Location: Cambridge

Duration: Permanent Position

Start Date: Immediate

Salary: £45000

Job Description: 

We are currently looking for an Assistant Pre-Construction Project Manager to complement and support our strong pre-construction team. The role will extend (depending on project type) to post-tender development, coordination & management of the consultants and design teams.

The role will be based in our Cambridge office, covering the working area of that office in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, down to North London. The successful applicant will be working alongside and supporting our existing pre-construction PMs, working as part of a team.

Our Pre-construction Team consist of design managers, M&E services coordinators, planners and estimators. The successful candidate will be joining a strong dedicated group of individuals who are themselves supported by our in-house design (architectural, structural and civils) consultancy office at Thetford. The successful candidate will be joining one of the largest family-run construction businesses dealing with a diverse range of interesting and challenging projects across multiple sectors.

For this role you will need to be focused, knowledgeable of construction techniques and basic design standards (inc Building Regulations), be self-motivated and able to work both independently and within our team of like-minded individuals. You will have excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, and you will need to hold a clean driving license and be prepared to travel throughout our operating area.

The successful candidate needs to be efficient and resourceful, with an invaluable set of interpersonal and problem-solving skills and the flexibility to adapt to fast-paced, ever-changing environments. You need to be a conscientious, organised and pro-active team player, highly motivated and committed to achieving deadlines and always focused on the task in hand. You will work alongside our senior pre-construction project manager (for training and development) and be shown how to produce pre-construction reports, programmes and method statements.

The role will ideally suit someone from a trainee site management, planning and also a trainee construction project management background, (looking to take that next step with a larger company) with the appropriate level of experience.

The Manager Role:

• Help manage the design process during the tender stage, from tender to commencement on site.
• Understanding the design brief
• Help chair the design development meetings during the tender process
• Assist in investigating Value engineering and value creation opportunities and work closely with the estimating and commercial team.
• Interrogation of enquiry documents, usually in the form of an Employer’s Requirements.
• Manage our design process via external consultants
• Close liaison with internal departments ensuring programming and cost management are aligned with design development.
• Progress design issues within a strict timescale & ensure designers meet the information delivery dates. Assist in design, deliverables and IRS
• Assist the estimator in the preparation of the cost plan/affordability with PQS
• Assist the estimator & commercial manager in the preparation of the cost plan, offering advice on the required design issues.
• Assist the estimator in preparation of sub-contractor packages for tender, advising of design requirements which are to be noted by the subcontractor in the preparation of their quotations.
• Review design team and Sub contractor design proposals, overmarking (red penning) and commenting on design and construction issues (Bluebeam or similar).
• Verify & control the status of consultants and subcontractors’ drawings and specifications & maintain registers.
• Ensure the consultant’s scope of services, responsibilities and fees are agreed and assist in making appointments.
• Understand risk management and be able to manage the process
• Understand the issues with the applicable form of contract for the project and highlight where the design process may be at risk.
• The production of pre-construction and construction programmes
• Helping write method statements for pre-construction activities and assisting in bid preparation.

Key skills required:

• Good organisation skills and work ethic
• Computer skills – need to be proficient on Microsoft Office packages (preferably with experience of the 2010 suite – Word, Excel, Outlook) and document management systems. Any experience with Bluebeam, Asta Programme preparations, or 4 Projects would be beneficial but not essential (and training can be provided).
• Excellent spoken and written English
• A good, clear telephone manner is essential as there will be client interface during the course of the daily works, including Teams meetings.
• A good ‘team player’, able to work independently and as part of a team
• Have an understanding of construction techniques and the construction process
• Work as part of a team and on your own initiative
• Ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure

Other aspects the job offers:

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• Free parking
• Potential car allowance/company car
• Based at our Cambridge Office.
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Hours of work – 8.15 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday.
• A good salary level, dependent on experience and subject to negotiation.
• Free access to our reward platform Flex (features discounts and cashback offers from a variety of companies and retailers).

Qualification / Cards: 

Microsoft 365 suite, Minimum of 2 years experience in project management

Additional Information: 

Would welcome applications from site managers looking to pivot into project management

Contact: 

For more information, call Mike Pilgrim at +44 (0)1256 817878. To apply for this vacancy, send your CV to Mike Pilgrim at mpilgrim@roberthurstltd.co.uk or complete the application form below, and we will contact you.