Contracts Manager - Civils & Infrastructure (South West)
Location: Bristol & Gloucester Region
Salary: £61,000 - £63,000 (Up to £70,000 for exceptional candidates)
Package: £5,250 Car Allowance / Company Car + Up to 12.5% Discretionary Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits (26 days holiday + bank hols, generous pension, opportunity to progress through the Group)
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Shape the Infrastructure Landscape of the South West
Are you a proven Contracts Manager or an ambitious, high-performing Tier 1 Project Manager ready to take the step up?
A leading Tier 1 civil engineering contractor and part of a major global infrastructure group is expanding its South West team. We are seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to lead, deliver, and grow our highways and civil engineering portfolio across the vibrant Bristol and Gloucester regions.
With major placements on long-term local authority frameworks (including Bristol City Council) and Network Rail's CP7 framework, the Contracts Manager position offers exceptional job security, high-profile projects, and a clear pathway for rapid career progression.
The Role
As Contracts Manager, you will take full operational and commercial accountability for delivering a portfolio of high-value highways and civil engineering projects (£1m to £20m+). Based out of project offices in the Bristol/Gloucester region, you will be a key operational leader driving safety, commercial efficiency, and project excellence.
Unlike purely executive oversight roles, this position is designed for a true operational leader who understands how to manage projects on the ground, shape delivery strategies, and build winning teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Portfolio Delivery: Lead and manage up to three simultaneous civil engineering, highways, and infrastructure projects across the Bristol and Gloucester areas.
- Work Winning & Tenders: Provide critical operational input into competitive tender submissions, shaping buildable delivery strategies for framework opportunities.
- Team Leadership: Direct, mentor, and support Project Managers and site teams. Inherit established site teams on active projects while building and recruiting new teams for incoming schemes.
- Commercial & Programme Control: Balance quality, programme, and financial performance, ensuring schemes are delivered on time, within budget, and under robust NEC contract frameworks.
- Stakeholder Management: Build and nurture collaborative relationships with local authority clients, framework partners, supply chain teams, and regional sub-contractors.
- HSEQ Excellence: Champion the highest standards of health, safety, environmental care, and quality across all live sites.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven Sector Experience: At least 5 years operating as a Contracts Manager within highways/civils, OR a Tier 1 Project Manager with 2+ years of solid experience ready to step into a multi-project leadership role.
- Hands-on Project Drive: A manager who knows how to run a project from start to finish—not just manage people from a distance.
- Framework Experience: Demonstrable track record managing frameworks (e.g., local authority highways, NEC contracts, or collaborative delivery models).
- South West Focus: Based in or near the Bristol region with a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across regional project sites.
- Qualifications: SMSTS certification is required. A degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management (or an engineering background) is desirable.
What We Offer
- Competitive Compensation: Base salary of £61k-£63k (with flexibility up to £70k for exceptional candidates).
- Car Allowance: £5,250 per annum or company car option.
- Performance Bonus: Up to 12.5% discretionary annual bonus tied to business unit success.
- Long-Term Pipeline: Unmatched job security backed by Tier 1 framework wins, including Bristol City Council and CP7 rail frameworks.
- Growth & Development: Access to complex, high-profile infrastructure schemes and genuine advancement opportunities across the wider group.
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