Contracts Manager – Heat Networks

Contracts Manager – Heat Networks

Salary: Up to £70,000
Working Pattern: Hybrid Working
Travel: Included
Position: Permanent
Sector: Heat Networks / M&E / Building Services

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Contracts Manager to join a growing specialist building services and energy business, taking responsibility for the successful delivery of heat network improvement and refurbishment projects.

This is a senior, client-facing position offering up to £70,000, travel included and hybrid working, with the opportunity to manage technically interesting projects from initial feasibility and design through to construction, commissioning and handover.

You'll sit at the heart of project delivery, bringing together clients, consultants, contractors and operational teams to ensure projects are delivered safely, commercially, on time and to a high technical standard.

The Projects

You'll oversee a varied portfolio of heat network and M&E projects, which could include; energy centre upgrades and refurbishment, plant room refurbishments, HIU replacement programmes, boiler replacement projects, heat pump retrofit projects, pipework replacement, BMS upgrades, controls optimisation, heat meter replacement, water treatment improvement works, heat network decarbonisation, distribution network modifications and metering and monitoring improvements

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple heat network and M&E projects simultaneously
• Take projects from feasibility through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover
• Develop project programmes, execution plans and delivery strategies
• Manage project budgets, costs, forecasts and commercial performance
• Procure and manage contractors and specialist subcontractors
• Review quotations, valuations, variations and applications for payment
• Manage contractual correspondence and change control
• Coordinate technical proposals with M&E and sustainability consultants
• Ensure designs are practical, buildable and suitable for ongoing operation
• Coordinate commissioning, testing and validation
• Plan shutdowns and minimise disruption within occupied environments
• Ensure completed assets transition smoothly into ongoing maintenance
• Maintain contractual KPIs and SLAs

Client & Stakeholder Management

A major part of this position is relationship management.

You'll act as a key point of contact between clients, managing agents, residents, consultants, M&E contractors, principal contractors, designers and internal engineering teams.

You'll need to be confident communicating technical and commercial information, resolving issues and maintaining strong long-term client relationships.

About You

We're looking for an established Contracts Manager / M&E Project Manager with strong technical and commercial knowledge.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience delivering mechanical and electrical construction projects
• Strong knowledge of commercial building services
• Experience managing contractors and subcontractors
• Strong project and programme management experience
• Experience managing project budgets and commercial performance
• Excellent stakeholder and client management skills
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Full UK driving licence

Experience within communal or district heat networks would be particularly beneficial, including knowledge of HIUs, energy centres, BMS, heat pumps and low-carbon heating technologies.

Experience working within occupied residential environments would also be advantageous.

Qualifications

Ideally, you'll hold an HNC/HND or Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services Engineering, although equivalent industry experience will also be considered.

Additional qualifications such as APM, PRINCE2, SMSTS/SSSTS or IOSH Managing Safely would be advantageous but are not essential.

What's on Offer?

• Salary up to £70,000
• Travel included
• Hybrid working
• Permanent position
• Senior role with genuine project ownership
• Varied portfolio of technically interesting projects
• Exposure to the rapidly growing heat network and decarbonisation sector
• Opportunity to work across traditional M&E, heat pumps and low-carbon energy infrastructure
• Long-term career development within a growing business

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Contracts Manager or Senior M&E Project Manager who wants to take ownership of complex projects while developing their career within the growing heat networks and low-carbon energy sector.