Site Manager / Principal Contractor – Fire Alarm Upgrade
Location: Bury (Greater Manchester)
Rate: £300/£350pd (DOE)
Duration: 12–16 weeks (3–4 months)
Start date: January 2026
Role overview
The Site Manager/Principal Contractor will oversee fire alarm system upgrade works across three residential care home sites within travelling distance of Bury, starting January 2026 for approximately 12–16 weeks (3–4 months). The role is responsible for day-to-day site management, health and safety, contractor coordination, and ensuring works are delivered to specification, on time and to the required quality standards.
Key responsibilities
- Act as Principal Contractor on site in line with CDM 2015 requirements, ensuring legal and client obligations are met.
- Plan, supervise and coordinate day-to-day activities across three live residential care home sites, minimising disruption to residents and staff.
- Manage and coordinate a team of approximately 10 contractors, including electrical contractors, fire stoppers and installers, ensuring safe and efficient delivery of works.
- Oversee installation and associated works for Advanced Open Protocol fire alarm systems in accordance with design, specification and relevant standards.
- Lead on-site health and safety, including method statement and risk assessment implementation, toolbox talks, site inspections and prompt close-out of any NCRs or observations.
- Carry out site inductions for all operatives, visitors and subcontractors, ensuring site rules and procedures are clearly communicated and enforced.
- Plan and manage the safe closing-off and segregation of work areas within operational care homes, ensuring robust protection of residents, staff and visitors.
- Coordinate with the client, care home managers and other stakeholders to schedule works, access and shutdowns, and to communicate progress and issues.
- Monitor progress against programme, proactively address delays or issues, and report regularly to the project/contract manager.
- Maintain accurate site records including daily diaries, induction registers, permits, delivery notes and H&S documentation.
- Ensure quality of workmanship, compliance with specifications and relevant standards, and support commissioning and handover activities.
Skills and experience
- Proven experience as a Site Manager or Principal Contractor on M&E or fire alarm projects, ideally in live or sensitive environments (e.g. care, healthcare, residential).
- Strong working knowledge of health and safety legislation and CDM 2015 within a construction/refurbishment context.
- Experience managing multiple subcontractors (circa 10 operatives) and coordinating different trades on live sites.
- Ability to plan works across multiple sites, organise labour and materials, and manage programmes under tight timeframes.
- Confident communicator able to liaise with clients, residents’ representatives, and subcontractors professionally and clearly.
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail in record-keeping, permits and H&S documentation.
- Ability to work autonomously, make sound decisions on site, and escalate issues appropriately.
Qualifications and certifications
- SMSTS or SSSTS (Site Management or Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) – essential.
- Formal Health & Safety qualification/certificate (e.g. IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent level appropriate to role) – essential.
- Demonstrable understanding and application of CDM 2015 duties and principles – essential.
- Relevant trade or technical background in electrical, fire or building services – desirable.
- Full UK driving licence – desirable, due to travel between three sites.
