Senior Contracts Manager – Power Infrastructure

Description:

About the Role

* Join a Power Operations team delivering high-value electrical infrastructure projects for some of the most demanding clients in the sector – from hyperscale data centre operators to major industrial and grid clients.

* We are building a team of exceptional project management professionals who can drive complex programmes from award through to energisation, and we want people who take real ownership of their projects.

* This is an opportunity to influence projects that matter, lead high-performing teams and shape how essential infrastructure is delivered for generations to come.

Scope of Role

* We're looking for an experienced and inspiring Senior Contracts Manager to lead the safe and successful delivery of major projects across a portfolio of power projects.

* As Senior Contracts Manager, you'll provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of major construction projects, ensuring they are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards.

* You'll play a key role in connecting with colleagues, supply partners and clients, providing assurance, insight and leadership throughout project delivery from a construction and buildability perspective.

* Reporting to the Construction Director, you'll lead teams of construction professionals and work closely with supply chain partners to create a collaborative, high-performing delivery environment.

Key Responsibilities

* Take ownership of construction activities across multiple new connections or infrastructure projects, from design development through to construction and final handover.

* Lead, manage, and mentor a team of Project Managers, including setting objectives, managing performance, and the creation of structured development pathways.

* Oversee subcontractor and supply chain performance, ensuring delivery quality, adherence to programme, commercial compliance and a safety-first approach.

* Review subcontract packages, supply chain appointments and consultant agreements.

* Maintain commercial governance, reporting and contract controls across a portfolio of projects; protect gross margin, cash flow and entitlement through effective management of contract terms, change control and payment mechanisms.

* Lead the administration of construction contracts (NEC, JCT, FIDIC) across a portfolio of multi-million-pound projects, ensuring all contractual notices, early warning, compensation events, and change control processes are handled in accordance with contract timelines.

* Ensure in-house engineering teams and supply partners adhere to SHEQ procedures, the Distribution Safety Rules and CDM regulations.

* Define construction strategy for 11kV to 400kV projects, from design through to final commissioning, ensuring alignment with engineering policies and procedures.

* Interface with pre-construction, design, and commercial teams to ensure an integrated delivery.

* Promote the sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and best practice across the Operations team.

* Carry out thorough pre-contract review and risk analysis on new tenders and framework appointments, flagging key commercial, programme and legal risks to the Legal team.

* Provide input into bids and tenders, ensuring construction methodologies and programmes support a competitive and commercially sound tender submission.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

* Significant experience in a senior contracts or commercial management role within utilities infrastructure, or regulated network operator environments.

* Strong commercial acumen with proven experience protecting margin and managing contractual risk across framework and project delivery models.

* In-depth understanding, and demonstrable practical experience, of managing construction contracts (NEC, JCT, FIDIC).

* Flexible and pragmatic approach, able to work independently while also being a team player.

* A recognised professional project management qualification (APM, Prince2).

* IOSH Managing Safely, SMSTS or similar qualification.

* Full UK driving licence, and willingness to travel to site in the UK, as required.

Desirable

* A degree-level qualification in Engineering, Construction, Project Management or a related discipline.

* Chartered status or working towards chartership