Construction Project Manager | Main Contractor | Essex | £60,000–£70,000 + EV + Bonus + Benefits

Multiple Project Ownership | Healthcare & Education | Pre-Start to Handover | Career Progression

A well-established and growing regional main contractor is looking to appoint an experienced Construction Project Manager to join its team in Essex.

Established for more than a decade, the business delivers construction, refurbishment and improvement projects across healthcare, education, commercial, social housing and heritage environments. Its work ranges from smaller fast-moving projects through to substantial multi-million-pound schemes, including technically sensitive projects within live and occupied buildings.

Healthcare and education form particularly strong parts of the company’s portfolio. The business has extensive experience working within hospitals, mental-health environments, schools and public buildings, where careful planning, communication, programme control and minimising disruption are critical to successful delivery.

This is not a role where you will be confined to managing one element of a project or simply reporting into layers of management. The successful candidate will take genuine ownership of several live projects at different stages, from pre-start planning and procurement through construction, commercial control, completion and final handover.

The company has built its reputation around long-term client relationships, collaborative working and quality of delivery. It also places genuine emphasis on staff wellbeing, training and creating an environment where people can develop and take greater responsibility as the business grows.

The Opportunity

As Construction Project Manager, you will take day-to-day ownership of a portfolio of live construction projects, ensuring each scheme is delivered safely, commercially and to programme.

You will be trusted to make decisions, manage your own priorities and keep projects moving rather than constantly escalating routine issues through senior management.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking projects from pre-start planning through to successful completion and handover

• Managing several live projects simultaneously at different stages of delivery

• Preparing, maintaining and driving project programmes

• Coordinating site teams, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers

• Managing procurement of materials, plant and subcontract packages

• Controlling valuations, variations, purchase orders, subcontractor costs and project forecasting

• Leading client meetings and providing clear updates on programme, cost, risk and delivery

• Managing quality, health & safety, snagging, certification and final project close-out

The role offers genuine variety. One project may involve a technically sensitive healthcare refurbishment within an occupied building, while another could be an education, commercial or heritage scheme requiring a very different approach to programme, logistics and stakeholder management. The company’s published portfolio includes healthcare projects ranging into the multi-million-pound bracket, including a £3.5m NHS extension and refurbishment scheme.

About You

We are looking for an established Construction Project Manager who is comfortable taking responsibility rather than waiting for direction.

You should have:

• Proven experience managing construction projects from pre-start through to completion

• Experience managing several live projects simultaneously

• Strong practical knowledge of construction methods, sequencing and subcontract trades

• Good commercial understanding of valuations, variations, costs and project forecasting

• The confidence to deal directly with clients, consultants, subcontractors and suppliers

• Strong programme-management, organisation and problem-solving ability

• A practical approach with the confidence to identify risks early and take action

Experience within healthcare, education, public-sector refurbishment or occupied environments would be particularly valuable, although strong candidates from comparable regional main-contractor backgrounds will also be considered.

SMSTS and an appropriate CSCS card would be advantageous, together with a relevant construction or project-management qualification. A full UK driving licence is required. The underlying brief specifically calls for somebody capable of independently managing multiple projects while maintaining control of programme, cost and outstanding actions.

What’s on Offer?

• £60,000–£70,000 basic salary

• Electric vehicle

• Company bonus scheme

• Company pension

• Training and continued professional development

• Varied healthcare, education, commercial and public-sector projects

• Genuine long-term career progression within a growing regional contractor

For somebody who enjoys having autonomy, being close to their projects and seeing the direct impact of their decisions, this represents an excellent opportunity to join a business where Project Managers are trusted to manage rather than simply administer.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Construction Project Manager looking for greater project ownership, a varied workload and the opportunity to join an established contractor with strong long-term client relationships, please apply with an up-to-date CV or contact Rob Green at David Leslie Ltd for a confidential and informal discussion.

This role would suit candidates currently working as a:

• Construction Project Manager

• Project Manager

• Contracts Manager

• Senior Site Manager

• Construction Manager

• Building Project Manager