Mechanical Project Manager

Mechanical Project Manager - M&E Division

BJF Group's M&E division is seeking an experienced Mechanical Project Manager to manage the safe, compliant and commercially successful delivery of mechanical building services projects across both new and existing buildings within secure environments.

The postholder will be responsible for the full project lifecycle, from pre-construction, design development and mobilisation through procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, handover and project close-out. The role carries day-to-day accountability for safety, programme, technical compliance, quality, commercial performance, supply-chain delivery and client satisfaction, with timely escalation to M&E senior management where required.

Projects will principally support and deliver across the BJF portfolio to include Defence, Healthcare and other government or public sector organisations. The role therefore requires disciplined management of security, access, controlled information, operational constraints, project records and stakeholder communications.

Roles & Responsibilities

Project Management and Governance

Manage assigned mechanical projects from internal handover through to completion, defects close-out and final account, maintaining clear accountability for actions and deliverables.

Manage project start up, mobilisation, contract review and regular delivery reviews, setting clear actions, owners and target dates.

Coordinate Engineers, Site Managers, Supervisors, directly employed labour, specialist subcontractors and project support resources allocated to the project.

Provide accurate, concise and timely project reports to M&E senior management, including progress, risk, cost, resource and recovery information.

Escalate material safety, technical, commercial, programme or client risks early, with practical recommendations and recovery actions.

Pre-construction, Design and Technical Management

Review tender adjudication, contract conditions, employer requirements, specifications, drawings, scope boundaries, qualifications, allowances and key assumptions before mobilisation.

Manage mechanical design coordination, including consultant design, contractor-designed portions, specialist design, builders work, spatial coordination, maintainability and access.

Maintain effective controls for drawings, technical submissions, samples, RFIs, design changes, approvals and design risk.

Challenge incomplete or uncoordinated information before it affects procurement or installation and ensure design decisions are recorded.

Drive compliant value engineering that improves buildability, programme, whole-life performance or commercial return without reducing safety or quality.

Programme, Planning and Resource Control

Develop and maintain the mechanical delivery programme aligned with the main contract programme, procurement schedule and commissioning strategy.

Plan design release, technical approvals, long-lead procurement, manufacturing, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and handover activities.

Produce short-term look-ahead programmes, labour forecasts and recovery plans, monitoring planned versus actual progress and productivity.

Coordinate mechanical interfaces with electrical services, controls, fire systems, builders work, architectural finishes and specialist packages.

Identify delay, disruption and change events promptly, maintain supporting records and protect the company position through timely notices and escalation.

Commercial and Contract Management

Understand and actively manage the project adjudication, budget, cash flow, cost allowances, procurement assumptions, contractual obligations and margin expectations.

Work with the Quantity Surveyor and commercial team to maintain cost-to-complete forecasts, project risk and opportunity registers, applications for payment and final account information.

Ensure variations and additional works are supported by written instruction, quotation, programme impact, labour records and contemporaneous evidence before work proceeds wherever practicable.

Review supplier and subcontractor applications against verified progress, quality and contractual entitlement.

Drive better buying, productivity and margin improvement while maintaining quality, safety, compliance and supplier resilience.

Provide accurate information for monthly project reviews, CVR reporting, cash collection, debt management and financial forecasting.

Procurement and Supply Chain

Prepare and maintain a procurement schedule identifying design dependencies, approval dates, long-lead items, required-on-site dates and responsible owners.

Prepare technically complete enquiry packages and undertake technical comparisons, working with the commercial team to support procurement adjudication, best value and compliance.

Ensure purchase orders and subcontracts clearly define scope, exclusions, programme, quality, commissioning, documentation and security requirements.

Monitor supplier design, manufacture, testing, delivery and site performance, addressing emerging issues before they affect the program

Site Delivery, Health, Safety and Environment

Manage mechanical construction activities and ensure suitable labour, supervision, materials, access, plant, temporary services and approved information are available.

Promote a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture and ensure compliance with company procedures, the Construction Phase Plan, CDM Regulations 2015, approved RAMS, permits and site rules.

Ensure operatives and subcontractors are competent, inducted, appropriately cleared and adequately supervised.

Plan and control higher-risk activities including isolations, pressure testing, hot works, lifting operations, confined spaces and work on live systems.

Conduct regular site inspections, ensure incidents and near misses are reported, and drive timely close-out of actions and non-conformances.

Ensure environmental requirements, waste controls and project sustainability commitments are implemented and evidenced.

Quality, Commissioning and Handover

Implement the project quality plan, inspection and test plans, benchmarks and progressive inspection regime for all mechanical systems.

Ensure materials and equipment comply with approved specifications and technical submissions before installation.

Maintain evidence for concealed services, pressure tests, flushing, water treatment, ductwork testing, commissioning, certification and statutory compliance.

Develop and manage the commissioning plan, including controls integration, witnessing, demonstrations, operator training and seasonal commissioning where required.

Drive snagging and defects close-out and ensure O&M manuals, record drawings, asset data, certificates, warranties and Health and Safety File information are compiled progressively.

Manage structured handover to the client and facilities-management team and coordinate project obligations through the defects period.

Client, Stakeholder and Secure-estate Management

Act as the mechanical project point of contact for clients, main contractors, consultants, facilities teams and key stakeholders.

Chair or contribute to project, progress, design, commercial, quality and programme meetings, ensuring decisions and actions are accurately recorded and followed through.

Build constructive relationships while protecting BJF contractual, commercial and reputational interests and identifying opportunities for repeat business.

Plan works around live operations, restricted access, escorts, permits, shutdowns, lockdowns, controlled areas and establishment-specific procedures.

Maintain control of data and security-sensitive project data.

Ensure project personnel and supply-chain partners obtain and maintain the project-specific vetting or clearance required by the relevant authority, including DBS, BPSS, prison vetting, CTC or SC where applicable.

Promote and live the BJF TEAMS values and represent the business professionally at all times.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Demonstrable experience delivering mechanical building-services projects for an M&E contractor or specialist subcontractor.

Proven responsibility for the full lifecycle of projects, including pre-construction, design, procurement, installation, commissioning, handover and commercial close-out.

Strong technical knowledge of HVAC, heating, chilled water, ventilation, domestic water, drainage, public health, controls and associated specialist systems.

Experience coordinating project teams, specialist subcontractors and supply-chain partners in live or operational environments.

Strong understanding of project programmes, procurement, contract administration, change control, cost forecasting, applications for payment and final accounts.

Ability to interpret specifications, drawings, schematics, technical submissions, programmes and contract documents and convert them into a controlled delivery plan.

Confident client-facing communication, negotiation, written reporting, meeting management and issue-resolution skills.

Competence in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams and recognised project-planning/document-control systems.

Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project locations.

Qualifications and Certifications

Recognised mechanical, building-services or construction qualification. HNC/HND/Degree

NVQ 6/7 Construction Management

Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS).

Site Manager CSCS Black Card Holder.

First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work.

IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH Construction or equivalent health and safety qualification is desirable.

Project-management, contract-management or professional membership such as APM, CIOB or CIBSE is desirable.

DBS, BPSS, CTC, EL1 /EL2 or SC clearances are desirable.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical beliefs; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment.