Location: Uckfield, East Sussex, with sites across East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits package
Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent
About the role
Originally a family business since 1939, we are now an Employee-Owned Trust, delivering civil engineering projects across the South East. As our order book grows, we’re looking for a Contracts Manager to lead our projects on site and keep our standards high on safety, quality and cost.
You’ll report directly to the Directors and work across our coastal, river and environmental, infrastructure, potable water and wastewater projects. It’s a role for someone who enjoys owning a contract from start to finish and wants to see the results of their decisions.
What you’ll be doing
Leading delivery on site
- Running individual sites day to day and leading our site teams
- Making sure our business policies, processes and procedures are followed on every project
- Bringing contractors and subcontractors together as one team
- Holding site progress meetings at the right stages of the work
- Leading by example on site visits
Safety, health, environment and quality
- Leading on all safety, health, environmental and quality requirements across your contracts
- Overseeing the production of RAMS and other safety documentation
- Approving stages of the Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) and carrying out final inspections
- Returning site inspection reports and compliance documentation to Head Office each week
- Monitoring operative training needs and feeding back to our HSEQ team
Commercial and pre-construction
- Supporting estimating and tenders
- Passing project knowledge from the tender team to the construction team
- Working with our Quantity Surveyors on monthly valuations
- Checking technical designs and drawings
- Making sure materials meet the specification set out in the purchase order or client framework
Contract control
- Completing weekly and four-weekly look-ahead programmes for head office
- Preparing a Confirmation of Verbal Instruction (CVI) when a client’s instruction changes the original scope
- Submitting Requests for Information (RFIs) to the client’s site representative
- Signing off weekly timesheets by 10am each Monday
- Attending pre- and post-project review meetings
What you’ll bring
- Experience as a Contracts Manager, or as a Site or Project Manager ready for the next step
- A background in civil engineering or construction
- SMSTS and a CSCS card (NEBOSH or IOSH would be a bonus)
- Confidence reading technical drawings and working to specification
- A calm, organised approach and a clear way of communicating with clients, subcontractors and site teams
- A full UK driving licence
Most of our team are directly employed members of the Employee-Ownership Trust, and many have built long careers with us, with our longest-serving colleague having joined in 1984. We invest an average of £85,000 in training each year, and we’ve recently been recognised for Investors in People and Wellbeing in the Workplace at the Uckfield Business Awards.
You’ll receive:
- A competitive salary and benefits package
- A thorough induction followed by ongoing professional development
- Opportunities for career progression within the Thorne Group
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with NHS top-up benefits
We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from anyone eligible to live and work in the UK.
Contracts Manager in Uckfield employer: Thorne Group
Thorne Group provides a supportive work culture with a focus on compliance and quality assurance. Employees enjoy part-time flexible hours and receive training to enhance their skills in maintaining industry standards.
