Contract Manager – Grounds Maintenance
Surrey & London | £45,000 + Car/Van Allowance + 10% Bonus (OTE £50k+)

Our client, a specialist grounds maintenance contractor is seeking an experienced Contract Manager to take ownership of a high-value, multi-site housing association contract spanning Surrey and London. This is a pivotal hire for the business, offering full account leadership across a c.£1.3m contract and the chance to make an immediate, visible impact on service delivery and client relationship recovery.

The Contract

The portfolio is split across three lots. In total, the contract spans around 15 teams and 30 operatives, including subcontractor resource, delivering fortnightly grounds maintenance visits across the client's housing stock.

The right candidate will bring structure, accountability, and credible on-the-ground leadership to stabilise performance, rebuild client confidence, and set the account up for long-term growth.

The Role

Reporting into senior operational leadership, you'll take full responsibility for the account, managing two supervisors (one covering the London lots, one covering Surrey) who in turn oversee the wider team structure.

Key responsibilities include:

• Full ownership of service delivery, KPIs, and contract compliance across all three lots
• Direct line management of two supervisors, with indirect oversight of c.13 teams
• Resourcing, scheduling, and performance management to close the current visit-compliance gap
• Acting as the senior client contact, rebuilding and maintaining a strong working relationship at a critical point in the contract lifecycle
• Site visits and inspections across both Surrey and London (London coverage required at least weekly)
• Budget oversight and commercial performance against contract targets
• Driving a firm, fair, performance-led culture among operational teams

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Background in grounds maintenance (Ideal)
• Full UK driving licence (non-negotiable)
• Experience managing a contract in the region of £800k–£850k or above
• Track record managing 6–8+ teams, ideally across multiple sites
• Strong, credible people and performance management skills, comfortable managing operatives who test boundaries
• Excellent planning, scheduling, and organisational capability

Highly valued:

• Demonstrated success rebuilding or stabilising an underperforming contract
• Strong client relationship management experience, particularly with demanding stakeholders
• A proactive, hands-on, "get stuck in" approach from day one

Location & Working Pattern

Ideally based in Surrey or the Thames Valley/West London area. The role is largely site-based (4 days per week across Surrey and London), with 1 day working from home. Regular travel to the London lots is required.

Package

• £45,000 base salary
• Company car, van, or car allowance
• 10% performance bonus (up to £4,500), linked to contract delivery