Construction Director / Operations Director – Client-Side
Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex (projects across London & the South East)
Salary: up to £120,000 + package & bonus
Employment: Permanent, Full-Time
GVR Solutions is delighted to be working as a preferred recruitment partner to a highly established and successful property investment and development group, who are seeking an experienced Construction / Operations Director to join their team.
Our client has an outstanding reputation within the property sector, with over 40 years of experience delivering and managing significant real estate investments and development projects.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially astute construction professional to take responsibility for the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of developments, initially focusing on high-quality residential developments, refurbishment schemes and commercial-to-residential conversions across London and the South East.
Operating in a client-side capacity, the successful candidate will work closely with the Development Director and senior leadership team, overseeing projects from initial feasibility and design through to construction, completion and handover.
The position offers significant autonomy, commercial involvement and the opportunity to influence the successful delivery of multiple construction projects.
Construction Director Key Responsibilities:
- Take responsibility for the successful delivery of multiple construction projects from pre-construction through to completion.
- Oversee project programmes, commercial performance, budgets, procurement and quality.
- Manage and coordinate architects, consultants, engineers, main contractors and specialist subcontractors.
- Provide strategic input into project planning, procurement, buildability and value engineering.
- Lead contractor selection, tendering, commercial negotiations and contract administration.
- Monitor construction progress and ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme and within budget.
- Identify and manage commercial, contractual and operational risks.
- Ensure compliance with building regulations, health and safety legislation and statutory requirements.
- Provide clear commercial and operational reporting to the Development Director and senior leadership team.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with contractors, consultants and external stakeholders.
- Implement effective project controls, reporting procedures and delivery standards across the portfolio.
- Oversee project completion, snagging, handover and defects management.
The Ideal Candidate for the Construction Director opportunity:
We are particularly interested in speaking with experienced construction professionals who combine strong operational leadership with exceptional commercial awareness.
The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:
- Extensive experience in construction project delivery, ideally within residential, mixed-use, high-end refurbishment or commercial conversion projects.
- A background as a Construction Director, Operations Director, Senior Project Manager, Contracts Manager or Construction Manager.
- Experience working for a main contractor, property developer or client-side construction organisation.
- A proven ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong knowledge of construction procurement, contract negotiations, project programming and cost management.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams, contractors and consultants.
- Excellent commercial judgement and the ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders.
- A comprehensive understanding of JCT contracts and construction processes.
- A proactive and solutions-focused management style.
- The ability to balance strategic decision-making with hands-on involvement in project delivery.
Candidates with a background in high-end residential development, refurbishment or commercial-to-residential conversions would be particularly attractive.
Relevant construction qualifications and professional accreditations, including CIOB, RICS or APM, would be advantageous.
Salary & Benefits:
Our client offers an excellent employment package, including:
Competitive salary dependent on experience.
Annual performance-related bonus.
25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
Private healthcare.
Company pension scheme.
Death-in-service cover.
Hybrid working arrangements, subject to project requirements.
Professional development opportunities.
Free office parking.
Employee discounts, wellbeing initiatives and company social events.
Excellent long-term career prospects within an established property group.
