Contracts Manager

Speller Metcalfe is on a mission… and it’s a simple one. We want to build a sustainable company at the forefront of construction – one that is built with a people-first approach in mind.

As a family business with over 30 years’ experience under our belts, our focus is not just getting you through the door, but developing your skills to support a long-term career with us. We’re proud of our high levels of staff retention and with staff at the very heart of our company, you’re never just a cog in the machine, but someone who can truly have an impact on how we do business.

Our background

Established in 1995 by Steve Speller and Andy Metcalfe, their vision was to develop a business at the cutting edge of construction, built upon an ethos of family values which are reflected in everything we do.

Now one of the UK’s leading regional contractors, we predominantly work across the Midlands and South West regions. With offices in Malvern and Wolverhampton, we deliver a range of public and private sector projects from £250k up to £30 million across a numbers of fields including education, healthcare, residential and leisure.

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the overall performance of each of the projects under their control in respect of time, cost and quality. Reporting to the Operations Manager, the role oversees the project delivery and overall performance of allocated projects in conjunction with the relevant Project Manager and working hand-in-hand with the Commercial Manager.

• Develop and manage construction phase Health & Safety (H&S) plans in coordination with the H&S Manager, ensuring all project documentation is complete and compliant before site commencement.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor quality, safety, and welfare standards, ensuring all incidents, accidents, and near misses are promptly reported.
• Identify resource requirements early, manage scheduling and allocation effectively, and maintain project progress through structured meetings with design teams and subcontractors.
• Monitor the training needs of the Project Delivery Team to ensure all staff are competent for their roles.
• Lead Project Progress Meetings with comprehensive updates, focusing on cost control and commercial value by attending monthly CVR and Project Review Meetings.
• Oversee design development on Design & Build (D&B) projects, ensuring planning conditions are met, Building Control requirements are addressed, and RFI schedules are maintained.
• Prepare and manage Project Execution Plans (PEP) alongside the Commercial Manager, assess operational and commercial risks, and monitor procurement schedules, programmes, and environmental plans.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet high-quality standards, striving for zero defects through regular spot checks and adherence to specifications.
• Report significant risks to the Operational Manager and Divisional Lead, aligning strategies before communicating plans to the Delivery Team.
• Manage strong client relationships, chair collaborative planning workshops, and coach teams on best practices for project execution.
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned and best practices to support continuous improvement.
• Ensure post-completion processes are managed smoothly, including annual PDRs for staff, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

To be successful in this role you will bring your enthusiasm and determination as well as:

• Relevant experience – Ideally someone with approximately 15 years-experience within the construction industry and is currently operating as a Contracts Manager.
• A broad selection of projects similar to our core type of projects would be advantageous but not essential.
• Skills and Behaviours – driven, a good communicator, natural leader and team player.
• Someone who is well presented, client focussed and possess a good general knowledge of all stages and elements of construction.

Core Behaviours which will help you to be successful in this role include:

• Acts with honesty and integrity;
• Takes responsibility and accountability;
• Is a team player;
• Takes responsibility for…