James Bowers
Head of Construction / Project Director
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About
Head of Construction / Project Director with over 30 years of elite experience leading complex high-end residential, heritage refurbishment, and structural conservation schemes across Central London. Proven mastery of dual-delivery frameworks, seamlessly switching between self-delivery utilizing direct site trades and orchestrating specialized sub-contractor supply chains. Highly skilled in driving sub-contractor performance, executing rigorous management of H&S;, and managing end-to-end operational scaling.
A proactive leader focused on the anticipation of potential risk through detailed analysis to mitigate surprises as the project progresses, protecting overall financial performance through continuous programme monitoring and commanding presence when chairing client and contractor progress reviews in Prime Central London (PCL).
Experience
Senior Contracts Manager (Southern Region) - WORKSPACE DESIGN & BUILD
(2025-03)
Formulate and execute delivery strategy across a multidisciplinary team spanning pre-construction, structural engineering, and final interiors.
- Key Achievements: Successfully running a complex portfolio, including the delicate restoration and CAT A / B fit-out of the Grade II Listed Victorian Clock Factory in Clerkenwell (£2.1M); executing early risk analysis across structural and logistical constraints to insulate the project programme from financial volatility and avoid late-stage operational surprises; driving sub-contractor performance and implementing rigorous management of H&S; across tight inner-city developments while regularly
Project Director - MOSS CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
(2017-06 - 2025-03)
Orchestrated teams of construction consultants, specialist engineers, and site sub-contractors to deliver residential developments from initial pre-contract planning through to final handover.
- Managed high-end residential schemes up to £8.5M (Sunstone Properties) in Bristol and Southwest London, executing complex structural alterations prior to luxury, high-tolerance finishes.
- Key Achievements: Maintained strict commercial discipline and precise programme monitoring to deliver a complete structural refurbishment at Eton College (£1.1M); identified potential structural and conservation risks early, deploying targeted remediation strategies while chairing technical sub-contractor workshops to secure cost-effective engineering solutions.
Project Lead / Director - BANYAN DEVELOPMENTS
(2000 - 2017)
Spent 17 years managing high-end residential extensions, retail rollouts, and commercial redevelopments totaling tens of millions in volume.
- Key Achievements: Geared up, scaled, and managed an end-to-end process from scratch to successfully execute a £60M National Retail Roll-Out Programme (260 projects over 9 years); controlled procurement, package letting, and on-site trade management for the high-end refurbishment of a private house in Rutland Mews, Knightsbridge (£0.5M).
Site Manager / Promoted to Deputy PM - ISG / MORGAN SINDALL / OVERBURY / SINDALL CONSTRUCTION
(1990 - 2000)
Developed a foundational mastery of high-end PCL building engineering and complex historic structures.
- Key Achievements: Started as Site Manager and was promoted to Deputy Project Manager for the landmark St John's Lodge project (£14M) under strict architectural oversight; managed day-to-day operations and safety compliance for high-profile assets including the National Gallery Offices at Trafalgar Square (£3.5M) and Hanover Lodge (£2.5M).