Mechanical Site Manager (Prison / Secure Estate) — Up to £400/day + staying away

If you like big programmes with real consequences (and the rate that comes with them), this one's for you. This is a Mechanical Site Manager position on the Highpoint secure-estate upgrade programme — £15m MEP across new Healthcare, Combined Workshop and Kitchen buildings, plus enabling works and tight interface management on a live, controlled-access site.

The project (site-based)

* £15m MEP across new Healthcare, Combined Workshop and Kitchen buildings

* Healthcare (040): 25 weeks — 18 Dec 2025 to 29 Jun 2026

* Combined Workshop (042): 48 weeks — 30 Mar 2026 to 12 Mar 2027

* Kitchen (044): 42 weeks — 30 Mar 2026 to 29 Jan 2027

* Pre-con / enabling: live now through March 2026 (design reviews, surveys, procurement planning)

* Delivery model: sub-let labour and sundries; major kit supplied direct (capital plant, main plant, specialist equipment, large-bore materials where applicable)

What you'll be doing

You're the mechanical lead on the ground — making sure the install is safe, sequenced, and built right first time.

* Manage all mechanical site activity: labour, access constraints, short-interval planning, permits, and daily coordination

* Lead mechanical subcontractors across typical scopes:

* Pipework (LTHW/CHW, domestic services)

* Plantroom fit-out and skids (as applicable)

* Ventilation / ductwork, dampers, grilles, fire-stopping interface

* Sanitaryware and above-ceiling services coordination

* Insulation, labels, flushing, chlorination coordination where relevant

* Own H&S delivery: RAMS, permit control, toolbox talks, PPE compliance, lifting plans, hot works, isolation management

* Drive quality: ITPs, hold points, benchmarks, witness testing readiness, snag/defect close-out

* Coordinate hard on interfaces: builder's work, risers, ceilings, penetrations, electrical containment, controls/BMS, commissioning access

* Stay on top of materials/logistics: deliveries, storage, issuing to gangs, ensuring direct-supplied kit is received/checked/installed correctly

* Keep the paperwork tight: daily logs, progress updates, labour returns, QA packs, as-builts support, handover documentation readiness

Team / set-up

You'll be working inside a structured M&E delivery team alongside an Electrical opposite number, reporting into the Mechanical PM (with Project Director oversight). The contractor is a strong, delivery-led M&E specialist known for running complex, controlled-access work with proper on-site support and clear reporting lines.

What we need from you

* Solid background as a Mechanical Site Manager / Mechanical Supervisor on MEP projects (ideally secure, healthcare, live or high-compliance environments)

* Strong working knowledge of mechanical building services (pipework, ventilation, plant, domestic services, testing/commissioning readiness)

* SSSTS or SMSTS (SSSTS minimum)

* CSCS (and relevant mechanical trade background—pipefitting/plumbing/ductwork supervision routes all considered)

* Confident managing subcontract labour, sequencing work, and solving interface problems fast

* Comfortable passing security/vetting requirements for prison work

Rate / staying away

* Up to £400 per day (depending on experience)

* Staying away costs covered (accommodation/subsistence in line with project policy)

* Long duration across the phases listed

If you want a mechanical lead role where you actually control the site and have the backing of a proper delivery structure, this is a strong one — and shortlist spots will move quickly