James Lewis Recruitment

5 job(s) at James Lewis Recruitment

James Lewis Recruitment City, London
26/05/2026
Full time
Mechanical Project Manager CAT B Fit Out (Central London) Up to £85,000 + travel Permanent 2 3 days hybrid If you re tired of being the person who inherits problems at install stage, this is the role where you own delivery properly from pre-start through commissioning and handover on fast-track CAT B schemes where pace matters and good planning actually gets rewarded. You ll join a well-established design and build building services contractor delivering CAT B commercial fit out projects across Central London, typically up to £1.5m. This is hands-on, multi-project delivery: multiple live jobs, tight programmes, busy interfaces, and the expectation that you can keep quality and commercial control while still getting things built. What you ll do Run projects end-to-end: pre-start, site mobilisation, delivery, commissioning and handover Control programme: short-term lookaheads, progress reporting, sequencing and recovery planning Own procurement and logistics: plant/material orders, deliveries, and working around site constraints Manage labour and subcontractors: productivity, quality checks, coordination and output Drive technical flow: submittals, RFIs, and coordination with design teams where needed Lead meetings and actions: keep interfaces moving and close issues fast across trades Support commercial performance: cost control and variations alongside the commercial team Close out properly: snagging, handover documentation and O&M manuals to a clean finish What you ll need Proven experience delivering CAT B commercial fit out mechanical packages in London A mechanical building services background (time served or academically qualified) Track record managing projects up to £1.5m in a fast-paced environment Strong H&S awareness and solid site delivery best practice Clear communication able to manage multiple stakeholders and keep site aligned Package Up to £85,000 (dependent on experience) Travel 2 3 days hybrid working No additional perks Shortlisting is underway apply quickly to avoid missing out.
James Lewis Recruitment City, London
26/05/2026
Full time
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (Contractor-side) Concept to RIBA Stage 4 London & South East Commercial Fit Out Main Contractor Permanent A growing main contractor in the London and South East commercial office fit out market is strengthening its in-house design capability and is looking for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead from the front. Trading for 3.5 years and turning over circa £20m in 2026, the business has built its reputation quickly and now wants the right person to help shape how its mechanical design function develops. This is a contractor-side role with genuine ownership from feasibility and concept through to RIBA Stage 4 technical design. The focus is firmly on delivery: programme, procurement, installability, change control and margin. You will lead mechanical design across multiple projects, coordinate external consultants and design partners, and challenge outputs where needed, including reviewing IES, Revit and Hevacomp information. You will produce feasibility schemes and option studies to support pre-con decisions, and when budgets tighten you will lead value engineering conversations with confidence, presenting practical alternatives that protect performance and quality. You will also support tender and proposal submissions, attend design and client meetings, and produce clear actions, trackers and reporting, working closely with the commercial team on subcontractor tender analysis. They need someone with contractor-side mechanical design experience (D&B, design assist, or delivery-led design), who can evidence project ownership and interface management, and who is confident carrying designs through to Stage 4. You should be comfortable across Cat A, Cat B, turnkey and D&B environments, present well with clients, and able to explain design decisions in commercial terms, not just technical language. Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills are important, alongside a minimum HNC/HND in Building Services Engineering (or equivalent) and typically five or more years relevant experience with D&B exposure. Key points Contractor-side mechanical design lead, concept to RIBA Stage 4 Delivery-led decision making: programme, procurement, installability, change control, margin Commercial fit out focus across London and the South East Mechanical packages typically £250k £1.5m, overall project values up to circa £4m £80,000 £90,000 + package, travel covered/allowance, bonus, 25 days holiday + bank holidays + birthday This won t suit a consultancy-only profile with no contractor-side delivery exposure, or anyone unable to demonstrate ownership beyond producing design outputs. If you want a role where design is judged by what gets built, and you have the scope to shape an in-house mechanical capability within a growing contractor, this is worth a conversation.
James Lewis Recruitment
26/05/2026
Full time
MEP Buyer If you are tired of being treated like the person who simply raises orders after everyone else has made the important decisions, this is your chance to have far more influence on how projects are delivered. You understand that buying in building services is not an administrative function. It affects programme, margin, supplier performance and site confidence. The right materials, from the right supplier, on the right terms, at the right time can keep a project moving. The wrong approach creates delays, cost leakage and pressure for delivery teams. This role sits within an established London building services contractor with a long-standing presence in the market, delivering mechanical and electrical installations across fit out, refurbishment, design and build, and full MEP packages. Their work spans commercial offices, data centres, education, healthcare, residential, student accommodation, public sector schemes, and sports and leisure environments. That variety matters. It means you will not be buying against one narrow project type or a repetitive supply chain. You will be supporting live works across fast-paced CAT A and CAT B fit out environments as well as more complex building services installations where coordination, timing and supplier reliability are critical. You will be based in head office, working closely with the directors and supporting Project Managers and Site Managers across multiple live jobs. This is where procurement directly supports delivery. You will negotiate with MEP wholesalers and manufacturers, raise orders for materials and plant, manage supplier relationships, resolve issues before they escalate, and help make sure site teams get what they need without unnecessary disruption. You will be a visible part of the delivery process. The business operates across a broad building services offering, including mechanical, electrical and associated specialist systems, with a strong emphasis on coordinated delivery, technical standards and practical project support. In that kind of environment, buying is not a back-office task. It is part of how projects stay commercially controlled and operationally effective. What you will be doing Negotiating terms, pricing, rebates and early settlement arrangements with MEP wholesalers and manufacturers Raising orders for materials, plant hire and subcontractors across multiple live projects Liaising with suppliers to make sure delivery dates are met and site teams are kept informed Analysing monthly spend and helping improve buying performance across the supply chain Entering price confirmations accurately and feeding revised buying terms back to estimating Managing requisitions, order confirmations, delivery notes and invoice queries properly Taking ownership of supplier issues and seeing them through to resolution Monitoring supplier KPIs and giving regular feedback on performance Maintaining strong commercial confidentiality at all times Why this role stands out This will suit someone who wants to be closer to the commercial and operational heartbeat of a project business. You are not being brought in to sit quietly in the background. You will deal with directors, project teams, wholesalers, manufacturers and suppliers every day. Your work will have a direct effect on how efficiently projects are delivered and how well the business buys across its supply chain. It should also appeal to someone who prefers a more hands-on contractor environment. The structure appears to be one where leadership remains close to delivery, which usually gives a buyer more visibility, more accountability and more opportunity to make a genuine impact than a heavily layered corporate set-up. What they are likely to want from you You will probably already have buying or procurement experience within mechanical, electrical or wider building services contracting. You should be confident negotiating with suppliers, comfortable managing multiple live priorities, and organised enough to keep control of orders, paperwork and communication without needing constant oversight. Just as importantly, you will need sound judgement. This role needs someone commercially aware, dependable and proactive, with the confidence to deal professionally with directors, estimators, project managers, site managers and suppliers. Strong Excel, Word and general office-based administration skills matter, but what will make you effective here is your ability to keep things moving, solve problems properly and protect delivery without creating unnecessary noise. What Next If you are a Buyer in the building services market and you want a role where procurement has genuine impact on project delivery, commercial performance and supplier strategy, this is well worth a conversation. If that sounds like the kind of step you have been looking for, apply today or get in touch for a confidential discussion.
James Lewis Recruitment Weybridge, Surrey
26/05/2026
Full time
Mechanical Project Manager Site-based From May 2026 75,000 - 90,000 or 350 - 400/day CIS/Ltd If you are tired of being brought into jobs just to firefight programme issues, supply chain problems and coordination gaps created earlier in the process, this is the kind of role that gives you proper control from the front end. You know mechanical project managemen is not straightforward. It is not just about pushing labour and chasing paperwork. It is about planning works properly in a live, controlled setting, managing access, sequencing refurbishment and new-build elements, keeping standards high, and making sure delivery stays commercially and operationally on track. This role gives you the chance to do exactly that on a substantial custodial programme where the mechanical package matters. You will be joining a top 30 M&E contractor with more than 25 years in the market. The business is privately owned and delivers across design and build, full M&E services, HVAC, IT infrastructure, CCTV, security, access control and fire alarms. Their project portfolio spans commercial, education, residential, super-prime residential, leisure, healthcare and Ministry of Justice environments, with schemes ranging up to 20m. That breadth matters because it points to a contractor used to working in complex, highly regulated buildings where planning, coordination and quality cannot be left to chance. The work itself is strong. This programme involves the refurbishment of existing prison buildings alongside the delivery of new houseblocks, a healthcare facility, multipurpose workshops, teaching spaces, gym facilities and additional catering and kitchen areas. It is the sort of job that needs a Mechanical Project Manager who can look beyond the individual package and understand how delivery, access, sequencing, compliance and handover all have to come together in a controlled environment. This is a site-based role across HMP Feltham and HMP Coldingley from May 2026. You will be the person responsible for making sure the mechanical works are properly planned, properly resourced and properly delivered. You will build and manage the programme, drive procurement and labour forecasting, control subcontractor performance, oversee health and safety, manage the financial and variation position, and keep the project moving towards a snag-free handover. You will also be the key point of contact on the mechanical side, so being comfortable in front of the client, communicating clearly and maintaining confidence throughout the job is a major part of the role. This is not a position for someone who wants to sit behind reports and react to problems from a distance. It suits a Mechanical Project Manager who likes being close to the work, making decisions early, holding standards on site and taking ownership through to final accounts, O&M completion and handover. What you will be doing Managing the mechanical package across custodial works at HMP Feltham and HMP Coldingley from pre-delivery planning through to commissioning and handover. Producing and driving the programme to ensure works are delivered in a controlled and timely manner across refurbishment and new-build elements. Taking ownership of procurement, labour forecasting and subcontractor management so site activities are properly planned and supported. Managing costs, variations, health and safety and quality, while maintaining strong control of progress on site. Acting as the main mechanical point of contact for the client and wider project team, keeping communication clear and delivery aligned. Ensuring a professional close-out of the project, including snag-free completion, final accounts and full O&M handover. What you will need A proven background delivering mechanical building services projects in the UK. Experience managing mechanical packages ideally up to 6m within M&E or building services environments. The ability to programme, coordinate and deliver works in complex live or highly regulated settings. A strong track record of managing subcontractors, driving standards and maintaining programme and commercial control. Client-facing confidence and the ability to take ownership of the mechanical scope from early planning through to handover. Custodial or Ministry of Justice experience would be highly attractive. Similar experience within defence or other secure estates will also be considered. If you want a mechanical project management role where the environment is complex, the delivery challenge is real and your input will genuinely shape the success of the job, this is worth a conversation.
James Lewis Recruitment City, London
07/05/2026
Full time
Mechanical Pre-Construction Manager Central London Full-time Permanent 80,000 + package Some pre-construction roles are heavily administrative and sit too far away from the actual projects. This is not one of them. This position sits right in the middle of the work winning, technical and operational side of the business, working closely with the Pre-Construction Director and alongside the Design Manager to help shape how projects are secured, planned and ultimately delivered. The company is an established building services contractor with a strong reputation across high-spec commercial fit out and refurbishment projects throughout Central London. Their work is heavily focused around CAT A and CAT B office environments, delivering technically demanding mechanical installations within live buildings and fast-paced programmes. They are looking for somebody who understands that strong pre-construction is not simply about pricing a job correctly. It is about understanding delivery strategy, identifying risk early, coordinating design and operational input, and helping create confidence with both clients and consultants before projects ever reach site. The role would suit somebody already operating within pre-construction, estimating or project engineering within the building services sector who wants broader involvement across the full front-end process rather than being boxed into one discipline. You will work directly under an experienced Pre-Construction Director whilst collaborating closely with the Design Manager and operational teams, giving you exposure to the full lifecycle of major commercial fit out projects and a clear route for long-term progression. What the role will involve Supporting the management of projects through the full pre-construction lifecycle Working closely with the Pre-Construction Director on bids, strategy and client engagement Coordinating with the Design Manager to ensure technical alignment throughout tender stages Reviewing specifications, drawings, programmes and tender documentation Supporting commercial submissions and bid presentations Liaising with consultants, subcontractors and suppliers Assisting with procurement strategy and value engineering exercises Helping identify technical and commercial risks early within projects Supporting smooth handover into operational delivery teams What they are looking for Previous experience within pre-construction, estimating, design coordination or project engineering within building services Strong understanding of mechanical building services projects Experience within commercial CAT A and CAT B fit out environments would be highly beneficial Good technical and commercial awareness Strong communication and organisational skills Ability to work collaboratively across design, commercial and operational teams Ambitious and looking to develop long term within a growing contractor What is on offer Circa 80,000 salary depending on experience Competitive package Long-term progression within an expanding business Exposure to technically challenging London commercial projects Close mentorship from experienced senior leadership Collaborative environment with genuine involvement in project strategy and delivery This is a good opportunity for somebody who wants to move beyond purely estimating or coordination-focused work and become more involved in the wider strategy, planning and delivery side of major commercial building services projects. Interviews are being arranged now.