Contracts Manager (Roofing/Construction)

CONTRACTS MANAGER

Salary: £45,000 – £60,000 per annum

About The Role

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle delivery of a portfolio of roofing and associated construction projects, from enabling works through to final account. This is a role of contract ownership and commercial control — not just oversight.

The distinction between this role and the Site Manager is deliberate. The Site Manager delivers the scope on the ground. The Contracts Manager owns the contract around it: the commercial framework, the supply chain relationships, the financial performance, the client relationship and the development of the site teams. One cannot succeed without the other.

You will report to the Operations Manager and General Manager, and will operate with significant autonomy across your portfolio. You'll manage upward as effectively as you manage downward, bringing the right information to the right people at the right time.

The best Contracts Managers at the company are not administrators of contracts. They are commercial leaders who happen to work in construction. They understand what every project needs to make money, they build supply chains that give the business a genuine competitive advantage, and they develop the Site Managers under them into better operators.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Contract and Commercial Management

• Take full ownership of contract performance across assigned projects, from pre-construction through to final account.  Control project pricing, including the management of labour costs, material budgets, subcontract packages and overhead recovery.  Review and challenge valuations, variations and final accounts to ensure the business is paid accurately and in full for the work it delivers.  Manage variation identification, recording and submission proactively. Unrecorded variations are a commercial failure at this level.
• Maintain accurate financial forecasting and cost reporting across the portfolio. The Operations Manager, Commercial Manager and GM should never be surprised by project financials.  Identify and act on opportunities to improve margin, recover cost and strengthen the commercial position of each contract.  Ensure all contractual obligations, notices and time bars are managed correctly and on time.

Supply Chain and Materials Management

• Build and manage supply chain relationships that deliver genuine commercial advantage to the business, not just convenience.  Control materials ordering with intelligence: accurate quantities, appropriate lead times, best available pricing and minimal waste.
• Manage subcontract packages commercially from procurement through to final account. Do not allow subcontractors to deliver less than their contracted scope.  Develop preferred supplier relationships that support consistent quality, competitive pricing and reliable delivery across the portfolio.  Identify opportunities to consolidate purchasing, leverage volume and improve supply chain terms for the business as a whole.

Operational Leadership and Delivery

• Ensure assigned projects are properly planned, resourced and managed from the outset. Poor set up and planning is the root cause of most project problems.  Support Site Managers in overcoming delivery challenges without removing their accountability. Develop them, do not replace them.  Monitor project progress against programme and cost. Implement corrective action early, before problems become losses.
• Ensure compliance with contract specifications, drawings, manufacturer requirements and all relevant statutory obligations.  Drive continuous improvement in how projects are planned, bought and delivered across the portfolio.

Health, Safety and Quality

• Champion a positive safety culture across all projects. Visible, consistent leadership, not policy compliance.
• Ensure all projects operate in full compliance with RAMS, CDM Regulations, the Building Safety Act and company H&S procedures.  Own quality outcomes across the portfolio. Defects, rework and poor handovers are commercial failures as much as operational ones.  Support investigations, audits and corrective actions promptly and thoroughly.

Client and Stakeholder Relationships

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with clients, consultants, contract administrators and supply chain partners.
• Represent the company professionally at all times. Client confidence in the business is built or lost at Contracts Manager level.  Manage client expectations proactively. Communicate early, communicate clearly and resolve issues before they escalate.
• Convert strong project delivery into repeat business and long-term client partnerships. The best source of new work is an existing satisfied client.  Identify opportunities to grow the scope of existing relationships through additional services and associated works.

People Leadership and Development

• Lead, develop and hold accountable the Site Managers and operational teams within the portfolio.
• Conduct regular project and performance reviews with Site Managers. Development should be structured and consistent, not occasional.
• Identify training needs and development opportunities within the team. Take succession planning seriously.

Technical Knowledge and Standards

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of roofing systems and associated works delivered, including flat roofing, pitched roofing, and manufacturer specifications and guarantee requirements.
• Support technical decision-making throughout project delivery. The Contracts Manager should be the most technically credible person in any client or supply chain conversation.

Candidate Specification

• Proven experience managing roofing or construction contracts, with clear commercial accountability.  Demonstrated experience with both flat roofing and pitched roofing projects  Demonstrable ability to control project costs, manage variations and drive financial performance
• Experience managing supply chains and subcontractor packages commercially
• Strong client relationship and communication skills at a senior level
• Experience leading and developing site-based operational teams
• Sound understanding of H&S legislation, CDM Regulations and the Building Safety Act
• Organised, commercially sharp and able to manage a portfolio of projects simultaneously
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• SMSTS certification
• Relevant construction, surveying or commercial management qualification
• Experience within public sector, framework or negotiated contract environments
• Familiarity with digital project management and reporting platforms

What Success Looks Like:

A Contracts Manager performing at the right level delivers projects that make money, keep clients and develop people — consistently.

The financial indicators are visible: projects delivered on or above target margin, variations captured and submitted, supply chain costs managed below budget, final accounts closed without dispute.

The operational indicators are equally important: Site Managers who are growing in capability, clients who come back, a portfolio where problems are identified and resolved early rather than reported late.

The longer-term measure is contribution to the business. A Contracts Manager who builds strong client relationships, develops their team and manages their portfolio commercially is creating value that extends well beyond any individual project.

What's on offer:

• A senior operational role with genuine commercial autonomy and a clear portfolio to own.
• A defined career pathway, with a direct route toward Operations Manager and beyond.  Direct support from experienced General Manager and Operations Manager.  A business that values quality, integrity and long-term client relationships over volume.
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.  Company vehicle or vehicle allowance.  Private healthcare, extendable to family members.  Phone, tablet and laptop.

Ongoing investment in training, qualifications and professional development.