Mechanical Site Manager (Prison / Secure Estate) — Up to £400/day + staying away
If you like big programmes with real consequences (and the rate that comes with them), this one’s for you. This is a Mechanical Site Manager position on the Highpoint secure-estate upgrade programme — £15m MEP across new Healthcare, Combined Workshop and Kitchen buildings, plus enabling works and tight interface management on a live, controlled-access site.
The project (site-based)
* £15m MEP across new Healthcare, Combined Workshop and Kitchen buildings
* Healthcare (040): 25 weeks — 18 Dec 2025 to 29 Jun 2026
* Combined Workshop (042): 48 weeks — 30 Mar 2026 to 12 Mar 2027
* Kitchen (044): 42 weeks — 30 Mar 2026 to 29 Jan 2027
* Pre-con / enabling: live now through March 2026 (design reviews, surveys, procurement planning)
* Delivery model: sub-let labour and sundries; major kit supplied direct (capital plant, main plant, specialist equipment, large-bore materials where applicable)
What you’ll be doing
You’re the mechanical lead on the ground — making sure the install is safe, sequenced, and built right first time.
* Manage all mechanical site activity: labour, access constraints, short-interval planning, permits, and daily coordination
* Lead mechanical subcontractors across typical scopes:
* Pipework (LTHW/CHW, domestic services)
* Plantroom fit-out and skids (as applicable)
* Ventilation / ductwork, dampers, grilles, fire-stopping interface
* Sanitaryware and above-ceiling services coordination
* Insulation, labels, flushing, chlorination coordination where relevant
* Own H&S delivery: RAMS, permit control, toolbox talks, PPE compliance, lifting plans, hot works, isolation management
* Drive quality: ITPs, hold points, benchmarks, witness testing readiness, snag/defect close-out
* Coordinate hard on interfaces: builder’s work, risers, ceilings, penetrations, electrical containment, controls/BMS, commissioning access
* Stay on top of materials/logistics: deliveries, storage, issuing to gangs, ensuring direct-supplied kit is received/checked/installed correctly
* Keep the paperwork tight: daily logs, progress updates, labour returns, QA packs, as-builts support, handover documentation readiness
Team / set-up
You’ll be working inside a structured M&E delivery team alongside an Electrical opposite number, reporting into the Mechanical PM (with Project Director oversight). The contractor is a strong, delivery-led M&E specialist known for running complex, controlled-access work with proper on-site support and clear reporting lines.
What we need from you
* Solid background as a Mechanical Site Manager / Mechanical Supervisor on MEP projects (ideally secure, healthcare, live or high-compliance environments)
* Strong working knowledge of mechanical building services (pipework, ventilation, plant, domestic services, testing/commissioning readiness)
* SSSTS or SMSTS (SSSTS minimum)
* CSCS (and relevant mechanical trade background—pipefitting/plumbing/ductwork supervision routes all considered)
* Confident managing subcontract labour, sequencing work, and solving interface problems fast
* Comfortable passing security/vetting requirements for prison work
Rate / staying away
* Up to £400 per day (depending on experience)
* Staying away costs covered (accommodation/subsistence in line with project policy)
* Long duration across the phases listed
If you want a mechanical lead role where you actually control the site and have the backing of a proper delivery structure, this is a strong one — and shortlist spots will move quickly