Job Description

Overview

The Senior Construction Manager is the organisation’s most senior construction representative on an assigned site, project or programme. The role leads the safe, coordinated and effective delivery of construction undertaken by internal teams, subcontractors and suppliers, while providing the primary construction interface with the Project Manager, client representatives, and the Construction Engineering Group.

The postholder establishes a delivery organisation proportionate to project scale and complexity, appointing Construction Managers where required to manage individual sites, packages, geographical areas or shifts. They ensure construction is completed in accordance with approved safety, environmental, quality, technical, cost, programme and contractual requirements.

Accountability and authority

• Direct and coordinate construction activities within the assigned scope, allocate responsibilities and require corrective action where performance falls below approved requirements.
• Stop work where an immediate risk exists to people, the environment, infrastructure, quality or the operational railway.
• Review or approve construction documentation when assigned through the Construction Phase Plan, project procedures or Division of Responsibility matrix.
• Recommend acceptance or rejection of subcontractor programmes, payment applications, work packages and change proposals, within delegated authority.
• Escalate matters requiring decisions beyond delegated authority. The role must not accept unapproved changes, waive contractual requirements or take duties reserved for appointed engineering, project or commercial roles.

How success is measured

• Safe, secure and environmentally responsible delivery, including successful possession outcomes.
• Achievement of milestones, approved forecasts and subcontract performance targets.
• Quality, defect, non-conformance and rework performance, with accurate and timely reporting.
• Effective risk, change, issue, handover and closeout management, including compliance with TI 671 and the applicable Division of Responsibility matrix.
• Strong client and supply-chain relationships, together with effective competence, utilisation and development of the construction team.

About You

You are an experienced construction leader who can bring structure, judgement and visible leadership to complex, safety-critical infrastructure delivery. You combine practical site knowledge with programme, commercial and contractual awareness, and communicate clearly with project teams, clients and the supply chain.

Essential experience and capability

• Demonstrable experience leading construction delivery on complex, safety-critical infrastructure projects.
• Strong experience managing multiple subcontractors, interfaces, work packages, construction locations or shifts.
• Comprehensive understanding of construction health, safety, environmental and quality-management requirements, with confidence to intervene and stop unsafe work.
• Experience developing and controlling detailed construction programmes, short-term look-aheads, resources and recovery plans.
• Commercial awareness covering subcontract administration, payment applications, change, delay, disruption and contemporaneous record keeping.
• Practical experience of constructability, mobilisation, work-package planning, site establishment, logistics, material management, handover and closeout.
• Ability to interpret contracts, procedures, drawings, specifications, programmes, technical information and project risk data.
• Proven leadership, communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to challenge performance firmly and factually.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development and current competence for assigned duties.

Qualifications and project-dependent requirements

• Degree, higher technical qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in construction, civil engineering, rail systems or a related discipline.
• Chartered or incorporated professional status, or active progression towards an appropriate professional qualification.
• Experience delivering signalling or multidisciplinary railway construction, including railway possessions, access planning and safe-work arrangements.
• Appropriate Construction Skills Certification Scheme credentials and recognised construction-management or safety qualifications.
• Contractor’s Responsible Engineer competence where separately nominated through the applicable competence process. Appointment is not automatic.

Leadership behaviours

• Visible, calm and consistent leadership across safety, quality, environment, programme and commercial performance.
• Clear allocation of authority and accountability, supported by active coaching, feedback and prompt resolution of performance concerns.
• Collaborative working across Construction, Engineering, Testing and Commissioning, Commercial, Project Controls, Planning, Procurement, Quality, Safety and Environmental teams.
• Professional judgement that protects the project from unapproved scope, contractual commitments, possession overruns and avoidable defects.

Your role

You will lead construction from tender and mobilisation through delivery, handover and closeout. Core responsibilities are:

Leadership, governance and mobilisation

Establish and maintain a competent, adequately resourced construction organisation and staffing plan. Define responsibilities through the project organisation and Division of Responsibility matrix; support bids, packaging, methodology, sequencing and supply-chain selection; lead mobilisation and completion of TI 671 start-up requirements; and ensure site access, security, welfare, logistics, storage, reporting and document-control arrangements are fit for purpose.

Safety and environmental leadership

Direct implementation of the project safety programme and support the Construction Phase Plan and Environmental Management Plan. Review construction methodology and controls in Work Package Plans, Task Briefing Sheets and Safe Work Packs; ensure permits, consents and licences are in place; act on observations, close calls, incidents and assurance findings; and ensure hazards are eliminated or reduced so far as reasonably practicable.

Planning and project controls

Lead the detailed Level 5 construction programme and aligned short-term look-aheads. Validate sequence, access, durations, quantities and resources; approve and monitor subcontractor programmes; replan lost or deferred work; initiate recovery measures; provide accurate progress information; and support possession planning and management review processes.

Commercial and supply-chain management

Understand delegated authority and coordinate contractual matters with the Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor. Set measurable contractor requirements, manage interfaces and performance, review daily reports and payment applications, support change and delay assessment, maintain evidence for entitlement and forecasting, control expenditure, and prevent informal directions from creating unapproved commitments.

Quality and technical assurance

Ensure work follows approved-for-construction information, technical requirements, Inspection and Test Plans and the Quality Management Plan. Coordinate with the Lead Construction Engineer and engineering duty holders; oversee inspection, surveillance, testing, material control, submittals and non-conformances; contribute construction knowledge to design and constructability reviews; and control completion, red-lines, snagging and defects.

Records, risk and performance

Ensure factual daily reports capture labour, plant, hours, quantities, delay, events, conditions and performance, supported by labelled photographic or video evidence. Maintain records for audit, assurance, claims, handover and the Health and Safety File. Identify, assess and manage construction risks; evaluate early warnings and change requests; escalate issues affecting scope, milestones, cost or whole-life value; and communicate residual risks.

Handover, closeout and people

Coordinate interfaces with Testing and Commissioning and ensure completed work and documentation are ready for handover, including signalling and telecommunications requirements. Track defects and outstanding actions to closure. Confirm personnel competencies, licences, Authorities to Work and Certificates of Competence; identify development needs; set expectations; and promote effective collaboration between construction management and engineering personnel.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.