Job overview
The post holder will use specialist programme management skills to co-ordinate and be responsible for the delivery of a delegated capital programme of investment projects in support of the Trust’s overall strategy. To provide support to the Trusts Capital Investment Group through oversight and monthly reporting against the annual capital programme, and commissioning of a large number of complex and high value capital and recurring revenue schemes. To work as part of the senior departmental team ensuring services are delivered to the highest possible standards.
The post holder will be responsible for delivering capital projects within cost, quality and time parameters. To manage scheme budgets carefully and to report cash flows accurately and follow standing financial instructions at all times. The post holder will have both strategic and operational responsibilities of our offices based in Worthing and oversee, support, and manage a team of Capital Development Managers as well as general responsibilities within the department.
Prior to submission of your application for any internal secondment or fixed term post, please ensure that you have discussed this with your line manager to obtain their approval. If you do not have written approval from your current line manager to take this position if successful as an internal secondment opportunity, it would be offered as a fixed term position.
Main duties of the job
To support the Associate Director of Strategic Capital in the planning and development of the estate, ensuring the provision of safe, fit-for-purpose environments for patients, staff and visitors, which reflect changes in clinical practice, and which are consistent with the strategic aims and objectives of the Trust.
To manage the delivery of an integrated, responsive and service focused capital development function, incorporating legal, planning and commissioning, project and programme management.
To ensure that the condition and quality of the estates remains a priority area for investment, thus reducing Backlog (physical condition and statutory compliance) through a five-year rolling programme of capital funding. The post holder will ensure investment in the estate reflects the finding of the current six facet survey.
To ensure wherever possible Trust Divisions are encouraged to incorporate new ideas and good practices into projects, and to design buildings which are flexible and fit for the future. These will include how projects meet sustainability targets and carbon reduction goals.
Working for our organisation
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Communication
oTo ensure that the Trust is provided with highly specialist professional advice across a wide range of capital development activities.
oTo inspire, lead, motivate and manage the capital development team, ensuring capital projects and service developments are managed efficiently and effectively.
oThe post holder will be required to manage and lead communications in relation to a number of highly complex and/or highly sensitive projects. These involve the:
§Presentation of highly technical design, compliance, contractual or financial information to project stakeholders/project team members (membership of groups will be diverse and could include directors, local authority officers, clinicians, service users, contractors, consultants and members of the public);
§Presentation of highly complex and detailed reports to directors and senior managers particularly where the recommendations or preferred options are highly contentious (for example a site closure or redevelopment); and
§Setting objectives, rules, standards and boundaries for departmental staff and/or external consultants in situations where their performance has caused problems within a project team.
oFoster effective and supportive relationships to gain the co-operation of the many stakeholders associated with highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious capital projects. Exceptionally strong listening, negotiating and persuasive skills along with a highly developed problem-solving approach are essential.
oEnsure that the Associate Director of Strategic Capital is provided with advice, which is accurate, timely and concise.
oEnsure that all project managers strive to deliver projects to the agreed quality, cost and time parameters. Ensure that all project managers maintain accurate and concise project records.
oEnsure that project managers understand the importance of and work in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions.
oEnsure that the project team are aware of and use the agreed procedures for appointing and managing contractors and consultants.
oEnsure that the project teams are able to respond as flexibly as possible to requests for urgent/unplanned assistance.
oEnsure that all department staff understand the importance of excellent communications, particularly where projects are complex or involve multiple services.
Service delivery and improvement
The post holder will support the Associate Director of Strategic Capital in the formulation of long-term Strategic Plans (1-5 years) which will encompass not only estates related aims and objectives but also the planning and coordination of service developments, IMT, estates infrastructure and medical equipping projects and schemes. This iterative process must be flexible and sensitive to frequent policy change (at both national and local level). Examples include translating the Trusts objectives and targets into related action plans; using these plans to inform the drafting of capital plans.
The post holder will be required to produce detailed written reports, option appraisals, business cases and risk assessments, and will be required to present the related action plans or summary reports to all relevant stakeholders including directors and senior managers and/or their partner organisations.
The post holder’s decisions will be guided by a combination of legislation, national and local policies. However, in most situations the post holder will have to interpret these broad policies and will have considerable freedom to act.
The post holder will have overall responsibility for an exceptionally wide range of policy implementation and policy development. The areas covered include the formulation and implementation of policies, procedures, strategies, business cases and guidelines to:
§inform/shape working practices throughout not only the department but also the Trust as a whole (e.g. capital bidding and decommissioning processes).
§which will underpin planning and commissioning activities. These documents will inform/shape working practices throughout the Trust (e.g. commissioning and decommissioning of premises; corporate approaches to colour and signage; access strategy; project initiation; post project evaluation; space utilisation).
§which will underpin the delivery of the capital and non-recurring revenue programmes of Work. These documents will inform/shape working practices throughout the Trust (e.g. competitive tendering, risk and financial management, project initiation, site rules, post project evaluation).
Support the Associate Director of Strategic Capital to co-ordinate the development, review and updating of capital investment plans and strategies.
Ensure that all capital investment strategies and implementation plans and decisions take account of clinical service development plans (both provider and commissioner focused plans).
Ensure that appropriate linkages are made between capital and property development plans and those of partner organisations including local authorities, Primary Care Partners (PCP), Sussex Health and Care System (ICS) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Ensure that all relevant Department of Health publications, guidelines and advisory reports are reviewed, and where necessary action plans are drawn up and implemented.
Ensure that a robust prioritisation and risk management process is in place to facilitate the drafting and agreement of the annual programmes of work.
Work closely with the Trust Auditors and Vat specialists incorporating recommendations form their reports into the Team’s working procedures.
In the context of limited capital resources, the need for increased transparency in the allocation of resources and investment decisions linked to strategic objectives and the mitigation of risk becomes ever more important. Therefore, you will assist the Deputy Director of Capital Development and Property to coordinate a circa £150.0m annual capital programme of investments, ensuring effective control, prioritisation and use of capital resources.
Establish systems for sharing of relevant knowledge and ensure capital plans, projects and developments are shared on a regular basis with the team. This will include regular sharing meetings where information regarding schemes can be discussed and agreed upon ahead of, during and post project delivery.
The post holder will be required to visit and inspect sites and properties on a frequent basis. These sites/properties will vary in condition (e.g. early stage construction with ground works underway; various stages of construction; refurbishment; occupied building; decommissioned building or site). The post holder will therefore be expected to regularly work in variable environmental conditions including outdoor work in inclement weather and working within a decommissioned building with no light or heat: Appropriate protective clothing, equipment and training will be provided.
The post holder will need to ensure that appropriate processes and systems are in place to:
§Store and retrieve key capital related legal documents;
§Authorise and approve legal transactions promptly; and
§Create an audit trail of activities undertaken.
Develop a database which will store information on Building condition and quality. Ensure that this database is kept up to date in accordance with the NHS Guidelines on Managing Backlog. Ensure that the information contained within this database can be presented in various ways including:
§ERIC reports;
§KPI Reports; and
§Bids for future investment.
People management and development
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that members of the capital development team deliver work to an exceptionally high standard across:
§Capital investment plans;
§Strategic access plans;
§Information technology schemes;
§Large items of medical equipping replacement or upgrade;
§Utility infrastructure strategies; and
§Capital development procurement strategy.
The post holder must be able to support and coach staff within the capital development team in order that they too can become confident decision makers who can command respect and engender confidence.
The post holder will be required to provide appropriate support to team members to ensure that they:
§Deliver these projects within cost, quality and time parameters;
§Manage scheme budgets carefully; and
§Report cash flows accurately and follow standing financial instructions at all times.
Ensure project teams are sufficiently resourced (both in numbers and quality), and systems are in place to successfully deliver annual programmes of work.
Ensure that team members are able to explain complex projects to building occupants/clinical staff, answering their questions and allaying their fears as necessary and that team members are customer focused.
Ensure that the capital development team has sufficient skills and resources in house to undertake research and development of options, develop reports and advise on specialist issues such as:
§Scheme briefs; Project initiation documents;
§Feasibility studies; Option appraisals;
§Space planning studies; Access plans;
§Post project evaluations; Equipping solutions;
§Commissioning plans; Environmental improvement plans;
§Landscaping improvement plans; and Art in health environments.
Person specification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
1. Membership of a relevant professional body. e.g. CIOB, IHEEM, CIBSE, APM.
Desirable criteria
2. Project management qualification. e.g. PRINCE, APM PMQ or equivalent.
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
3. Relevant professional knowledge to degree level or equivalent (e.g. capital development, Engineering, construction, related function and/or estate management).
4. Highly developed specialist knowledge acquired through post graduate courses and experience to master’s degree level (e.g. Project management, commissioning and health care premises).
5. Delivering projects within time/cost/quality frameworks
Skills
Essential criteria
6. Ability to produce strategies, business cases, reports and documents which clearly set out highly complex issues.
7. Ability to communicate highly complex/technical information in a clear and non-threatening manner.
8. Experience in Negotiation, Change Management and Conflict Resolution
People Management & Development
Essential criteria
9. Role modelling and coaching. Team leadership, staff management and development
10. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
11. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
12. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications