial and quantity surveying teams, they will ensure accurate financial control, risk management, and compliance with contractual processes. In addition, the Contract Manager will oversee labour, plant, materials, and subcontractors to ensure efficient utilisation of resources, while maintaining programmes and activity schedules aligned with operational capacity and client requirements. They will ensure all site activities comply with approved methods of working, risk assessments, CDM regulations, and company safety rules. The role also includes supporting and developing team members through coaching and performance management, maintaining accurate site records and reporting, and driving innovation and continuous improvement to enhance service delivery and value.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in highways maintenance and civil engineering, with in-depth knowledge of reactive maintenance, minor works, and severe weather operations. They will bring proven experience managing both direct labour organisations and subcontractors, ensuring efficient and effective delivery across all workstreams. A strong health and safety background is essential, alongside proven experience in managing profit and loss accounts and taking full responsibility for commercial performance. The successful candidate will also demonstrate proven experience in people performance management, with the ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams. They will have experience in works programming and scheduling, and be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly. Knowledge of works ordering systems and data analysis is important, enabling effective decision-making and performance monitoring in line with contract requirements. A relevant qualification in construction or civil engineering, a CSCS professional qualification, and a recognised safety qualification such as SMSTS or IOSH are expected, along with a full UK driving licence and proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £60,000 and £65,000 (dependent on experience and qualifications) PLUS Company car / car allowance
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Family-Friendly Benefits, including Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business.

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice.