People in contracts manager jobs are one of the most vital workers within the construction industry. Working alongside quantity surveyors, contracts managers help win building contracts for companies and try to ensure their employers work under the most profitable conditions. These projects can range from anything between commercial and housing builds to transportation links. It all depends on the nature of their employer and what sort of work they provide.
Those who are particularly good at maths and IT along with having natural qualities like keen eyes for detail are likely to do well as contracts managers. However, what is the job all about? Let us take a closer look at what is on offer in this role.
Contracts manager work roles.
As a contracts manager, candidates will responsible for securing contracts on behalf of employers. This is usually for building projects, where large companies or councils want projects completed and are seeking the best possible value for money. Managers may be bidding for one big contract or a number of smaller ones. They are often seen as the point of contact for the bid providers, site managers, and building contractors throughout the project, so must have a pleasant demeanour about them.
Besides securing the project(s), contracts managers must also be prepared to meet with clients following the bid in order to have the best possible understanding of what it is they want to accomplish. This will involve piecing together plans, estimates, and timescales in order to present to the client and be prepared to amend them during the meeting. Documents for financial backers may also be necessary.
They will also be required to contribute to the planning of the workforce alongside the operations manager. Sometimes, they will be called on to brief departments or teams, individual contractors, or suppliers when it comes to placing orders. Any extra work must be done within set timescales and all information pertaining to invoicing must be generated and supplied at the end of the project.
They will also sometimes become information providers when it comes to conflict resolution alongside site managers and help identify areas where improvements can be made to the existing processes. Working alongside other construction professionals, they may also have ad hoc duties given to them: like overseeing health and safety and medical personnel if they are particularly skilled and qualified in health and first aid.
Conditions.
Contracts managers will normally work up to 40 hours a week during sociable office hours. They will usually be supplied a mobile office, but will be required to make regular site and client visits and inspections. This could involve travelling to clients away from the site itself, so having private access to a vehicle and a full driver's license is usually regarded as essential. Some employers will choose to provide contract managers with work vehicles to use during the day-to-day running of the project, but those who come with their own vehicle will usually be given preference and a small allowance for fuel and repairs.
Income.
Contracts managers often begin their roles with a salary of around £25,000. Depending on experience and the amount of time within the role, a more senior management position can yield up to £70,000 per year. Like other positions, salary expectations can fluctuate and it is generally more accepted that the highest starting and ending points will be found in more centralised urban areas.
Entry requirements.
It is possible to gain access to the role by starting as a contracts assistant before moving into a management position, but candidates normally need experience in working directly with contracts and backgrounds in civil engineering. A Foundation Degree in Construction Management is sometimes seen as necessary, but the HND is often held as equivalent in the eyes of employers.
Personal qualities.
Contracts managers will need to have good levels of commercial awareness, organisational skills, and the ability to multitask across several projects. Similarly, they must be personable people who are able to maintain good working relationships across as levels of personnel.
Maths and IT skills are critical to the role, so candidates will need to come well-equipped with a bare minimum of a GCSE in both subjects should they not hold these qualifications already. Similarly, they may choose subject-specific short courses like the MOS qualification by Microsoft to have an advanced understanding of the Microsoft Office software suite.
