Senior MEP / Technical Services Manager - Bristol (Freelance)

Rate: £500–£550 per day (DOE)

Contract: 12 months

Project: £10m MEP package – high-tech environment

Location: Bristol

Employer: Leading Tier-1 contractor (£500m+ turnover)

A major Tier-1 contractor is seeking a high-calibre Senior MEP/Technical Services Manager to oversee the full technical delivery of a complex high-tech development in Bristol. This role sits at the centre of a tightly coordinated construction programme and requires someone who can command subcontractor performance, drive technical compliance, and protect programme integrity from pre-construction through to commissioning and handover.

The Role – What You’ll Lead

• Full responsibility for Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health delivery across a highly serviced £10m MEP package.
• Manage all subcontractor design outputs, technical submissions, coordination drawings and sample approvals to ensure buildability and compliance.
• Drive procurement, ensure long-lead items are locked in early, and monitor supply chain performance against programme.
• Lead technical workshops, design reviews and stakeholder meetings, ensuring issues are resolved before hitting site.
• Oversee installation quality, ITPs, sign-off sheets, Q&A close-out, and ensure all works meet strict QA and regulatory standards.
• Take ownership of RFIs, risk registers, commissioning strategies, and technical close-out.
• Work closely with an independent commissioning manager to fully sequence and monitor commissioning progress.
• Manage the full suite of handover deliverables including O&M documentation, training, and final defect resolution.

Ideal Background

• Strong track record delivering large-scale MEP/Technical Services packages of £10m+.
• Experience in high-tech sectors such as:
• Healthcare
• Pharmaceutical
• Laboratories
• Data Centres
• High-tech manufacturing
• Confident in challenging design, identifying scope gaps, and ensuring subcontractors adhere to commercial and technical requirements.
• Deep understanding of commissioning processes and regulated environments.
• Proven ability to work within a principal contractor environment and drive a multidisciplinary team.

Key Skills

• Strong leadership presence with the confidence to chair technical meetings and hold subcontractors accountable.
• Excellent planning, sequencing, and coordination ability within a live construction environment.
• Ability to foresee technical issues, mitigate risks, and maintain momentum against programme pressures.
• High attention to detail around compliance, statutory requirements, and documentation.

Qualifications

• SMSTS | CSCS (Black or White card)
• NVQ / City & Guilds / HNC or higher in a building services discipline
• Strong IT capability across BIM360, A-Site and Microsoft Suite