Simon Rhodes

The past 12 years in South Africa I have experience as a Contracts Manager & Director of two companies in the following fields. Pipejacking, Micro-tunnelling, Auger boring, Geotechnical field investigations & sampling of material as well as DCP testing and results, Earth dam construction and Hydro-sealing with Sodium Bentonite, Design & installation of sub-surface drainage systems as well as Gabion basket & Reno Mattresses slope protection, steel water pipelines for Rand Water, Project Management, Estimation, Finance, and Valuation, lateral-support, shotcrete, Gunnite, rock-bolts, soil-nails, slope protection, rock-fall protection, topographical surveying using optical instruments, Surface & underground blasting. Extensive knowledge on GCC, FIDIC, JBCC contracts, claims and drafting of contracts.

Responsible for sourcing of new work, Pricing & Estimation of tenders, Contractual management of existing contracts, Project management, Project Budgets, Staff allocation, Business development, Safety files, Maintaining industry regulation compliance, Finance, Reports, Budgets, Payroll.

Delivered timely advice to proposal and delivery teams on regulatory compliance.

Collaborated with legal counsel to address complex issues, mitigating potential risks and liability concerns.

Negotiated favorable terms with suppliers, vendors, and partners to maximize profitability without sacrificing quality.

• Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
• Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
• Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
• Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
• Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.

Responsible for all pricing, estimation and submission of pricing to clients. Keeping tender register up to date indication tender number, contract name, client, date submitted, amount tendered, project specifications and status.

Overseeing all current projects from establishment to completion, drafting or editing of contracts for current and new projects, submission of all payment certificates and tax invoices to clients for works done monthly for payment.

Supplying monthly cost reports, project reports, financial reports on projects (current and completed). Submitting site payment requisitions after my approval, reviewing and signing off of site claims, expenses, LO.A, monthly time sheets and hours for site personnel, ensuring sub-contractor invoices are correct, plant running, security and site offices.

- Attend all site I project meetings with clients, OHS audits and reports.

- Sourcing of new clients and suppliers, ensuring good consistent relationship with existing clients.

- Reporting of projected income and current monthly income, forecasting, cost to complete, variations or claims, percentages of profit or loss to directors and shareholders on a weekly and monthly basis.

- Ensuring establishment of sites, accommodation, materials and plant are within project date requirements.

- Weekly site visits to projects and contractor liaison on a regular basis.

- Responsible for on-going site communication and correspondence.

- Setting up of site budgets and monthly cash-flow.

Took over from previous contracts manager with 15 current projects on the go, we were invoicing R7.8mil per month for that year and made R125mil financial year pipejacking division.

Responsible for site correspondence, ordering of materials and inter site establishment, checking of levels by use of dumpy level and theodolite ensuring the correct line and levels were being maintained. Managing daily progress was being achieved.

Responsible for signing daily dairies from sites and material requisitions before processing and ordering with suppliers.

Ensuring correspondence between contractor and client was maintained on a daily / weekly & monthly basis.

Generating monthly report packs with progress reports, financials, variations, materials, staff, running costs, cost vs actual reports indicating percentage of profit or loss, and completion reports, cash flow projections to completion. These reports submitted to client, consulting engineers and Esorfranki Senior management monthly.

Reporting on future contracts due to be awarded or started, delays on works stoppages. Submission of notices in terms of contractual obligations, submitting claims, standing time, variations and additions outside the original contract.

Responsible for submitting all monthly payment certificates calculated on percentage of works completed, material onsite, and finally invoicing a tax invoice to client for payment.

Estimating and preparation of new tenders or pricing, submitted to director for approval.

Reviewing and drafting current and new contracts and related annexure when required for legal or contractual purposes.

Had numerous site visits, inspections and meetings with consultants and clients each month.

Acquiring new prospective clients and keeping relations with current clients up to date.

Using own client base to try source new work outside the requests received by phone or email.

Invoicing of retention monies and scheduling of reminders for future invoices relating to retention.

Ensuring that monies received correspond with actual amounts invoiced, report on late payments and payment arrangements negotiated are correct.

Drafting of legal correspondence and contractual breech letters.

Project managed the installation of 1200mm steel pipeline in Rustenburg for the RandWater Project P7 Pipeline award phase to completion.

Submission of programme of works, implemented myself the establishment of site, site offices, site camp for laborers, Transportation of plant, machinery, staff, materials ordered, delivered, inspected and signed off.

Managed a staff complement of 135 people during the project, ensured time sheets, over time and LO.A was correct for monthly payments. Oversaw the monthly petty cash and site cash was budgeted and accounted for.

Was responsible for all site requirements, material ordering, OHS equipment, barricading, site storage areas, drafting of site plans, relocation of natural vegetation, correspondence and submission of notifications and closures.

Overseeing, trench excavation, radiography, butt welding, field welding, trench excavation, backfilling, compaction, lab testing, clear & grubbing, maintaining and preserving of vegetation, overseeing of various teams and personnel, Site establishment. Project completion, Plant, Fuel and monthly project meetings, Submission of monthly Payment certificates.

Assisted in the purchase of new offices and land for Maduludi in Cradle of Human Kind, designed access and plans on AutoCAD to architects for final plans to be drawn for development, instrumental in rezoning of property purchased.

Responsible for tender submission and documents for government tenders, oversaw all estimators pricing and approved before final submission. Tenders were specifically for bulk earth works, Road works, storm water drainage, installation of paving, kurbs asphalt base works as well as water pipelines, reservoir and valves and chambers, pipejacking, layer works, stabilization, platforms, retainer walls and bulk excavation works.

Designed and implemented all site inspection sheets, site records, site diary and managed site / project file.

Responsible for hosting monthly project meetings with client Rand Water, submitting meeting minutes and responsible for all correspondence to management, client and sub­ contractors.

Setting up of service level agreements for all sub-contractor and externally hired plant and equipment.

Construction Site Supervision.

Responsible for excavation of existing dams, waterways, spillways, ponds, rivers and water systems.

Responsible for re-shaping slops, bringing in imported material to ensure a 1:3 slope is achieved.

Laying of sodium bentonite material, then rotavating material and bentonite.

Compacting base and slopes with machinery.

Supervision of staff.

Liaising with clients at sites.

Collection and supervision of materials delivered and hired plant.

Data collection and bulk material samples for lab testing.

Reporting to management on progress and site inspections.

Mediating labour related issues to management.