Contracts Manager Purpose of the Job As Contracts Manager you will manage all aspects of the Grounds Maintenance contracting business safely and efficiently, maximising profitability through the completion of contracts within agreed programme schedules and within budget, alongside providing outstanding customer service. You will be expected to drive continuous improvement and best practice across the business. Main Responsibilities Identify sales opportunities, instigate marketing initiatives and maintain CRM database records. Recruit and be responsible for management, motivation, performance, training and support of grounds maintenance staff. Ensure that all matters relating to Health & Safety are addressed including ensuring that all works are carried out in a safe manner and in compliance with all current legislation. Ensure that method statements and risk assessments are prepared and issued as required Help develop and promote a culture of best practice within the Company by collating data from near misses, health and safety breaches and accidents. Ensure that contracts, works, orders and variations are processed in accordance with the Bawden Group s management procedures. Assist with the annual production of departmental budgets for approval by the directors Organise, plan and supervise to ensure all works are managed within budget and set time scales, ensuring that the profitability of assigned contracts is delivered in line with budget expectations. Convert prepared specifications, drawings/sketches and estimates for new and maintenance works into completed physical work. Gain an in depth knowledge of all contract documentation, including all specifications and contract drawings, to enable the works to progress in an expedient manner. Ensure that contracts are delivered in line with all Bawden Group s policies and procedures, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 management systems. Monitor standards of completed work to ensure that they meet BS7370 or any agreed alternative benchmark set by the Client. Undertake the completion of tenders, costings and general pricing for new works, or assist others to do so when requested. Ensure that company assets, resources and hired plant are maintained in good working order and used in the most economical manner. Organise, plan and implement new and remedial works. Authorise relevant expenditure within limits and/or budgets set. Implement, monitor and participate in the Bawden Group's Health and Safety Procedures. Implement, monitor and participate in the Bawden Group's Quality Assurance and Environmental Systems. Provide advice and guidance of a horticultural and environmental nature to customers of the Bawden Group. Organise and play an active role in meeting any out of hours service supply requirements of the business. Initiate, maintain and develop relationships with new and existing customers and suppliers Participate in Contract Monitoring meetings with key customers Represent the company in a professional manner in order to maintain the company s image at all times Produce contract plans and programmes and maintain such data throughout the contract duration
Produce site management plans and ensure that contracts are set up in the most efficient and economical manner Ensure that materials and equipment delivered to site comply with the contract specification, programme and management systems Ensure that all statutory inspections are carried out, including warranty schemes, and that plant and equipment is only operated by those qualified and authorised to do so. Undertake other duties as necessary to supplement or balance the services provided. Reports to: Directors of the Bawden Group. Leadership The Contracts Manager must form close working relationships with customer representatives, specialist sub-contractors and the directors of the Bawden Group. He/she will provide advice and guidance to members of staff on grounds maintenance, landscape and horticulture issues as well as the correct/safe use of plant and machinery. Liaise effectively with the directors, staff, sub-contractors, and other stakeholders in relation to grounds maintenance and horticultural issues. Quality and Environmental Standards The Contracts Manager will actively promote, manage, monitor and report on the performance of the quality and environmental management systems and standards. He/she will liaise with Directors, other managers and staff throughout the company to ensure the systems are functioning properly. Where appropriate recommend changes, implement and train to help achieve requirements. The Contracts Manager will maintain awareness of business objectives, profitability and budgetary control issues, whilst at the same time meeting objectives. He/she will set up and maintain controls and documentation procedures, liaise with company auditors and those of customers, ensuring corrective actions are taken and compliance with customer s specifications, thereby establishing standards of service for the company s customers. The Contracts Manager will remain alert to changes in legislation and good practice that affect the way in which the company operates its procedures, systems and policies, ensuring compliance at all times. Customer Focus The Contracts Manager must provide a proactive, quality service to all "internal" and "external" customers, and ensure that all enquiries/queries are dealt with satisfactorily and promptly. He/she will also ensure that Quality Assurance and Environmental Standards are met in accordance with those set out in the Bawden Group's System Documents. Compliance with quality systems must be monitored, audits completed and reports produced on quality. All incidents/complaints must be processed and recorded in accordance with Bawden s documented procedures and the Contracts Manager must also take part in the management review process to promote best practice.
He/she will work effectively with customers, sub-contractors, and other related persons to ensure key performance indicators are achieved and an excellent service with high levels of customer satisfaction is delivered. He/she will be expected to continuously explore and implement new initiatives to improve the quality and sustainability of the service, providing value for money. Sales and Sales Management The Contracts Manager will support the sales objectives of the Bawden Group in accordance with any business plan agreed. He/she will monitor performance levels from current works and be responsible for making pricing decisions/recommendations for new works. Establish a comprehensive monitoring system to ensure that contract opportunities are explored in a timely manner and not missed, including the processing of pre qualification information. In the course of daily operations, the Contracts Manager should be constantly looking for sales/contract opportunities and seeking to convert them to firm orders for work. Personnel Management Be responsible for and/or assist with the selection of staff for positions within the Bawden Group generally. Develop team/s by identifying individual and group training needs and other ways of supporting them to continually improve performance, including developing knowledge of landscape and horticultural skills. This is likely to include developing and maintaining a comprehensive skills matrix. Identify, agree and monitor performance targets and standards for individual members of staff. Undertake appraisals and supervision meetings, identify training needs of team members and ensure those needs are met, particularly in relation to statutory matters and those relating to health and safety. Be able to respond to poor performance within the team by assisting people who have issues relating to their performance, also contribute to disciplinary or grievance procedures as required. Manage on a day to day basis the role and activities of the Contracts Supervisor (if and when applicable) to ensure shared objectives are met and quality standards maintained. Operations Management The Contracts Manager will support and implement the Bawden Group's Operational Policy. This will include issues relating to management of staff and their conduct, management of Sub-contractors and their conduct, also ensuring plant and equipment is operationally safe and in good repair, instigating remedial action when necessary. He/she will ensure that particular operations on site that can only be properly or legally performed by persons trained and certificated to perform such operations, e.g. Pesticide Application, are only performed by persons who are appropriately trained and qualified. Make recommendations for the use of staff and resources to ensure the overall objectives of the business are achieved and identify potential improvements.
The Contracts Manager must effectively manage the work flow generated by clients to ensure standards are maintained and facilitate team and other meetings so that objectives can be achieved. He/she will also lead the performance of the Contract team and the individuals within it by; allocating work, agreeing objectives, setting out plans and methods of working, monitoring and evaluating work and ensuring that regular reports on performance are available to the Directors of the Bawden Group. Health and Safety Management The Contracts Manager will promote and enforce the highest Health and Safety standards as defined in the policy documents of both the Bawden Group and its clients, including meeting the requirements of the OHSAS 18001 standard. Play an integral part in the ongoing auditing, maintenance and implementation of systems and procedures necessary to maintain standards to the level of OHSAS18001 or similar. He/she shall have due regard to health and safety and security in the workplace and contribute to raising awareness amongst others at all times. Training Bawden Group is an ambitious company with the constant requirement to improve its staff s technical and managerial skills.. The Contracts Manager will therefore be expected to attend courses, which are paid for by the Company, as requested. Additionally he/she will be expected to make recommendations and implement training initiatives with others, both at staff and management level, to ensure this particular Group objective is achieved. He/she will also be expected to develop their own skills to improve performance and gain further knowledge of the industry. General Criteria To work as a Contracts Manager with Bawden Contracting Services Ltd you should: Have excellent organisational skills and a professional approach to work. Have good practical skills Have an eye for detail Be committed to providing a quality service at all times Have a sound knowledge of the requirements of the company s ISO 9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 accreditation Have an interest in conservation, the land and the environment. Be an ambassador for the business, seeking opportunities to network and build relationships with those contacts of potential benefit to achieving the aims and objectives of the company. Have creative ability. Be physically fit for outdoor work. Be able to lead and manage others. Be articulate with sound written communication and IT skills. Be able to negotiate in a confident and professional manner. Be capable of working alone and as part of a team.
Have the business and financial knowledge to be able to constantly review the commercial requirements of the business and make sound judgements and recommendations to the company s directors. Have a sound knowledge of environmental and countryside legislation relevant to the company s scope of works