Location: Rickmansworth
Employment Type: Permanent | Full Time (45 hours/week)
Site Agent / Site Manager
About the Client
Our client is one of the UK’s largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists, with more than four decades of experience delivering complex, high-value projects across both regulated and non-regulated environments.
They operate nationally across major infrastructure frameworks, joint ventures, alliances, and standalone projects, acting as a tier-one delivery partner to blue-chip organisations, public sector bodies, and regulated utility clients.
Their core operations span water infrastructure, including treatment works, pipelines, pumping stations, and distribution networks, as well as transport infrastructure such as highways, rail interfaces, and associated civil engineering works. They also deliver built environment schemes, including public realm and major development projects, alongside energy and wider utilities infrastructure.
A defining feature of the business is its direct delivery model, supported by an in-house workforce of more than 1,200 employees. This enables significant self-delivery capability across projects and includes specialist expertise in tunnelling, MEICA, temporary and permanent works design, steel fabrication, signage manufacture, and health and safety product provision.
The organisation is built on long-standing family values and a strong people-first culture, with a clear focus on training, retention, and internal progression. It has a strong track record of repeat business and long-term framework delivery, with a consistent emphasis on promoting from within. It is also recognised as a Gold Investors in People accredited organisation, reflecting its commitment to staff development, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Site Agent / Site Manager to take responsibility for the successful delivery of civil engineering projects within the water and wider infrastructure sectors.
The role involves ensuring that works are delivered safely, to the required quality standards, within programme and budget constraints, and in full alignment with client expectations and contractual requirements. The successful candidate will work closely with project leadership teams, engineers, and commercial staff while taking ownership of day-to-day site operations and performance outcomes across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Site management responsibilities include leading the delivery of civil engineering and water infrastructure projects in accordance with specification, programme, and quality requirements. This includes managing site teams made up of engineers, foremen, and subcontractors, ensuring compliance with RAMS, ITPs, project plans, and environmental controls, and producing and maintaining construction programmes along with short-term planning schedules. The role also involves overseeing procurement schedules, managing site resources effectively, and driving commercial performance and delivery efficiency.
Client and stakeholder management responsibilities include acting as the primary site-based representative, engaging professionally with clients, stakeholders, and public bodies, and ensuring that all delivery activities meet or exceed client expectations and contractual obligations.
Commercial and cost control duties include managing project cost plans, forecasting, and financial reporting, maintaining accurate site records and documentation, identifying value engineering opportunities, and ensuring cost efficiency while maintaining required standards of safety and quality.
Reporting and coordination responsibilities include producing accurate internal and external reports, chairing weekly site meetings, and ensuring clear and consistent communication across all project stakeholders.
About You
The successful candidate will have proven experience working as a Site Agent within civil engineering, ideally on the contractor side, with exposure to regulated environments such as utilities or infrastructure. A strong understanding of CDM Regulations, contract conditions, risk management, programming, and cost control is essential, alongside knowledge of civil engineering specifications and testing regimes.
Applicants should hold a Degree or HNC in Civil Engineering or equivalent, along with a valid CSCS card. SMSTS or IOSH Managing Safely certification is required, as well as a Temporary Works Coordinator qualification and confined space training. Strong leadership, communication, and team management skills are essential, along with the ability to resolve technical issues and challenge design where necessary to ensure buildability and compliance.
Desirable attributes include Chartered status (CEng, MICE or equivalent), working knowledge of Primavera P6, and familiarity with NEC and JCT contract forms.
Required Experience
The role requires direct delivery experience of civil engineering works, particularly within water infrastructure environments. This includes experience with large diameter clean water pipelines, connection works, and commissioning activities, as well as streetworks operations, service avoidance, excavation control, and permit-to-dig systems.
Candidates should also have strong experience in temporary works coordination and implementation, quality assurance processes including ITPs and QA/QC systems, and health and safety leadership and compliance. Knowledge of NEC contract administration, including early warnings and compensation events, is essential, along with experience in cost control, forecasting, subcontractor management, and programme delivery.
The ability to manage design inputs to ensure buildability, lead multi-disciplinary site teams, and effectively manage stakeholders at all levels is also required