Construction Manager

The Construction Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant, and commercially effective delivery of high-voltage substation construction packages within a National Grid transmission or distribution framework. Operating as the principal point of accountability on site, this role bridges the client interface, design teams, and self-delivery / subcontract workforce to drive projects from mobilisation through to energisation and handover.

The Construction Manager will typically lead packages valued between £5m and £50m+ across new-build, refurbishment, and operational (live) substation environments at voltages up to and including 400kV.

Key responsibilities

• Take full accountability for the safe delivery of all construction activities on site, ensuring compliance with CDM 2015, National Grid safety rules, and the principal contractor's SHEQ management system
• Lead and co-ordinate multi-discipline site teams covering civil, electrical, M&E, and commissioning workstreams across the full project lifecycle — from enabling works through to energisation
• Develop, maintain, and drive the construction programme using Primavera P6 or MS Project; own the look-ahead schedule and chair weekly progress meetings with the client representative
• Own the commercial position on site — manage subcontractor performance, authorise timesheets and applications, identify and notify Early Warning events under NEC4 contract, and support the QS in compiling compensation event submissions
• Manage the site-level risk register; chair RAMS and method statement reviews; enforce permit-to-work and National Grid safety documentation (BESC, SR163, competency authorisations)
• Serve as the primary interface with the National Grid Authorising Manager and client delivery team on all day-to-day technical and programme matters
• Oversee quality assurance on all permanent works; review ITPs, manage NCR close-out, and sign off inspection records against project specification and National Grid technical standards
• Manage plant, material, and labour resource planning including forecasting and procurement support for long-lead items
• Produce weekly construction reports, progress photographs, KPI dashboards, and monthly board-level updates in line with the programme's reporting cadence
• Mentor and line-manage site supervisors, site engineers, and graduate staff embedded within the construction team
• Lead site handover, commissioning co-ordination, and as-built record compilation through to practical completion and National Grid acceptance

Requirements:

• Minimum 7 years' construction delivery experience, with at least 4 years managing HV/EHV substation projects (132kV, 275kV, or 400kV)
• Proven track record as Construction Manager or Package Manager on a National Grid transmission or NGED distribution framework
• Demonstrable experience managing civil, electrical, and M&E subcontractors concurrently on live operational sites
• Strong working knowledge of NEC3 / NEC4 target cost and lump-sum contract mechanisms including change control, early warnings, and compensation events
• Hands-on CDM Principal Contractor experience with full SHEQ accountability
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 or MS Project for programme management and look-ahead planning

Desirable experience

• Experience on HVDC converter or ASTI programme delivery (Eastern Green Link, Viking, LionLink or similar)
• Previous exposure to SF6-free GIS switchgear installation and commissioning
• Background in both substation EPC (turnkey) and civils-only package delivery
• Experience managing outage windows and access agreements on energised transmission infrastructure
• Working knowledge of National Grid's Primavera-based programme governance and reporting requirements

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