Special Projects Contract Manager (Building Safety & Compliance)
Is this the next step in your career Find out if you are the right candidate by reading through the complete overview below.Location: LondonWorking Pattern: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the officeRate: £450-£500 per day Inside IR35Role OverviewA large London local authority is seeking an experienced Special Projects Contract Manager to join its Housing, Building Safety & Compliance function.This is a specialist contract management role focused on the delivery of high-risk, safety-critical works across a large residential property portfolio. The successful candidate will oversee contracts relating to external wall systems, fire safety and investigative works, ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly, within budget and to agreed performance standards.The role requires a strong Contracts Manager with proven experience procuring and managing contracts within a social housing environment, ideally including fire safety and building safety contracts.Key ResponsibilitiesContract & Project ManagementManage safety-critical contracts delivering investigative and exploratory works across a significant residential portfolioOversee surveys, inspections and technical investigations relating to external wall systems and building safetyManage the delivery of Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs), including assessments aligned with PAS 9980Coordinate spandrel panel investigations, render and faade assessments and Fire Risk AssessmentsMonitor contractors against agreed KPIs, specifications, programme milestones, quality standards and contractual obligationsEnsure works are delivered in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and internal governance requirementsIdentify delivery risks and take appropriate action to mitigate delays, performance issues and compliance concernsProcurement & Commercial ManagementLead end-to-end procurement exercises for new building safety and exploratory works contractsDevelop procurement documentation, specifications, scopes of work and internal approval reportsManage tendering, evaluation, contract award and mobilisation processesAdminister existing contracts and ensure suppliers deliver against agreed contractual requirementsDrive value for money while maintaining appropriate quality and safety standardsMaintain strong commercial oversight across contract deliveryPerformance & Budget ManagementLead contractor performance management across quality, cost, programme and service deliveryManage budgets associated with investigative, enabling and building safety worksMonitor expenditure, forecasting and financial commitmentsIdentify financial risks and implement appropriate controlsProduce clear financial and performance reporting for internal stakeholdersLegal & Risk ManagementWork closely with legal teams where defects or contractual failures may result in claims against contractors or developersSupport the preparation of technical and contractual evidence for potential legal proceedingsManage contractual disputes and ensure issues are escalated and resolved appropriatelyMaintain clear audit trails and contract documentation to support governance and legal requirementsFunding & ComplianceSupport and lead applications to relevant remediation funding programmes, including the Cladding Safety SchemeEnsure compliance with funding conditions and reporting requirementsCoordinate technical evidence and documentation required to support funding applicationsMaintain awareness of relevant building safety, fire safety and remediation requirementsStakeholder EngagementBuild effective relationships with contractors, consultants, legal teams, residents and internal stakeholdersProvide clear updates on project delivery, risks, financial position and key decisionsWork collaboratively with housing, building safety, procurement, finance and legal colleaguesSupport briefings for senior leadership and elected members where requiredSkills & ExperienceThe successful candidate will have:Significant experience as a Contracts Manager within social housing, construction, property or building safetyProven experience procuring contracts within a social housing environmentStrong experience managing contracts from procurement through mobilisation xwwtmva and deliveryExperience procuring and managing fire safety and/or building safety contractsStrong knowledge of contractor performance management and commercial contract administrationExperience managing complex, high-risk programmes or projects across multiple propertiesStrong understanding of fire safety, building safety and external wall systemsKnowledge of FRAEWs, PAS 9980, Fire Risk Assessments and faade investigationsExperience developing specifications, scopes of work and tender documentationStrong budget management, forecasting and financial control skillsExperience managing contractual disputes, risks and performance issuesExcellent stakeholder management and communication skillsDesirable ExperiencePrevious experience within local government or a large social housing providerKnowledge of the Cladding Safety Scheme and Building Safety FundExperience supporting legal claims relating to defective construction or external wall systemsExperience working across large and complex residential property portfoliosImportant InformationVisa sponsorship is not available for this positionApplicants should have demonstrable experience procuring and managing contracts within a social housing environmentRelevant fire safety and building safety contract management experience will be particularly important for this position*Rates depend on experience and client requirements…