Senior Construction Manager

Senior Construction Manager The Opportunity We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Construction Manager to join our expanding team. The Senior Construction Manager is responsible for the leadership, strategic planning, and successful delivery of major pharmaceutical and life sciences capital projects from project inception through commissioning, qualification, validation support, and handover. The role provides senior leadership across all construction activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, compliantly, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. The successful candidate will act as Wade's senior construction representative, leading multidisciplinary teams, managing key client relationships, and driving project performance across all stages of delivery. The Senior Construction Manager will promote Wade's core values in every aspect of project execution while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Project Delivery
• Lead the delivery of large-scale pharmaceutical and life sciences construction projects and programmes.
• Develop and implement project execution and construction delivery strategies.
• Provide leadership and direction to Construction Managers, Site Managers, Project Engineers, and wider project teams.
• Act as the senior point of contact for clients, consultants, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment between project objectives, client requirements, and business goals.
• Drive a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across project teams.
• Represent Wade at senior leadership, steering committee, and executive project meetings.
• Support business development activities, client engagement, and future project opportunities. Construction Management
• Oversee and direct all capital project construction activities.
• Ensure construction delivery is executed in accordance with approved programme, budget, quality standards, and GMP requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams throughout all phases of project delivery.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Ensure effective site logistics, resource planning, and construction sequencing.
• Lead resolution of complex technical, operational, and commercial challenges. Pre-Construction & Design Leadership
• Work closely with Pre-Construction Managers and Design Teams during project development.
• Lead constructability reviews and construction planning activities.
• Support development of Employer's Requirements, tender evaluations, procurement strategies, and contractor selection.
• Ensure effective transition from project concept through construction execution. Risk & Governance Management
• Own and manage project and programme risk management processes.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial, programme, safety, quality, and operational risks.
• Establish governance structures and reporting frameworks across projects.
• Lead development and implementation of recovery plans where required.
• Escalate critical issues and provide strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders. Commercial & Contract Management
• Oversee project commercial performance and financial governance.
• Review budgets, forecasts, cost reports, and change management activities.
• Approve contractor valuations, variations, and commercial submissions.
• Support negotiation and management of NEC, JCT, and bespoke contracts.
• Ensure commercial decisions align with project and business objectives. GMP, Quality & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GxP, FDA, EMA, MHRA, and client-specific quality requirements.
• Champion quality excellence throughout construction delivery.
• Support commissioning, qualification, validation, and operational readiness activities.
• Ensure construction documentation and turnover packages meet regulatory and client expectations.
• Promote inspection readiness throughout the project lifecycle. Environmental, Health & Safety Leadership
• Lead the implementation of Wade's safety-first culture across all projects.
• Chair EHS leadership meetings and project safety reviews.
• Ensure effective management of high-risk construction activities.
• Monitor safety performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead investigations of significant incidents and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, company, and client safety requirements. Client & Stakeholder Management
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients on construction strategy and project delivery.
• Manage communications across client, consultant, contractor, and internal teams.
• Lead conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Ensure client expectations are understood and consistently exceeded. Reporting & Performance Management Monthly Reporting
• Provide executive-level project reports to clients and senior management.
• Report on programme performance, commercial status, safety, quality, risks, procurement, commissioning, and key project milestones.
• Present strategic recommendations and recovery actions where required. Weekly Reporting
• Review and approve weekly project reporting.
• Monitor programme performance, critical path activities, risk registers, opportunities, and resource requirements.
• Ensure project controls information is accurate and actionable. People Leadership
• Mentor and develop Construction Managers and emerging leaders within the business.
• Promote knowledge sharing and best practice across projects.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance development activities.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture aligned with Wade's values. Essential Requirements
• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Building Services, or related discipline. or equivalent
• NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
• CSCS Card.
• Minimum 10 years' construction management experience.
• Minimum 5 years' experience delivering pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences capital projects.
• Demonstrable experience leading projects in GMP-regulated environments.
• Knowledge of FDA, EMA, MHRA, GMP, and GxP requirements.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary project teams and major contractors.
• Experience managing projects from pre-construction through handover and CQV support.
• Excellent commercial, contractual, and stakeholder management skills. Desirable Requirements
• Chartered Member of CIOB, ICE, IMechE, or equivalent professional institution.
• MSc in Construction Project Management, Engineering Management, or MBA.
• Experience delivering projects exceeding £50M capital value.
• Experience with NEC4, JCT, and EPCM delivery models.
• Experience managing multiple projects or programmes simultaneously.
• Knowledge of BIM, digital construction, and modern methods of project delivery. Success Measures
• Safe project delivery with zero-harm objectives.
• Successful achievement of programme and commercial targets.
• GMP and regulatory compliance maintained throughout project delivery.
• Strong client satisfaction and repeat business opportunities.
• Successful commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness outcomes.
• Effective leadership, development, and retention of project teams.
• Delivery of projects that reinforce Wade's reputation for excellence in pharmaceutical and life sciences construction.