Projects & Contract Manager

Our client designs, creates and cares for beautiful bespoke gardens that reflect their customers' lifestyles, homes and values. They specialise in delivering a highly personalised garden design and landscaping service, creating high-quality residential gardens that support wildlife, wellbeing and long-term enjoyment. Working across South Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, they combine design, construction and ongoing garden care to deliver exceptional outdoor spaces with a strong focus on craftsmanship, sustainability and client experience.

Due to continued growth, they are now looking to recruit an experienced Projects & Contract Manager to take ownership of multiple live landscaping projects, ensuring outstanding delivery, strong client communication and rigorous control of quality, programme and costs. This is a newly created role and an excellent opportunity for either an established Contracts Manager / Project Manager or a strong Assistant Project Manager looking to step up into a broader operational leadership position, with genuine potential for future progression within the business.

What will your role look like?

• Managing up to four landscaping projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery on time, on budget and to specification
• Taking responsibility for projects from mobilisation and site preparation through to final handover
• Translating design intent into practical construction methodologies alongside the Projects Coordinator
• Overseeing site teams, Team Leaders, subcontractors, materials, plant and machinery
• Monitoring project costs, procurement, materials usage and resource allocation to maximise efficiency
• Creating and managing project programmes, adapting schedules to mitigate delays and maintain momentum
• Leading progress meetings and providing clear written and visual project updates
• Maintaining exceptional quality standards across all sites
• Reviewing technical drawings and identifying buildability issues proactively
• Ensuring compliance with Health & Safety legislation, CDM regulations and site protocols, including inductions, toolbox talks and site inspections
• Supporting, mentoring and developing Team Leaders and the Projects Coordinator
• Building strong relationships with clients, designers and directors, including managing challenging conversations professionally and diplomatically
• Producing weekly reports, project reviews, cash flow updates and forecasts
• Contributing to the development of project management systems and processes within the business

Are you the right person for the job?

• Formal project or contracts management experience within landscaping, construction, groundworks or a closely related sector is essential
• Structured project management training is required, such as APM PMQ, equivalent recognised qualification, industry-recognised in-house training, or demonstrable experience working within an established project management methodology
• Ideally 8-10+ years broader industry experience, with progression from hands-on or supervisory roles into project management
• Genuine practical understanding of landscaping or construction, including groundworks, drainage, labour coordination, subcontractors, materials and machinery
• Experience delivering and coordinating multiple live projects simultaneously
• Strong leadership, mentoring and people-management skills
• Excellent client-facing communication and stakeholder management ability
• Confident reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications
• Good commercial awareness, budgeting and cost-control capability
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety and CDM requirements
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, Excel and project planning / project management software
• Ability to balance quality, budget and programme while taking a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach
• CSCS Management Card, SMSTS/SSSTS and First Aid qualifications would be advantageous
• Ideally based within approximately 45 minutes of Wallingford and able to start within a reasonable timeframe

Whats in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £55,000, depending on experience
• Newly created role with genuine opportunity to shape project delivery and operational standards
• Clear potential for future progression into a senior operational leadership role
• Work on high-end residential landscaping projects valued at approximately £30k-£150,000k
• Projects typically 2-8 weeks in duration, offering variety and momentum
• 42.5-hour working week, 7:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
• No weekend working or late hours
• Based from a fully equipped, custom-built Operations Hub on the outskirts of Wallingford
• Company vehicle for business use
• Flexible working approach with a mixture of office, site and home working where practical
• Vitality Health Insurance or equivalent wellbeing contribution
• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays, increasing with long service
• Up to 3 additional days holiday over Christmas
• Additional paid Nature Day
• Wellbeing programme supported by Perennial
• Workplace pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Company uniform and annual boots allowance
• Twice-yearly company social events
• Ongoing formal and on-the-tools training and development
• Supportive, collaborative and values-driven working environment

What makes this opportunity different?

This is more than a traditional contracts management role. You’ll be joining a business that is passionate about creating beautiful, biodiverse gardens that enhance wildlife and wellbeing, while delivering a premium client experience from concept through to completion. You’ll work on projects that are local, high-quality and design led, with the backing of an experienced team and a culture that encourages ideas, initiative and professional growth. The business is looking for someone who can combine practical landscaping knowledge with structured project management, strong people leadership and a collaborative, solutions-focused approach.

Whats next?

It’s easy! Click APPLY now! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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