Location: Aylesbury
Overview
Are you a strategic leader with experience of property construction and looking for a new challenge where your skills and expertise can flourish? If so, this could be the role for you.
We are seeking a Head of Property Construction to provide effective leadership, management and strategic direction property construction team of up to 20 professional contract managers who are responsible for delivering the Council’s capital construction programme, from schools, to corporate offices, children’s homes and future service needs requirements.
This is an extremely exciting time to join our expanding and forward-thinking Property team who are essential to the delivery of the Council’s Estate Strategy, Strategic Asset Management Plan and the implementation of a Corporate Landlord. No two days are the same, as you will be part of a team that manages and maintains a large, diverse and ever-changing property portfolio ranging from corporate offices, leisure centres, theatres, car parks, farms, schools and other assets across a ~1,000 individual estate.
About us
The Corporate Property & Assets service area, within the Council’s Communities Directorate, are responsible for maintaining the Council’s estate portfolio. The service area comprising of Asset Management, Estate Management (facilities, property services and energy), Construction and Major Projects.
We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality property services that meet the needs of our clients and stakeholders. We value collaboration, innovation, and excellence in everything we do.
Why Join Us?
You will join a highly supportive team and gain fantastic exposure within the Public Sector environment. We support professional development and there are lots of opportunities to be part of high-end projects and to develop in your career with us.
Additionally, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including a very competitive employer pension contribution, a great work life balance, generous annual leave allowance, and discounts on a variety of services and restaurants.
About the role
We are seeking a Head of Property Construction to lead the organisation through the next stage. Reporting to the Service Director of Corporate Property and Assets this is a senior role forming part of the senior management team that will bring together skills in service provision delivery as well as the ability to work in a changing strategic and operational environment, by actively managing the the Council’s property construction programme of work.
Responsible for a team of dedicated professional contract managers and compliance officers, the role will include leading the team and responding to the service needs across the organisation.
Working within Corporate Property and Assets senior management team the role will be expected to contribute strategically to the Council's aims and objectives as well as the more general day-to-day operations of the wider team. Occasional deputising for the Service Director of Corporate Property and Assets will be required as well as the opportunity to be able to take a wider strategic view of service directorate objectives.
This is an opportunity to build on the legacy work already undertaken as part of the Unitary process and continue to shape the service of a strategically important part of the organisation. Any day will rarely be the same and we will provide the support to enable the successful candidate to make the most of the opportunity this role affords.
The role is challenging but professionally very rewarding. The Council is looking for applicants who possess all the technical abilities required of a professionally qualified chartered Surveyor and are also sufficiently experienced with the ability to problem solve for themselves whilst building a high performing team.
Key Accountabilities:
1. Provide visible, engaging and directional leadership to the entire estate’s teams, including performance management, professional development and workforce engagement, ensuring a positive, productive and output driven work culture is embedded and role modelled.
2. Direct and control the management of a major service / professional expertise area for which responsible, ensuring the required outcomes and standards are delivered either directly; through commissioned or funded services; or via community empowerment. Maximise service quality, efficiency and continuity and achieve maximum customer and client satisfaction.
3. Responsible for the development and implementation of cross-council strategic service plans for property construction requirements.
4. Prepare comprehensive business cases, options appraisals, presentations and other reports for decision making providing effective presentation, communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to apply these effectively to a variety of audiences.
5. Provide support and advice as the key link officer to internal services and local partnership bodies on construction, design and development matters, ensuring there is a customer first oriented service.
6. Manage suppliers and external contractors in line with procured contracts, ensuring quality, compliance and value for money is maintained.
7. Ensure all financial transactions are authorised, processed, controlled and reconciled correctly to assure financial integrity, regulatory and Council policy compliance. Systematically identify and deliver savings and efficiencies, maximising value for money.
8. Lead procurement strategies for major construction works and consultancy services in accordance with public sector regulations.
9. Ensure that projects comply with building regulations, planning permissions, health and safety legislation and Council polices.
10. Manage large scale capital budgets and ensure efficient cost control, value engineering and efficient resource allocation.
About you
We’re looking for applicants who possess all the necessary professional skills and attributes that are required to deliver the accountabilities listed here and in the job summary. Naturally, we are looking for you to have the necessary qualifications and possess membership of professional body, with sufficient experience in solving issues under pressure and uphold the Council’s ‘PACT Values’ – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.
Significant demonstratable experience in the field construction with a preferable understanding of energy management and the Buckinghamshire County area. Also, an understanding of how property can support the general aims of the Council and its Corporate Plan is essential to the role.
The scale of this role will attract a candidate experienced in managing a series of complex construction projects at any one time.
Given the scale and nature of the role, the candidate will be expected to be able to present a complex set of information and opportunity to a wide audience of key stakeholders.