Mechanical Project Manager

James Lewis Recruitment

Mechanical Project Manager – £80,000 + Travel
Bicester | Fast-track CAT B fit-out | c. £12m M&E | ~36 weeks

We’re hiring a hands-on Mechanical Project Manager to deliver a rapid CAT B fit-out in Bicester. This is pure delivery for an M&E contractor: pace, coordination, and clean handovers.

What you're delivering

*

Plantrooms & distribution takeover: pick up landlord/base systems; complete LTHW/CHW hook-ups, pressurisation/expansion, DPCVs/commissioning sets, strainers and flushing bypasses.

*

Airside install & completion: main and secondary duct runs, VAV/CAV boxes, FCU/VRF air terminals, fire/smoke dampers, attenuators, final drops to ceiling grids, GRD set-out and acoustic compliance.

*

Waterside & public health: CHW/LTHW headers and branches; BCWS/HWS to tea points and welfare; sanitaryware first-/second-fix, local booster/point-of-use heaters if required, and all valving/insulation/labelling.

*

Controls & integration: BMS field devices, networks and panels, panel mods, IO testing, graphics and alarms; interlocks with fire alarm (shutdown/smoke), access control and metering for tenant splits.

*

Life-safety interfaces: smoke extract enablement, dampers proving, shut-down sequences, black-building/fail-safe tests as needed.

*

Firestopping & builders’ work: sleeves, fire collars, seals and penetration records for risers/ceilings; BWIC for openings, plinths, and fixings.

*

Testing, commissioning & handover: pressure tests, chlorination/sterilisation, dynamic balancing (air/water), water quality certificates, BMS point-to-point, seasonal commissioning plan, asset tagging, O&Ms and training.

What you’ll run day-to-day

*

Programme & sequencing: two- to four-week look-aheads, area drops, and ceiling-close sequencing; coordinate risers, plant lifts, deliveries and access with other trades.

*

Subcontractor leadership: chair progress/coordination meetings; set production targets; track labour, materials and off-site fabrication to keep milestones.

*

Quality control: ITPs, hold/witness points, snag prevention, red-lines/as-builts; verify valve charts, damper schedules, and asset registers match install.

*

Technical administration: manage submittals/samples, trackers for plant/kit, O&M data capture, and closure of technical queries.

*

Health & Safety: RAMS reviews, permits (hot works/WAH), daily briefings/TBTs, housekeeping in congested voids/risers, and area sign-offs before ceiling closures.

*

Commissioning management: author and drive the Cx plan; coordinate flushing/chemical cleans, pre-commissioning checks, TAB, BMS IO, alarms/graphics, and client witnessing to PC.

*

Commercial awareness: support take-offs, variation/EWN logs tied to site conditions and late changes; protect prelims and productivity.

*

Handover readiness: compile certs (pressure, chlorination, balancing), BMS trend logs, training agendas, asset lists/QR tags, and seasonal commissioning calendars.

What you need knowledge in

*

CAT B fit-out logistics and micro-phasing in live interiors.

*

Mechanical systems: AHUs, FCUs/VRF, VAV/CAV, CHW/LTHW, BCWS/HWS, pressurisation, water treatment.

*

Controls/BMS enablement and life-safety interfaces.

*

UK compliance & best practice: CIBSE guides, Building Regs, SFG20-style maintenance data, water hygiene.

*

Tools & reporting: look-aheads, progress trackers, QA packs, commissioning trackers; comfort with common field tools (BIM 360/Field, Navisworks view-only, snagging apps).

What you need experience in

*

Strong mechanical building-services delivery background on CAT A/B or similar fast-track interiors.

*

Proven record driving MEP trades to programme with clean QA and commissioning outcomes.

*

Clear, steady leadership and the ability to unblock issues quickly on site.

Interested? Send your CV and we’ll run you through the role in more detail