Are you an experienced Contract Manager with a strong background in Civil Engineering and framework delivery? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, reactive environment where leadership, commercial awareness and client relationships are critical to success?

We have an exciting opportunity within our well-established Sheffield office for a Contract Manager to lead delivery on the Network Rail Reactive & Small Schemes Civils Framework.

CML is a family-owned business with over 30 years of experience in infrastructure delivery. We have built a strong reputation for professionalism, delivery excellence and long-standing client relationships, supported by consistent positive feedback across our frameworks. As we continue to grow our Civils portfolio in CP7, we are looking for a confident and capable leader to take ownership of contract performance and help drive the next phase of success.

If you are commercially astute, operationally strong, and confident managing high-volume reactive works within a live rail environment, we would like to hear from you!

Job Description:

• 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.

Person Specification:

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

• Strong IT skills - Desirable

• 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

The Package

• Competitive Pay

• A Company car

• A collaborative and friendly working culture, focussed on investing in people

• Up to 25 days holiday + Statutory Bank Holidays

• Company Sick Pay

• Annual professional subscription costs

• Excellent training & development opportunities, provided by our award nominated in house Training team

• Paid Volunteering days and Charity events

• Annual Flu Jabs

• Employee Assistance Programmes for advice and counselling

• Access to a committed Mental Health First Aider team

• Company Pension and Death in Service scheme of 2x annual salary

• A generous Employee Referral scheme of £1000 per successful hire
  

At CML we are committed to creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential, not only because this is the right thing to do, but because it makes us a better business.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences and all applicants will be considered purely on their merits and potential, regardless of where they are from, their age or gender, their lifestyle choices , their beliefs or what disability they may have.

We’re also striving to be a Disability Confident employer and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities apply and interview for roles.