Construction Resources Limited
Head of Construction
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Head of Construction – Food & Process Manufacturing
Location: North West / UK-wide project travel
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Package: Competitive senior-level package
Sector: Food Manufacturing | Process Engineering | FMCG | Industrial
Type: Permanent
The Opportunity
We are working exclusively with a rapidly growing engineering and project delivery business that specialises in delivering complex capital projects across the food manufacturing, food processing and wider industrial sectors.
As part of their continued expansion, we have been retained to appoint a Head of Construction to take ownership of construction delivery across the business.
This is a newly created senior position and represents an excellent opportunity for an experienced construction professional to join a growing organisation at an important stage of its development.
The successful individual will have significant influence over how the construction function develops, how projects are delivered and how the business continues to build its reputation within the food and process manufacturing market.
About the Business
Our client provides end-to-end engineering and construction solutions, supporting clients from early-stage feasibility and design through procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and handover.
Their project portfolio is predominantly focused around high-value manufacturing and production environments, where construction needs to be carefully integrated with process equipment, production requirements and existing site operations.
The business is experiencing continued demand and is looking to strengthen its senior leadership team with a construction professional who understands both project delivery and the commercial realities of operating within live manufacturing environments.
The Role
As Head of Construction, you will be responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the construction function.
You will oversee construction delivery across a range of projects, with a particular focus on food manufacturing and food processing facilities.
This will include everything from new-build production facilities and extensions through to major refurbishment, process installation, infrastructure upgrades and complex projects within existing operational sites.
You will be responsible for establishing the construction strategy, building the right delivery teams and ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and commercially.
Importantly, this isn't a purely office-based leadership position.
We are looking for someone who is comfortable getting involved at project level, visiting sites, understanding construction constraints, challenging programmes and methodologies, supporting project teams and dealing directly with clients when required.
Your Responsibilities
As Head of Construction, you will:
- Take overall responsibility for construction delivery across multiple food and industrial projects.
- Develop and implement construction strategies from pre-construction through to completion.
- Lead and develop a team of Project Managers, Construction Managers, Site Managers and site-based personnel.
- Provide senior construction input during feasibility, estimating, design and pre-construction.
- Review construction methodologies, sequencing, programmes and resource requirements.
- Ensure construction strategies are aligned with the client's production requirements.
- Lead delivery within live food manufacturing and processing facilities.
- Manage complex phased construction programmes where production must continue throughout the works.
- Plan and oversee planned shutdowns, isolations, tie-ins and critical installation periods.
- Coordinate construction activities around process equipment installation and commissioning.
- Oversee civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and MEP construction activities.
- Work closely with engineering and design teams to ensure designs are practical and construction-ready.
- Lead the appointment and management of principal contractors, subcontractors and specialist installation companies.
- Ensure construction packages are properly scoped, procured and managed.
- Monitor project performance against programme, budget, quality and safety objectives.
- Identify construction risks early and develop appropriate mitigation and recovery strategies.
- Work closely with commercial teams to manage variations, change, subcontractor performance and project margins.
- Act as a senior construction interface with clients, consultants and other project stakeholders.
- Ensure CDM, health & safety and environmental requirements are embedded throughout project delivery.
- Drive consistent construction standards and best practice across the business.
- Develop processes, systems and KPIs to improve construction performance.
- Support the senior leadership team with business planning, resource forecasting and future growth.
- Identify and develop future construction leaders within the organisation.
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The Food Manufacturing Environment
The food sector is at the heart of this opportunity.
We are particularly interested in individuals who understand the challenges associated with delivering construction projects where production, hygiene and operational continuity are critical.
You will ideally have experience of environments involving:
- Food production and processing facilities
- FMCG manufacturing
- Food and beverage plants
- Meat and protein processing
- Dairy
- Bakery
- Packaging facilities
- Cold storage and temperature-controlled environments
- Process manufacturing
- Automated production environments
Experience should ideally include working around process equipment, production lines, hygienic areas, clean environments, process utilities, drainage, refrigeration, compressed air, steam, electrical infrastructure and specialist MEP systems.
Experience of construction within a live manufacturing environment is particularly important.
You will understand that a construction programme on a food manufacturing site isn't simply about completing the building — it needs to work around production schedules, hygiene requirements, shutdown windows, access restrictions, commissioning and ultimately getting the client's production line operational.
The Projects
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across projects including:
- New food manufacturing facilities
- Production facility extensions
- Process plant installations
- Factory refurbishments and upgrades
- Production line installations
- MEP and utility infrastructure projects
- Automation and manufacturing projects
- Warehouse and distribution facilities
- Cold storage facilities
- Process and packaging environments
- Major planned shutdowns and plant upgrades
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Project values and complexity will vary, providing significant scope for someone who enjoys working across both strategic and hands-on construction delivery.
The Person
We are looking for an experienced construction leader who has progressed through project/site management into a senior leadership position.
Your current job title is less important than your ability to demonstrate that you can lead construction delivery, develop people, manage clients and contractors, and take ownership of complex projects.
Ideally, you will have:
- Extensive construction management experience.
- A strong background in food, FMCG, process, industrial or pharmaceutical environments.
- Experience delivering projects within live manufacturing facilities.
- Experience managing complex construction interfaces.
- Strong understanding of MEP and industrial construction.
- Experience with process equipment installation and commissioning interfaces.
- Strong programme management capability.
- Experience managing subcontractors and specialist contractors.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- A detailed understanding of CDM and UK construction legislation.
- Excellent stakeholder and client management skills.
- The ability to lead from the front and make decisions in challenging project environments.
What Will Set You Apart
We are particularly interested in candidates who have worked for EPC contractors, principal contractors, engineering businesses or specialist industrial project delivery organisations.
Experience of taking a project from FEED/design through procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and handover would be highly advantageous.
Equally important is your ability to understand the commercial side of construction and work collaboratively with engineering, procurement and commercial teams.
This is a role for someone who wants to build something, rather than simply manage what is already there.
Why This Role?
This is a genuine opportunity to join a business with ambitious growth plans and have a significant influence on its future.
You will be joining at a point where the construction function is developing and will have the opportunity to:
- Shape the construction strategy and operating model.
- Build and develop the construction team.
- Influence how projects are delivered.
- Work with major food and manufacturing clients.
- Deliver technically challenging capital projects.
- Have direct involvement with senior leadership.
- Help develop long-term client relationships.
- Play a key role in the company's continued growth.
If you're an experienced construction leader who understands food manufacturing, live-site delivery and complex industrial projects, and you're looking for a role where you can have genuine ownership and influence, we'd like to speak with you.
For a confidential discussion about the position, project pipeline and long-term opportunity, please contact us directly.
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