Construction Manager

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Position Overview Synthomer is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Construction Manager to lead field execution and construction coordination for capital and maintenance projects at our Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This role serves as the primary on-site construction leader, ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements, and project objectives.

The Construction Manager partners closely with Project Management, Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and external contractors to coordinate all phases of construction activities. This position is responsible for daily field oversight, contractor management, issue resolution, schedule coordination, and successful project turnover.

Key Responsibilities Project Planning and Design Support

• Support Project Managers during the design and planning phases of assigned projects.
• Collaborate with engineering and drafting teams to identify and resolve design-related issues.
• Participate in the development, review, and evaluation of contractor bid packages and construction scopes of work.
• Provide constructability reviews and field input to improve project execution and minimize installation challenges.

Construction Coordination and Scheduling

• Develop and communicate short-term and long-term construction look-ahead schedules.
• Coordinate construction activities with Maintenance, Operations, and Planning teams to minimize impacts to production.
• Identify resource requirements, plant constraints, outages, and schedule risks, implementing mitigation plans as needed.
• Facilitate clear communication among all project stakeholders throughout project execution.

Procurement and Material Management

• Coordinate the acquisition and distribution of company-supplied materials, tools, and equipment.
• Verify that required materials and resources are available and properly staged before construction activities begin.
• Monitor material usage and communicate shortages or delivery concerns that may affect project schedules.

Contractor Management and Field Leadership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for construction contractors on-site.
• Ensure contractors are properly oriented, escorted, and operating under required permits prior to beginning work.
• Monitor contractor performance to ensure compliance with company safety policies, project specifications, and industry best practices.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement among all field personnel.
• Evaluate contractor productivity and quality, addressing deficiencies in a timely manner.

Construction Execution and Problem Solving

• Direct and oversee daily construction activities from mobilization through project completion.
• Monitor progress against schedule, scope, and quality requirements.
• Identify and resolve field issues, escalating concerns when necessary to maintain project objectives.
• Investigate construction discrepancies by comparing field conditions, fabricated components, and engineering documents to determine corrective actions.
• Coordinate resolution of technical, operational, and construction-related conflicts among stakeholders.

Project Closeout and Turnover

• Oversee final installation, testing, commissioning support, and project turnover activities.
• Verify that all work is completed in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, and plant standards.
• Ensure punch-list items are resolved and project documentation is complete prior to turnover.
• Support post-project reviews and lessons-learned activities to improve future project execution.

Qualifications

• Experience managing industrial construction projects within chemical manufacturing or similar industrial environments.
• Strong knowledge of construction safety programs, permit-to-work systems, and contractor management practices.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply engineering drawings, specifications, and construction documents.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple contractors and cross-functional project teams.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced industrial environment while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, and schedule performance.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, piping, structural, civil, and electrical construction practices.

🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation
• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme
• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes