General Manager

Role Title: General Manager

Business Unit: Facilities Management - Small Works

Location: Nationwide, with travel across the UK as required

Role Overview

Galliford Try is seeking an experienced and commercially driven General Manager to lead its Small Works business across the UK. This is a key leadership role with full responsibility for the commercial performance, operational delivery and sustainable growth of a diverse project portfolio.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished leader with a strong background in construction, contract management and commercial governance. They will have a proven track record of maximising profitability, managing commercial risk and driving financial performance while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and client satisfaction.

Working closely with Project Managers and the senior leadership team, the General Manager will provide clear commercial direction, challenge, and strategic oversight to ensure all projects deliver against financial and operational targets.

What You Will Be Doing

• Take overall accountability for the commercial performance and profitability of the Small Works business.
• Drive revenue growth, margin improvement, cash generation and financial predictability across the project portfolio.
• Lead, develop and manage a team of Project Managers, creating a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, commercial awareness and operational excellence.
• Ensure robust commercial controls are embedded throughout the project lifecycle including tender review, procurement, forecasting, variation management, cost control and final account settlement.
• Provide strategic oversight of project financial performance, challenging assumptions and implementing corrective actions where required.
• Manage contractual risk and opportunity, ensuring projects are administered in accordance with contract requirements and company governance procedures.
• Review and approve project forecasts, CVRs, cash flow projections and business performance reporting, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
• Drive commercial consistency and best practice across all regions, improving efficiency, governance and profitability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants and supply‑chain partners, acting as a senior point of contact for commercial matters.
• Support business development activities by identifying growth opportunities, securing repeat business and enhancing client relationships.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, to the required quality standards and in line with agreed commercial objectives.

About You

• Significant leadership experience within the construction industry, preferably in a multi‑project environment.
• Proven track record of delivering strong commercial results, improving margins and managing business profitability.
• Extensive knowledge of construction contracts, commercial management, procurement and risk management.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, cash flow and project reporting.
• Demonstrable ability to lead, motivate and develop high‑performing operational teams.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance strategic business objectives with hands‑on operational leadership.
• Strong understanding of project delivery, construction methodologies and client management.

Desirable

• RICS or CIOB (or working towards)
• Degree in Construction / Engineering
• Strong NEC and JCT contract knowledge
• Strong commercial and financial acumen

What We Can Offer in Return

With an impressive order book of over £4.1 billion we are one of the industry’s leading principal contractors, affording you the opportunity to work on some of the UK’s most exciting projects offering you stability as well as the chance to stretch your capabilities and realise long held career goals. You will be joining diverse teams working at a high professional level with exceptional levels of commitment. With an ambitious strategy, we’re poised for further growth and success, so if you’re committed, talented and enthusiastic, Galliford Try is the right place for you.

Our benefits

• Generous holiday entitlement, increasing with years of service, plus the opportunity to purchase further holidays.
• A wide range of corporate discounts.
• Cycle to Work schemes.
• Comprehensive pension plan.
• Competitive family leave policy.
• Regular Save as You Earn share purchase scheme.
• Private medical scheme options are available for all salaried employees, and our employee assistance programme also provides free 24/7 support to those who need it.
• Paid yearly membership to one recognised professional association relevant to your role.

For more information on this role or to enquire about other positions available within our business please contact Skyemarie Bree – skyemarie.bree@gallifordtry.co.uk

Additional Information

Galliford Try welcomes applications from candidates who would like to work full‑time, reduced hours or flexibly and this will be discussed in more detail as part of the recruitment process.

We encourage, and would be grateful if, you could confirm any requirements we can reasonably fulfil to make this application a positive experience for you.

Don’t meet every requirement of the role? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Galliford Try, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement of the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

As a Disability Confident employer, we have committed to offer an interview to any candidate with a long‑term health condition or disability that meet the essential criteria for the advertised position. Please contact the Resourcing Partner listed within the job advert if you believe this applies to you. We will also take the opportunity to discuss any adjustments required for your interview.

A full job description for this role is available upon request.