Preconstruction Project Manager

We are looking for a Pre-Construction Project Manager to join our Cadent team. The Pre-Construction Project Manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating pre-construction across the programme, ensuring projects are suitably assessed, risks are identified and managed, and all necessary information is in place before formal handover to the Operations team.

The role will also act as a key interface between Costain, Cadent, internal delivery teams and customers, supporting the development and preparation of customer diversion and reinforcement schemes from initial handover through to tender readiness.

Responsibilities

Pre-Construction Risk Management

• Take ownership of the pre-construction risk management process, ensuring risks are identified, recorded, reviewed and maintained within CMS.
• Ensure risks are regularly updated and that appropriate mitigation measures and actions are identified.
• Chair and coordinate weekly pre-construction risk meetings, held at either Marks Tey, Hitchin or Peterborough.
• Review outstanding risks and allocate actions to the relevant Project Managers, SHE Advisor, Internal Works managers and Customer Leads.
• Monitor progress against agreed actions, ensuring risks are actively managed and escalated where necessary.
• Provide visibility of key pre-construction risks and potential impacts on programme delivery.

2. Job Pack Preparation and Management

• Manage and oversee the Pack Compiler, ensuring job packs are built and checked before handover.
• Coordinate the preparation of job packs, ensuring all relevant information is obtained and included.
• Ensure packs contain the necessary pre-construction information, including utility drawings, design information, risk assessments, permits, stakeholder information and any relevant supporting documentation.
• Review and quality-check completed job packs before they are issued for formal handover.
• Coordinate with the Project Management team to ensure a structured and effective handover of schemes into delivery.

3. Cadent Customer Diversions and Reinforcement

• Attend weekly programme meetings and calls with Cadent to discuss upcoming works and receive new project handovers.
• Review and formally accept handovers from Cadent for customer diversion and reinforcement schemes.
• Arrange and attend site meetings with the customer/client to understand their requirements and establish the scope of works.
• Identify project requirements, constraints, risks and potential delivery challenges during initial site assessments.
• Develop detailed scopes of work, ensuring all necessary information is captured and documented.
• Coordinate the preparation of tender documentation and issue scopes of work to the supply chain for pricing and tender submissions.
• Liaise with Cadent, customers and internal stakeholders throughout the pre-construction process to ensure expectations and requirements are understood.

Key Objectives and Outcomes

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring:

• Pre-construction risks are accurately recorded, reviewed and actively managed within CMS.
• Weekly risk meetings are productive, with clear ownership and accountability for actions.
• Job packs are completed, reviewed and ready for formal handover to Project Managers.
• Cadent handovers for customer diversions and reinforcement schemes are managed effectively.
• Customer requirements are understood and translated into clear scopes of work.
• Projects enter the delivery phase with the necessary information, risks and requirements understood.

Essential

• Equivalent of 5 GCSEs, grades A*-C or 9-4 including Science, English, ideally with a Grade B or above in Maths
• Bachelor’s degree or working towards a degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering or Engineering is preferred
• Good communication skills
• Good Computer knowledge
• Some experience in traffic management, utilities, & Environmental

• Understanding of Temporary works

  What We Offer

• Full training and development, including industry qualifications
• Opportunity to build a career in Pre Construction
• Supportive team environment
• Role with real impact on safety and operational standards