Contract Manager

Contract Type:
Full time, permanent

Typical

Hours:

40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Lead from the front. Take ownership. Drive performance across a thriving region.

Location:
Reading and surrounding areas

Salary:
Competitive

Contract Type:
Full time, permanent

Typical

Hours:

40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Lead from the front. Take ownership. Drive performance across a thriving region.

At Ground Control, we're looking for an experienced Contract Manager to take ownership of a diverse portfolio across Reading and the surrounding areas. This is an opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys building strong client relationships, and isn't afraid to challenge the status quo to drive better results.

You’ll oversee a varied portfolio of commercial grounds maintenance contracts, managing multiple field teams, supporting operational performance, and ensuring clients receive an exceptional service. With a strong operational network behind you and the autonomy to make decisions, you’ll play a key role in shaping the success of the region.

• Lead the delivery of grounds maintenance services across a large and varied portfolio, ensuring sites are maintained to high standards and contractual obligations are consistently achieved.
• Develop and strengthen client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact and proactively managing service delivery, feedback and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage and hold field teams accountable for performance, setting clear expectations, maintaining standards and ensuring resources are utilised effectively.
• Drive operational excellence across approximately 300+ sites, prioritising workloads, resolving issues quickly and ensuring service levels are achieved.
• Take ownership of contract performance, identifying underperforming areas and implementing improvement plans that deliver measurable results.
• Manage a busy and fast-moving workload, balancing site visits, customer requirements, reactive issues and day-to-day administration.
• Identify opportunities for additional works and contract growth, working closely with customers to provide value-added solutions.
• Work collaboratively with Regional Operations Directors, Contract Managers, HSQE teams and support functions to deliver safe, efficient and commercially successful contracts.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards, contractual requirements and industry regulations at all times.

• A well-established portfolio with a wide range of commercial clients
• The autonomy to manage your region and make decisions that drive performance
• Structured onboarding, training and support from experienced operational leaders
• Industry-specific training and qualifications where required
• Ongoing development through GC University and leadership programmes
• The opportunity to progress your career within a growing national business
• A collaborative environment where fresh thinking and new ideas are encouraged

• Proven experience managing grounds maintenance, landscaping, facilities management or other multi-site service delivery contracts
• A confident leader with experience managing operational teams and holding suppliers or subcontractors accountable for performance
• Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and handle challenging conversations professionally
• Experience turning around underperforming contracts, improving service delivery and driving operational improvements
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple demands in a fast-paced environment
• Commercial awareness, including experience managing budgets, quotations, contract performance and identifying growth opportunities
• Someone who brings energy, initiative and fresh thinking, and is comfortable challenging existing ways of working when improvements can be made
• A resilient and self-motivated individual who can balance operational demands while maintaining high standards of customer service
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to build credibility with clients, field teams and senior stakeholders alike
• A full UK driving…