Commercial Construction Manager

About Low Carbon

Low Carbon creates renewable energy to fight climate change. We’re building a net-zero energy company that will power tomorrow and protect the planet for future generations.

Low Carbon was established in 2011 with one goal in mind: to make the biggest contribution possible in the fight against climate change. The aim is to play a key role in the historic effort to move the world to 100% renewable energy.

We are a long-standing certified B-Corporation, and recognised as gold standard for environmental impact. Low Carbon’s climate ambitions are to become one of the world’s first major net-zero energy companies and to have created 20GW of new renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Low Carbon has formed a strategic partnership with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) to build a leading global renewable energy Independent Power Producer. Low Carbon is committed to the development, investment and operation of renewable energy at scale. Low Carbon invests into both renewable energy developers and projects across a range of renewable energy technologies including solar PV, wind, energy storage, waste-to-energy and energy efficiency.

With a significant international renewable energy pipeline in development, Low Carbon is well-positioned to capitalise on opportunities as the need for renewable energy and energy security increases.

We are extremely proud of the highly professional and talented team at Low Carbon. We have built a positive learning culture that incorporates respect, trust, collaboration, and a shared passion to combat climate change. It is an open, friendly and supportive environment, and we are proud to say we work here. As we grow, we are committed to increasing diversity in the team, and continuing to foster an inclusive environment where we can learn from each other.

Low Carbon is on a mission. Together, we will power tomorrow.

Role Description

Low Carbon is developing and building 20GWs of new renewable energy capacity by 2030 and is seeking a commercial construction manager to lead the construction activity as we build out this ambitious goal in the UK. We are currently building the first wave of projects, and have a very strong development pipeline to build out in the coming years.

The key focus of this role will be to lead the build out of GWs of new clean energy projects in the UK, including solar and BESS, and other clean energy technologies as they become “shovel ready”. This will include managing a range of EPC, ICP contractors and co-ordinating internal Low Carbon teams dedicated to building this new clean energy capacity, reporting to the Portfolio Managing Director.

The person in this role can be based in either Gloucester, London, Exeter or Glasgow, with travel required as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

Take a leading role in helping Low Carbon build-out its UK construction portfolio including:

• Overseeing the build-out of a number of construction projects at different stages of delivery, ensuring contractors are meeting their programmes and budgets, while driving high QHSE performance and reducing carbon emissions to support Low Carbon’s net zero pledge
• Leading the hand-over from Low Carbon’s development team into construction, identifying critical project issues and developing risk management strategies to be implemented during the build-out
• Owning the CAPEX budgets for the UK construction portfolio and be accountable for delivering projects on-time and budget

Pre-construction Stage

Working with internal colleagues and 3rd parties, support projects reaching financial close, and onto “shovel ready status”.

• Manage pre-construction negotiations and align contract terms across EPC and other material contracts
• Lead in the handover of projects from the Low Carbon development team, working with internal colleagues to understand material project risks and develop strategies to mitigate these risks during the construction phase
• Support development team colleagues and or consultants agree planning conditions, or other consenting and licence requirements, recognising how these planning conditions will be discharged during construction or into operations
• Co-ordinate with procurement and investment team colleagues to incorporate permitting/ lease obligations into EPC contracts and establish framework to track these through the construction phase of the project

Construction Oversight

Working with internal colleagues and 3rd party construction contractors, bring a pipeline of projects through construction into operation.

• Oversee construction on several projects at different stages, including projects reaching financial close, early-stage planning conditions discharge as well as fully mobilised projects and those in the defect liability stage
• Manage and co-ordinate the project team consisting of internal and 3rd party consultants to deliver the projects, reporting to the SPV project company on construction performance throughout the build phase
• Oversee EPC contractors, EPC-M contractors and multi-contract structures
• Oversee DNO, ICP and other utility providers to meet project delivery timescales – with technical grid support provided internally and via 3rd party consultants
• Scrutinise the performance of contractors on all aspects of their performance including QHSE and ESG, and report on this performance to internal and external stakeholders
• Support the development and implementation of net zero innovations to reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects

Financial Management

Manage Construction CAPEX budgets for the UK portfolio.

• Tracking payment schedules across several projects and managing construction cashflows to ensure construction funds are available on time for payments in accordance with the project payment schedules
• Managing variations and tracking their impact on cash flow and determining any impact on investment returns
• Develop construction budgets prior to financial close, sizing and optimising contingency across the construction portfolio
• Review payment applications and sign off milestone completions

Skills & Experience

• Degree level qualification in engineering or quantity surveying or equivalent
• Significant track record in project delivery with demonstrable construction project management experience
• Expertise in commercial contract negotiations & procurement
• Strong numerical skills and confidence managing large capital spend
• Excellent communicator and able to interact with all key stakeholders in the development, procurement and financing process (developers, networks, governmental authorities, financiers etc.)
• Strong communication in written/verbal English with the ability to engage at Senior/Board level

Our Compensation & Benefits

• 26 days holiday plus your birthday off (with option to buy a further 5 days)
• Discretionary Bonus
• Annual Bupa Health Check
• Private Healthcare for you and your family (medical history disregarded)
• Contributory Pension
• EV Car scheme
• Cycle scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Sodexo for commercial discounts and perks
• 3 additional days for volunteering to support causes of your choice.
• £50 credit per month towards short notice childcare, eldercare and pet care via ‘Bubble’