Head of Construction Management

Role Overview

As part of the project owner’s team, the Head of Construction Management will provide site-wide leadership, integration, and oversight of all construction management activities. Reporting to the Head of Site Execution, this role will manage an owner-side construction management team embedded across five EPCM-led project areas. The role requires strong field presence, technical expertise, EPCM & contractor assurance capabilities, and a relentless focus on safety, execution, and performance.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Execution & Oversight

• Lead and coordinate site-wide construction management activities across all five project areas, ensuring alignment with safety, quality, schedule, and cost targets.
• Direct, develop, and support an owner-side construction management team distributed across all five project areas.
• Ensure the owner-side construction management team monitor and controls construction deliverables in line with design specifications and quality performance metrics.

EPCM & Stakeholder Integration

• Perform functional oversight and performance management of all owner-side construction management resources assigned to areas.
• Recruit and assign owner-side construction management resources to areas based on demand from project management.
• Ensure that owner-side construction management resources assigned to specific areas deliver exceptional services to those areas.
• Serve as the primary construction management interface to all EPCM contractors, ensuring construction management alignment and performance across area teams.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including area project management, engineering, procurement, logistics, quality, site services, commissioning, and HSE, to ensure construction readiness and integration.

Planning, Scheduling & Work Front Enablement

• Review and assess the feasibility of EPCM construction schedules, providing feedback and highlighting execution risks.
• Escalate schedule concerns and constraints to project leadership and assist in resolution planning.
• Ensure optimal sequencing and coordination of construction interfaces across areas and between areas.
• Work closely with the project logistics function to ensure equipment & materials are ordered, tracked & delivered to construction contractors on time.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Ensure construction progress is tracked, quantity reporting from EPCMs and contractors is validated, and ensure reliable data is provided for project reports and dashboards.
• Compile and lead daily/ weekly/ monthly reporting routines, including look-ahead forecasts, site performance analyses, and status updates.
• Monitor EPCM & contractor compliance with construction scopes and contractual obligations, and raise any performance concerns to project and contract management.

Standards, Routines & Best Practices

• Establish, implement, and continuously improve construction management routines, procedures, and best practices across the owner’s construction management team.
• Ensure the creation of and compliance with standardized construction management procedures & processes.
• Drive consistency in reporting, issue resolution, field assurance, and construction interface management.
• Identify, monitor & control the implementation of construction risk treatment plans & updates to the risk register.

Constructability & Problem Solving

• Contribute insights and field-execution experience during constructability reviews.
• Participate in package reviews and offer expert input to develop safe, efficient, and executable solutions.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Uphold a strong site safety culture and ensure adherence to HSE regulations and site protocols.
• Ensure HSE standards are embedded into construction planning and execution.

People & Talent Management

• Mentor & coach team members and ensure appropriate training is provided.
• Ensure that direct reports are provided with clear direction and role/work expectations, along with corresponding performance metrics.
• Periodically assess the performance of direct reports and prepare corrective and development plans as required.

Candidate Profile / Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or appropriate formal qualification in engineering, construction management, or related field.
• Minimum 15+ years of demonstrable experience in construction management, ideally in steel, heavy industry, oil & gas, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Proven leadership on mega construction projects, with significant exposure to EPCM-led delivery environments.
• Strong background working on the owner side, leading multi-area or multi-discipline construction teams.
• Expert understanding of construction sequencing, field integration, interface management, schedule optimisation, and constructability.
• Familiarity with performance assurance frameworks and quantity validation processes.
• Hands-on leadership style, with excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Previous experience in cold-weather construction or Northern Europe is advantageous.