Contracts / Project Manager - Highways
# Contracts / Project Manager - Highways **Oakstone Contracting Ltd** · Chelmsford CM2 8HN · `On-site` 🕒 **Статус:** *Опубликовано: 9 дней назад* · *Источник: Indeed* --- ### About the Role Highways Contract / Project Manager Employer: Oakstone Contracting Ltd Location: Chelmsford, Essex / Sites across the South East Employment Type: Full-time Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience Company Vehicle: Available Reporting to: Managing Director / Commercial Director About Oakstone Contracting Oakstone Contracting is a growing highways and civil engineering contractor based in Chelmsford, Essex, delivering highway, infrastructure and civil engineering projects across the South East and London. Our works include S278 and S50 highway works, highway maintenance and improvement works, drainage, kerbing, footways and cycleways, carriageway construction, surfacing, infrastructure and associated civil engineering works. We also undertake projects for a range of clients, including direct works for Highway Authorities, Principal Contractors, developers and other private-sector clients. Our direct Highway Authority works extend across Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and London , providing a varied portfolio of projects and client environments. As the business continues to grow, we are looking to appoint an experienced and ambitious Highways Contract / Project Manager to take responsibility for the successful delivery of key projects and play an important role in the continued development of Oakstone's highways division. This is a high-profile senior role within the business, with significant responsibility and autonomy. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of projects from pre-construction through construction, completion and commercial close-out. Importantly, the role will involve not only managing projects once they are underway, but also planning, allocating, securing and appointing the labour, plant, subcontractors and wider resources required to successfully deliver the company's programme. The Role The Contract / Project Manager will have overall responsibility for the successful delivery, commercial performance and resourcing of allocated highways and civil engineering projects. You will be responsible for translating project programmes into practical delivery plans, ensuring that the right people, plant, materials and subcontractors are secured and available at the right time. You will act as a key point of contact for Highway Authorities, Principal Contractors, developers, consultants, subcontractors and the Oakstone management team, providing strong leadership and ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, commercially and to the required quality standards. The role will suit an experienced highways professional who is commercially aware, technically competent, organised and confident dealing directly with clients and senior stakeholders. Key Responsibilities include: Project & Contract Management - Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of allocated highways and civil engineering projects. - Manage projects from pre-start through construction, completion and final account. - Establish clear project objectives, programmes, budgets and delivery strategies. - Review contract documentation, drawings, specifications, scopes and employer requirements. - Ensure works are delivered in accordance with contractual requirements and relevant Highway Authority standards. - Identify project risks, opportunities, constraints and potential delays at an early stage. - Maintain effective project records and ensure key decisions and instructions are documented. - Coordinate project meetings and maintain clear action trackers. - Ensure projects are properly closed out, including outstanding works, documentation, defects and commercial matters. - Maintain overall ownership of project performance, ensuring issues are identified and dealt with proactively. Highway Authority & Client Management - Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Highway Authorities, Principal Contractors, developers, consultants and other stakeholders. - Act as a senior and professional representative of Oakstone on site and at project meetings. - Attend and lead client and progress meetings. - Provide clear and regular updates on programme, progress, commercial position, risks and issues. - Deal confidently with client queries, complaints, changes and challenges. - Develop strong relationships with Highway Authority representatives and project teams to support repeat business. - Understand and manage the different requirements and procedures associated with working for individual Highway Authorities. - Represent Oakstone professionally and positively at all times. - Identify opportunities to strengthen existing client relationships and support future work opportunities. Labour, Resource & Supply Chain Management A key part of the role will be the forward planning, allocation, securing and appointment of resources required to deliver Oakstone's workload. Responsibilities will include: - Take responsibility for identifying, allocating, securing and appointing the labour and resources required to successfully deliver allocated projects. - Review project programmes and upcoming workload to identify labour, plant, subcontractor and specialist resource requirements in advance. - Allocate available Oakstone labour and resources across projects in accordance with programme priorities and operational requirements. - Source and secure additional labour, gangs, subcontractors and specialist resources where required. - Liaise with labour agencies, subcontractors and suppliers to establish availability, competence, rates and suitability. - Ensure appropriate resources are secured sufficiently in advance to maintain project programmes. - Review labour requirements against changing programmes and adjust resource allocation accordingly. - Work closely with Site Managers and Supervisors to ensure labour is effectively utilised and productivity is monitored. - Ensure all externally sourced labour and subcontractors meet Oakstone's competency, compliance and onboarding requirements before commencing work. - Agree labour rates and resource requirements within agreed commercial parameters. - Maintain an awareness of current labour availability and market conditions across the areas in which Oakstone operates. - Build and maintain a reliable network of competent labour, subcontractors and specialist suppliers. - Identify resource constraints or potential shortages at an early stage and develop contingency arrangements. - Coordinate mobilisation and demobilisation of labour and resources between projects. - Ensure labour and resource decisions support both project delivery and overall company utilisation. - Work with the commercial team to ensure resource appointments are commercially appropriate. The successful candidate will be expected to look ahead rather than simply react to resource requirements, ensuring that Oakstone has the people, plant and supply chain capacity necessary to meet its commitments. Programme & Delivery - Develop, monitor and manage project programmes. - Translate programme requirements into clear labour, plant, material and subcontractor resource requirements. - Ensure required resources are secured ahead of planned start dates. - Coordinate labour, plant, materials, subcontractors and specialist resources. - Monitor progress against planned programme and identify potential delays. - Develop recovery plans where required. - Coordinate with Site Managers, Supervisors and subcontractors to ensure efficient delivery. - Review short-term programmes and look-ahead schedules. - Ensure upcoming works are properly planned, resourced and ready to commence. - Coordinate with Traffic Management providers and other third parties. - Ensure works are delivered in accordance with agreed roadspace, permits, traffic management arrangements and Highway Authority requirements. - Monitor productivity and identify opportunities to improve delivery efficiency. - Ensure project teams understand key programme dates, milestones and priorities. Commercial Management The role will have a strong commercial focus, working closely with Oakstone's commercial team to protect project margins and maximise commercial opportunities. Responsibilities will include: - Take responsibility for the commercial performance of allocated projects in conjunction with the commercial team. - Monitor project costs against budget. - Identify and notify potential variations, compensation events, delays and additional costs. - Ensure changes and additional works are properly recorded and supported by evidence. - Review applications, valuations and supporting records. - Assist with preparation and agreement of final accounts. - Monitor subcontractor performance and costs. - Identify opportunities to improve project margins and delivery efficiency. - Ensure commercial risks are identified and communicated at an early stage. - Work closely with the commercial team to maximise recovery of legitimate project costs. - Ensure labour and subcontractor appointments represent appropriate value for money. - Obtain and compare labour and subcontractor rates where appropriate. - Monitor labour costs against project budgets. - Identify opportunities to improve labour utilisation and project productivity. - Challenge inefficient resource allocation and take corrective action where required. - Ensure changes in labour requirements are reflected in project forecasts and cost reporting. - Support the commercial team in assessing the financial impact of programme changes and resource requirements. Health, Safety & Environmental - Take an active leadership role in promoting Oakstone's Health & Safety culture. - Ensure project activities are properly planned and controlled. - Work closely with the Health & Safety Manager to ensure compliance with company procedures, RAMS and project requirements. - Ensure site teams understand and comply with relevant RAMS and project controls. - Monitor site standards and intervene where unsafe practices or conditions are identified. - Ensure environmental requirements and waste management arrangements are properly implemented. - Ensure appropriate competencies and training are in place for project personnel. - Support the investigation and close-out of incidents, observations and non-conformances where required. - Lead by example and promote a positive safety culture across all projects. Quality & Technical - Ensure works are delivered in accordance with drawings, specifications, Highway Authority requirements and relevant standards. - Work closely with the construction team to ensure quality requirements are understood and achieved. - Ensure Inspection & Test Plans and quality records are properly implemented and completed. - Review technical queries and coordinate responses with the relevant design/engineering team. - Identify design discrepancies, constructability issues and potential technical risks. - Ensure defects and non-conformances are appropriately recorded and closed out. - Ensure all project documentation is complete prior to handover. - Promote a right-first-time approach to project delivery. Leadership & Team Management - Provide clear leadership to Site Managers, Supervisors, engineers and delivery teams. - Coordinate internal teams to ensure everyone understands project priorities. - Support the development of less experienced members of the team. - Promote accountability, good communication and a collaborative approach. - Ensure project teams are adequately resourced and supported. - Encourage continuous improvement across project delivery. - Set clear expectations for performance, standards and behaviours. - Address performance or resource issues promptly and professionally. Highways Experience The successful candidate should have a strong understanding of highway construction and associated activities, potentially including: - Highway Authority works and maintenance contracts. - S278, S38 and S50 works. - Highway drainage. - Kerbing and edging. - Footways and cycleways. - Carriageway construction and widening. - Asphalt and surfacing operations. - Traffic management and roadspace requirements. - Street works and permits. - Utilities and service avoidance. - Earthworks and formation. - Highway materials and testing. - Local authority specifications and standards. - Working with Principal Contractors and developers. About You We are looking for an experienced highways professional who is capable of taking ownership and accountability for projects from start to finish. You will be commercially aware, technically competent and confident dealing with clients, Highway Authority representatives and senior stakeholders. You should be: - An experienced Highways Project Manager, Contract Manager or Senior Project Manager. - Confident managing multiple stakeholders and project interfaces. - Commercially aware with a good understanding of project costs and contractual mechanisms. - Strong on programme management and project planning. - Comfortable working directly with Highway Authorities. - Experienced in managing site-based construction teams. - Confident allocating and securing labour and wider project resources. - Comfortable negotiating labour and subcontractor rates. - A confident communicator, both verbally and in writing. - Highly organised with strong attention to detail. - Able to make decisions and take ownership of problems. - Proactive rather than reactive. - Capable of managing pressure and competing priorities. - A natural leader who can bring site and office teams together. - Professional in approach and presentation. - Committed to high standards of Health & Safety and quality. Most importantly, you will be someone who takes ownership, follows things through and makes things happen. Qualifications & Experience Essential - Proven experience managing highways or civil engineering projects. - Strong understanding of highway construction and delivery. - Experience managing programmes, resources and project delivery. - Experience dealing directly with clients and senior stakeholders. - Experience allocating and securing labour, subcontractors and other project resources. - Understanding of commercial project management and variations. - Full UK driving licence. Desirable - Experience working directly for Highway Authorities. - Experience across Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent or London highway networks. - HNC/HND or degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline. - SMSTS. - CSCS. - NRSWA. - Temporary Works Coordinator experience. - NEC contract experience. - Experience with S278/S38/S50 works. - Experience working for or alongside major Principal Contractors. What We Offer - A senior and high-profile position within a growing highways contractor. - Genuine responsibility and autonomy over project delivery. - The opportunity to take ownership of major highway projects. - Direct involvement with Highway Authorities, clients and senior stakeholders. - A varied portfolio of highways and civil engineering projects across the South East and London. - The opportunity to influence how projects are delivered and how resources are deployed. - Competitive salary based on experience. - Company vehicle and fuel card. - Company pension. - Annual leave entitlement. - Training and professional development opportunities. - The opportunity to play a significant role in the continued growth and development of Oakstone Contracting. The Opportunity This is an opportunity for an experienced highways professional to become a key member of the Oakstone management team. We are looking for someone who doesn't simply manage a project from behind a desk, but someone who understands what is happening on the ground, can identify problems before they become issues and is prepared to get involved to make things happen. With projects being delivered directly for Highway Authorities across Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and London, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across a broad range of highway environments and develop strong relationships with a variety of clients and stakeholders. The role carries significant responsibility for programme, delivery, commercial performance and resource management. You will be expected to look ahead, identify what is required, secure the necessary labour and supply chain, and ensure projects are properly resourced to meet their commitments. The successful candidate will have a significant level of responsibility and autonomy, with the opportunity to develop long-term client relationships, influence project outcomes and play a key role in the continued growth of Oakstone's highways division. If you are an experienced highways professional looking for a role where you can have genuine responsibility, influence project outcomes, manage resources and help shape the growth of a developing contractor, we would like to hear from you. Pay: £55,000.00-£67,500.00 per year Work Location: In person
Наблюдалась 2026-10-15, впервые 2026-10-06, источник — Indeed.