General Manager – Main Contractor

We are representing an established privately owned construction group with a long-standing presence across the London market, seeking to appoint a General Manager to take full responsibility for one of its principal contracting businesses.

The wider Group generates approximately £50M–£60M in annual turnover across its construction activities and has built its reputation through long-term relationships, repeat business and a measured approach to growth.

Within the Group, this Tier 3 Main Contracting business currently turns over approximately £25M per annum
, delivering predominantly through established residential and public-sector frameworks across London. With a strong pipeline and existing framework positions, there is an immediate opportunity to develop the business towards £40M turnover
.

Importantly, this is not a turnaround situation or a business being built from scratch
.

The successful General Manager will inherit an established operation, existing client relationships, an experienced team and a strong position within the London construction market. The opportunity is to take those foundations and lead the company through its next phase of controlled and profitable growth.

The business forms part of a privately owned construction group turning over circa £50M–£60M annually
, with an established track record across the London market.

It has developed a particularly strong position within public-sector construction
, working with established clients and procurement bodies across residential, social housing, education and wider public-building programmes.

A significant proportion of work is secured through frameworks and repeat client relationships
, making the company's reputation, delivery performance and ability to maintain long-term partnerships particularly important.

The London public-sector framework market itself provides significant long-term opportunity, with major frameworks covering new-build housing, refurbishment, retrofit, planned maintenance and other public buildings across London and the Home Counties.

The culture is one of long-term commitment rather than short-term movement
.

There are strong tenures throughout the organisation, with individuals who have grown with the company and remained through different stages of the construction cycle. The Shareholders place significant value on loyalty, accountability and people who genuinely take ownership of the business they are responsible for.

That philosophy is reflected in the type of General Manager they now want to appoint.

They are looking for someone who wants to build a long-term chapter of their career with the company
, rather than use the position as another short-term move.

The General Manager will effectively run the contracting business
, reporting directly to the Shareholder and taking responsibility for its operational, commercial and financial performance.

This is considerably broader than a traditional Operations Director or Contracts Director position.

You will have oversight of the entire construction lifecycle, including:

• P&L and overall business performance
• Preconstruction
• Tendering and bid strategy
• Framework and pipeline management
• Commercial management
• Procurement
• Project and operational delivery
• Client relationships
• People and leadership
• Business planning and forecasting

The immediate objective is to take an established circa £25M contracting business and create the structure, strategy and leadership required to grow towards approximately £40M
, without compromising margin, cash flow, project performance or client relationships.

The General Manager will have significant autonomy and accountability, including:

• Taking full P&L responsibility for the contracting business, including turnover, gross margin, overhead recovery, cash and bottom-line profitability.
• Reporting directly to the Shareholder on business performance, forecasts, pipeline, risk and strategic priorities.
• Developing and executing a clear business plan to move turnover from approximately £25M towards £40M in a controlled and sustainable manner.
• Leading preconstruction, estimating and tendering strategy
  , ensuring the business…