Job Description
Contracts Manager - Rail
Summary
A Tier One Principal Contractor, operating throughout England and Wales, delivering multi-disciplinary buildings and civil engineering projects for Network Rail and other infrastructure clients are looking to hire a Contracts Manager with a strong background in Civil Engineering and framework delivery to take ownership of contract performance and help drive the next phase of success on the Eastern Region, Network Rail Reactive & Small Schemes Civils Framework
Based from HQ in Sheffield.
As a Contracts Manager you will:
Oversee end-to-end contract management of the framework, ensuring compliance with NEC4 ECSC (NR29) and Network Rail standards.
- Manage the financial performance of the framework, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control and margin protection.
- Ensure early warnings, variations and compensation events are managed in accordance with contractual requirements.
- Oversee supply chain management, including subcontractor procurement, performance monitoring and compliance.
- Work closely with the commercial team to ensure accurate valuations, applications for payment and final accounts.
- Lead the successful delivery of reactive maintenance and planned civils works, ensuring delivery is safe, timely and to specification.
- Develop and maintain efficient work allocation and planning processes to support emergency and reactive response.
- Oversee KPIs and SLAs, ensuring performance aligns with Network Rail requirements.
- Liaise with PMs, WDM/SPMs, engineers and site teams to resolve issues and support delivery.
- Ensure health, safety and environmental compliance across all works.
- Act as the primary contract-level point of contact with Network Rail.
- Provide regular reporting on performance, risks and financial position to senior leadership and the client.
- Attend progress meetings, site visits, audits and assurance activities.
- Collaborate with internal functions including commercial, planning, H&S, design and compliance to ensure seamless delivery.
- Provide effective line management to Project Managers and WDM/SPMs.
- Set clear expectations for performance, safety, quality and behaviour.
- Hold regular 1:1s and support development and competence growth.
- Ensure reporting, governance and IMS / Insight2 processes are followed consistently.
- Any other duties as may reasonably be required.
Contracts Manager Experience and Personal Qualities
- Proven experience managing framework contracts within rail or civil infrastructure - Essential
- Strong understanding of NEC4 contracts, particularly regarding compensation events and risk management - Essential
- Experience delivering reactive maintenance and small schemes works in a live operational environment - Essential
- Commercially astute with experience in cost control, forecasting and performance management - Essential
- Strong leadership, stakeholder management and decision-making skills - Essential
- Knowledge of health, safety, and environmental regulations applicable to the rail industry - Essential
- Knowledge of Network Rail 019 Standard - Desirable
- Temporary Works Coordinator - Desirable
Qualifications:
- Relevant engineering or commercial qualification (e.g. BSc Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, NVQ Level 6/7) or equivalent experience - Essential
- Railway Safety Training (PTS) or willingness to obtain - Desirable
- Continued professional development appropriate to the role - Essential
- Experience working on Network Rail Frameworks - Essential
Salary: Circa £70,000 - £85,000 (DOE) plus package including:
- Company Car
- Ad hoc Hybrid working
- days holiday + Statutory Bank Holidays
- Company Sick Pay
- Excellent training & development opportunities,
- Healthcare options
- Company Pension and Death in Service scheme of 2x annual salary