Liverpool City Council has an ambitious and varied capital programme and seeks an experienced interim Head to manage the teams for a range of complex education projects and contracts including schools expansion schemes (mainstream and SEND) PFI and BSF. The post holder will be responsible for leadership in modernisation of the schools estate and implementation of sustainability measures to support New Zero objectives, and management the Strategic Lead for PFI overseeing contract expiry and BSF teams. The role covers a programme of c.80m. This is an opportunity for a highly experienced seasoned interim who can hit the ground running to support the Director, and help deliver projects at pace that make a positive contribution to the city, its environment and residents.
The role is 4-5 days per week for up to 6 months. Based in very pleasant Liverpool Council offices on the Waterfront. 3 days a week in the office with home working possible on other days.
Directly Responsible For:
Programme Managers, Senior Project Managers, PFI Strategic Lead, Senior Contract Managers (PFI and BSF), Project Managers
Directly Responsible To:
Director of Capital Projects and Sustainability
Main Areas of Responsibility:
Managing internal teams of built environment Project Managers, PFI and BSF Teams, Programme Managers and external multidisciplinary consultancy teams to deliver schools expansions and the schools condition programme
Leading the development of education programmes and projects working with Sponsors and Users and DfE
Working with stakeholders at senior level including Director of Education, DfE, Headteachers, Diocese
Ensuring operational effectiveness and compliance with terms of PFI contracts and effective management of contract completion.
Ensuring sustainability objectives are addressed in projects
Preparing and managing project budgets, financial reporting, programming and project planning including risk management plans.
Project delivery strategy, sustainability in design, quality and cost management,
Acting as the Intelligent Client on schools,
Preparing/overseeing consultancy briefs, procuring and managing consultants and service contracts
Delivery of the schools capital programme
Ensuring all projects have deliberable programmes with milestones, and risk registers.
Knowledge of DfE Building Bulletins, standards and processes
Site visits.
Supervision and Management Responsibility:
Ensuring activities are planned to include meaningful one to one conversations, quality annual appraisals and regular workforce planning and development.
Manages performance and behavioural issues effectively.
Budget and Financial Responsibility:
Being fully accountable for managing the councils resources well and complying with statutory requirements. This includes managing time, avoiding unnecessary waste, reuse and recycle resources to reduce personal impact.
Monitor financial performance and deliver within budget.
Monitor financial performance, deliver within budget and seek savings and efficiencies by exploring opportunities to draw funding where appropriate.
Set, monitor, and remain within budget whilst challenging the team to deliver increased efficiencies.
Explores different options for funding and income generation.
Include details of the value of budget/financial responsibility and what this budget should be use for.
Social Value Responsibility:
Drive for social value through all activities, ensuring wider social, economic and environmental benefits for the council, residents and communities.
Physical Demands of the Job:
This post is a combination of office work and field work. It will involve sitting for long periods of time and a requirement to travel to meet service needs
Corporate Responsibility:
Contribute to the delivery of the Council Plan.
Delivering and promoting excellent customer service, externally and internally.
Commitment to customer excellence by dealing with customer feedback, including complaints, and learning from feedback in the drive for continuous improvement.
Making the council a great place to work, living the councils values, actively engaging in regular communications including team meetings, undertaking training as required and being responsible for managing own performance.
Develop the City Councils commitment to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
To ensure that all work functions are undertaken in accordance with health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the City Councils safety plan.
Competency Framework:
We operate a competency framework, a set of core behaviours which define how we are expected to approach our work, how we perform in certain situations and how we treat each other. Each competency details the standards of behaviours and skills required by all staff and this in turn supports delivery of our aim and our council plans linking them together with our values.
The post holder will be required to demonstrate the ability to perform at the following competency level 3.
The competency framework can be found here.
This job description is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive. It is issued as a framework to outline the main areas of responsibility. You will be expected to carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in line with your main duties and changing priorities of the organisation.
Person Specification
Assessment methods used: I = Interview, P = Presentation, A = Application, E = Exercise, T = Test, AC = Assessment Centre
Qualification and training (Essential)
Degree in a Built Environment discipline. (e.g. Architecture, Surveying, Engineering).
RIBA/RICS/CIOB/ACE qualifications essential.
Construction industry recognised Project Management Qualification (eg RICS/CIOB/APM
Qualification and training (Desirable)
MBA
Experience (Essential)
Managing multidisciplinary teams across the built environment (I)
Performance Management (I)
Client liaison (I)
Delivery of schools expansions, improvements and landscape schemes from inception to completion across the full range of RIBA stages.
Managing project budgets (I)
BREEAM, Sustainability, BNG, CDM and Building Regs knowledge (I)
Acting as a Client PM for large scale/complex projects. (I)
Experience of JCT /NEC contract negotiations and contract administration (I)
Significant procurement experience and appointment of specialists � design team, cost planners, external PMs, CA (I)
Planning application processes, development management (I)
Working within the public and private sector (I)
Experience of writing business cases, reports and knowledge of public sector processes, including procurement
Must have the ability to undertake site visits.(I)
Commitment (Desirable)
An understanding of, and personal commitment to, the vision, aims, values and priorities of Liverpool City Council
Other (Essential)
Able to play a visible and prominent role in leading, promoting and demonstrating the values of Liverpool City Council, and building trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders (I)