Senior Contracts Manager in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire

Senior Contracts Manager

Construction Director

The Senior Contracts Manager is responsible for the successful leadership, management, and delivery of multiple infrastructure and power projects, ensuring that all contractual, commercial, operational, safety, and quality objectives are achieved.

The role provides strategic oversight of project delivery teams, driving performance across all stages of the project lifecycle from pre-construction through to completion and handover. The Senior Contracts Manager will ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget, and in accordance with contractual obligations while maintaining strong client relationships and supporting business growth.

• Lead and oversee the delivery of multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards.
• Monitor programme performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Review project progress, costs, risks, and resource requirements on a regular basis.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across project teams and delivery processes.
• Support project mobilisation, commissioning, handover, and close-out activities.

• Manage projects in accordance with NEC, JCT, FIDIC, and other relevant forms of contract.
• Provide guidance on contractual obligations, risk management, and dispute avoidance.
• Oversee variations, compensation events, claims, extensions of time, and final account negotiations.
• Support commercial teams to maximise project profitability and minimise contractual risk.
• Ensure robust change control procedures are implemented across all projects.
• Review project financial performance and implement measures to achieve budget targets.

• Promote and maintain a strong health, safety, and wellbeing culture across all projects.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, company policies, and industry regulations.
• Lead investigations into significant incidents where required and ensure lessons learned are implemented.
• Monitor project quality standards and ensure compliance with client specifications and company procedures.
• Champion environmental sustainability and best practice initiatives.

• Lead, mentor, and develop Project Managers and wider delivery teams.
• Conduct performance reviews and support professional development initiatives.
• Identify resource requirements and work with senior management to ensure projects are appropriately staffed.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Support succession planning and talent development activities.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and key stakeholders.
• Represent the business at client meetings, project reviews, and industry events.
• Act as the primary escalation point for contractual and project delivery matters.
• Support business development activities and maintain high levels of client satisfaction.

• Support tender and bid submissions by providing operational and delivery expertise.
• Contribute to project planning, methodology reviews, and programme development.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency improvements, and value engineering.
• Assist with strategic business planning and operational improvement initiatives.

• Significant experience in a Contracts Manager or Senior Contracts Manager role within infrastructure, utilities, power, energy, civil engineering, or construction sectors.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering high-value, complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
• Extensive knowledge of NEC, JCT, and FIDIC contractual frameworks.
• Strong commercial awareness and contract administration experience.
• Demonstrable experience managing client relationships and key stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing project delivery teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

• Experience delivering power transmission, distribution, substations, utilities, renewable energy, or major infrastructure projects.
• Experience working on projects within highly regulated environments.
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional institution.

• APM, PRINCE2, or equivalent Project Management qualification.
• SMSTS, IOSH Managing Safely, or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.

• Degree, HNC, or HND in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Chartered status (MCIOB, MAPM, MICE, MRICS, or equivalent).

• Leadership and team development
• Strategic thinking
• Commercial acumen
• Contract negotiation
• Stakeholder management
• Risk management
• Planning and organisation
• Decision making
• Communication and influencing skills
• Customer focus
• Continuous improvement mindset

This role requires regular travel to project sites and client locations across the UK. Flexibility to travel and, where necessary, stay away from home is essential.

To ensure the safe, compliant, commercially successful, and efficient delivery of projects while maintaining strong client relationships, developing high-performing teams, and contributing to the continued growth and success of the business.

To find out more about Real, please visit (url removed)

Real Staffing, a trading division of SThree Partnership LLP is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy | Registered office |8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom | Partnership Number | OC(phone number removed) England and Wales