Contracts Manager
2 days ago
Eastbourne
Contracts Manager – Civil Engineering East Anglia/Suffolk £90k to £95k + Package A growing Tier 2 civil engineering contractor, part of a £150m+ group, is seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager / Contracts Director to take a leading role within its expanding £35m+ civils division. This is a senior leadership appointment with responsibility for overseeing multiple live infrastructure projects and playing a key role in the continued growth of the business. The division delivers schemes ranging from £1m to £20m across the UK, with a strong pipeline of secured work and established relationships with Tier 1 clients. The role You will take full ownership of 3 to 4 live projects at any one time, ensuring safe, efficient, and commercially successful delivery across the portfolio. This is a strategic and operational role, requiring a strong balance of contract leadership, commercial control, and client engagement. Key responsibilities include: * Leading contract administration across NEC, JCT, and FIDIC frameworks * Driving overall commercial performance, including budgets, forecasts, and change control * Managing contractual risk, claims, and dispute resolution strategies * Providing leadership and direction to Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors, and site teams * Acting as a senior point of contact for Tier 1 clients and key stakeholders * Supporting procurement strategy and supply chain performance across projects * Ensuring consistent delivery of health, safety, quality, and programme objectives * Contributing to wider divisional strategy and business growth initiatives Candidate profile The successful candidate will bring senior-level experience within civil engineering contracting, ideally at Tier 2 level or above, with a proven ability to deliver complex infrastructure projects for Tier 1 clients. You'll need to demonstrate: * Extensive experience in contracts management or senior operational leadership roles * Strong infrastructure background (earthworks, drainage, groundworks, highways, or associated civils packages) * Deep understanding of NEC (and exposure to JCT / FIDIC advantageous) * Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record of protecting margin and managing risk * Experience leading multi-disciplinary project teams across multiple live sites * Confident client-facing ability with established Tier 1 relationships preferred * A pragmatic, solutions-focused leadership style The company The business is part of a £150m+ group with a growing and ambitious civils division currently delivering projects across the UK valued up to £20m. With a strong order book and clear growth trajectory, the division is investing in senior leadership capability to support its next phase of expansion. This role represents a key appointment within that strategy, offering genuine influence over delivery performance and business direction. Why this role? * Senior leadership position within a growing civils division * Direct influence over live project delivery and commercial strategy * Strong pipeline of secured infrastructure work * Backed by a financially stable £150m+ group * Opportunity to shape and scale a growing regional operation * Competitive package with excellent career progression prospects