Director of Construction

Director of Construction
£120,000 to £150,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 3)
Manchester city centre (hybrid)

Please note: In line with our internal mobility policy, we’d like to make you aware that a preferred candidate has been identified for this opportunity

About this role

We’re looking for a Director of Construction to join our Property team in Manchester. You’ll be a key member of our leadership team, responsible for overseeing the delivery of all construction activity across our varied property estate – including new stores, refits, asset renewals, and special projects.

You’ll oversee a capital spend of over £100m and manage a team of 6 direct reports, plus around 60 indirect reports.

This is a great time to join us in Property at Co-op, as we’re in an exciting growth phase, opening new shops and formats, and investing heavily in both new and existing sites. You’ll have full ownership of delivering freehold sies, and you’ll work collaboratively with teams across the wider business to successfully deliver our property plan. We’ll also look to you to manage valuable relationships with a wide range of third-party contractors, consultants, engineers, and surveyors – making sure health and safety is prioritised across our construction sites.

Why this role matters

This is a key leadership role at the heart of our Property team, responsible for delivering an exciting, bold, and ambitious four-year construction activity plan. With significant investment in our estate and a growing footprint, this role will shape the future of our physical presence across the UK.

What you’ll do

• Lead the delivery of all property construction activity including new stores, refits, asset renewals, and special projects
• Own and manage large amounts of our capital spend
• Lead a team of 6 direct reports and around 60 indirect reports
• Own the delivery of our freehold sites
• Collaborate across the wider business to make sure our property plan is delivered successfully
• Manage relationships with third-party contractors, consultants, engineers, and surveyors
• Make sure health and safety compliance is prioritised across all construction sites

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience in construction and contract management
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing large teams
• The ability to juggle multiple complex projects with varying timelines
• Expertise in budget management and a track record of delivering projects on time
• Good communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and challenge people of all levels of seniority, inclusively

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• A company car or £8,000 car allowance
• Private healthcare
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
• Wagestream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
• 24/7 colleague support service 
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing