What are the responsibilities and job description for the Construction Manager position at Synthomer?
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.
The Construction Manager supports capital and maintenance projects at the Synthomer Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This role works closely with the Project Manager, Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and contracted service providers to ensure all construction activities are executed safely, efficiently, and to Synthomer’s quality and compliance standards. The Construction Manager oversees day‑to‑day construction execution, coordinates contractors, and resolves issues to keep projects on schedule and within scope.
Key Responsibilities
Project Design & Planning Support
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.
The Construction Manager supports capital and maintenance projects at the Synthomer Jefferson Hills chemical manufacturing facility. This role works closely with the Project Manager, Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and contracted service providers to ensure all construction activities are executed safely, efficiently, and to Synthomer’s quality and compliance standards. The Construction Manager oversees day‑to‑day construction execution, coordinates contractors, and resolves issues to keep projects on schedule and within scope.
Key Responsibilities
Project Design & Planning Support
- Assist the Project Manager during the design phase of assigned projects.
- Work with drafting and engineering teams to resolve design issues as they arise.
- Support development and review of bid packages for contractors and service providers.
- Request and sign out any Synthomer‑supplied materials, tools, or parts required for construction activities.
- Verify that all necessary materials are staged and available prior to construction start.
- Coordinate early with Maintenance Planners and Schedulers for support
- Serve as the liaison between contractors and plant Operations to maintain clear communication and minimize production impacts.
- Escort contractors to the appropriate unit(s) and ensure they are placed on proper permits before beginning work.
- Monitor contractor activities to ensure they are working safely and in compliance with Synthomer policies and industry best practices.
- Ensure contractor work meets quality expectations and is aligned with project specifications.
- Manage daily construction progress from mobilization through project completion.
- Assess any issues that arise in the field; solve directly when possible or escalate to appropriate personnel.
- Investigate root causes of problems—such as comparing fabricated components to design drawings—to determine corrective actions.
- Ensure timely resolution of conflicts and maintain strong communication between stakeholders.
- Oversee construction through final installation, testing, and turnover.
- Confirm that all work is complete, safe, and consistent with design documents and plant standards.
- Experience in industrial construction, chemical manufacturing, or related field
- Strong understanding of construction safety practices and permit systems
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Excellent coordination, communication, and problem‑solving skills
- Experience working with contractors and multi‑disciplinary project teams
- 💰 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