Capital Programme Manager

We are living through a time of unprecedented challenges here in Islington as we support our community through the Coronavirus crisis – and look ahead to working together to support our borough's recovery.
So there couldn't be a more important time to be joining us as we take our residents, our businesses and community on a new journey to shape the future of Islington.
If you are passionate about fairness and adept at delivering change you couldn't be in a better place.
Why Islington?
You will play a vital role in supporting Islington Council to achieve its vision. You will help us to continue to transform the borough to help build a more connected community and help people achieve their potential and enjoy a good quality of life.
So if you are excited about shaping the Islington of the future; are brimming with fresh ideas – and can bring your team, your colleagues, partners and our councillors along with you, we would love to hear from you.
Reporting to the Head of Capital Programme, the Capital Programme Manager is responsible for leading and managing a capital programme delivery team. The post holder is responsible for managing a multi–disciplinary technical team responsible for delivery of Islington Council's Capital Investment Programme and the Cyclical Improvement Programmes.
The budget for the service area is circa GBP20m per annum. The work is delivered on the basis of a rolling 7 to 10–year cyclical programme and includes external decoration and repairs to the main fabric of the building, window and roof renewals, security and landscaping works, decoration to internal communal areas, replacement of kitchen and bathrooms including domestic mechanical and electrical and fire safety works.
The post holder must be committed to supporting Islington Council's objectives and mission statement, business plans and service delivery plans and be an effective ambassador for Islington Council's in dealing with residents, contractors and external agencies.
The post holder will interact, liaise, communicate effectively with the Technical Services Manager and Group Leaders working within the Capital Programme Delivery Section to provide excellent service delivery.
The post holder is responsible for investigating, responding to learning from all complaints arising out of the work of your staff.
Key responsibilities
1. Lead and manage the Council's housing stock and major building works programme by delivering projects on time and within budget.
2. Lead the delivery of the Capital Programme by maintaining a strategic outlook of planned work over the next 5 years.
3. Review any planned commissioning of work in relation to the risks and issues from the previous year's commissioned work.
4. Manage the Capital Share scheme by ensuring the right investment is allocated to the commissioned work.
5. Contribute to the Asset Management strategy for the Council's Housing Stock.
6. Develop and manage the Resident Consultation strategy and plan of action.
7. Oversee the delivery of projects within the Capital Programme ensuring each project is delivered on time and within budget.
8. Manage ad hoc, high impact / risk projects as and when required.
9. Ensure complaints from residents is managed and dealt with appropriately. Contribute to the effective management of the departmental budget.
10. Ensure the best possible use is made of the resources available within the contract area, determining the condition of the stock and prioritizing investment in it.
11. Provide technical advice and input to the Asset Management team to ensure development of strategies remain relevant and reflect the needs of the housing stock and its residents.
12. Establish and maintain successful partnerships with the contractors working to deliver the Cyclical Improvement programme. Ensure that the contracts operate effectively, monitoring the contractor performance, resolving issues as they arise and delivering continuous improvement, in accordance with the terms of the contract.
13. Prepare reports, as necessary, for Committees, Area Housing Panels, Council Management Teams or Working Parties, the Core Group and Working Group, Residents' Associations, and outside agencies. Attend Committee and residents' meetings (including evening meetings) as required.
14. Ensure the effective development of project briefs and feasibility assessments and agree changes to project briefs, where required.
15. Ensure the highest standard of design, budget control and contract management are achieved on all projects, paying regard in design to:
– Health and Safety
– Value for Money
– Accessibility
– Energy Efficiency
– Sustainability
– Maintenance
16. In consultation with the Head of Capital Programme, allocate projects in–house or to external consultants and ensure that adequate staff resources are available to deliver projects within programme, cost, and practice fee accounts.
17. Contributes to the procurement of contracts worth in the region of about GBP600m.
18. Provide advice and guidance as necessary to staff concerning contract procurement, design and preparation of schemes, specifications, estimates, selection of materials and equipment, project, and contract management. Technical expertise will include:
a. Construction
b. Fire safety
c. Building and Statutory Regulations
d. Standards and Codes of Practice
e. Planning consent
f. Knowledge of all contracts commonly used within the building industry
g. Project and contract management
19. Provide professional/technical advice in relation to the evaluation and selection of contractors and sub–contractors, within Islington Council's Procurement Rules.
20. Provide professional/technical advice in relation to the procurement of consultants, and their fee scales and payments.
21. Ensure effective briefing, direction and liaison is provided to consultants. Examine schemes prepared by them for feasibility, viability and for adherence to Islington Council's standards, policies, and practices.
22. Liaise and negotiate with Government departments, consultants, statutory undertakings, and other relevant organisations on issues such as changes to legislation and regulation.
23. Ensure that tenders, accounts, and claims rendered by contractors are thoroughly and critically scrutinised prior to approval, which shall be within the timescales required by Islington Council.
24. Support Islington Council's practice account arrangements; monitor fees for the group and all projects within the group on a regular basis. Ensure that the group is not over–spending its fee allocation; take corrective measures, as necessary. Ensure that individuals within the group work within their time and fee allocations.
25. Prepare statements of witness and give expert evidence in legal cases as and when required.
26. Provide excellent customer care services individually and as a team. Take overall responsibility for all complaints generated as a result of cyclical works contracts.
Management Responsibilities
1. Lead and manage a team of 3 group leaders who are responsible for approx. 35 staff.
2. Ensure a high standard of communication from the staff to residents, colleagues, stakeholders, Councillors, and external agencies.
3. Ensure the effective recruitment, training, appraisal, development, performance management, welfare and safety of all staff working within these teams.
4. Ensure the highest standard of programming, design, construction, contract management, cost and fee planning and control.
5. Ensure adherence to Building and Contract law and Islington Council's Procurement rules and initiate corrective action, where necessary to meet these.
6. Monitor and control the group's budgets, including fee income/expenditure, overtime and travelling expenses.
7. Take overall responsible for the team's technical equipment comprising of cameras, mobile phones, measurement equipment, damp meters, binoculars, and standard FB keys.
8. Ensure that services are provided in accordance with Islington Council's commitment to "Best Value" and high–quality service provision to service users.
9. Ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation, including CDM regulations, and Islington Council's Health and Safety policies.
10. Use and assist others to use information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
11. At all times to carry out responsibilities and duties within the framework of Islington Council's Dignity for all Policy.
12. To perform any other reasonable, minor, and non–recurring duties, appropriate to the post as many be directed.
13. Recruitment to this post is subject to satisfactory disclosure through the Criminal Records Bureau.
Requirements
Person specification
You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet the essential criteria. Please ensure that you address each of the criteria as this will be assessed to determine your suitability for the post.
Essential criteria
Qualifications
Essential criteria Criteria description Assessed by
1 Degree level educated preferably in a construction related subject. Application
2 Hold a recognised professional qualification in a construction related profession (eg MRICS, CIOB) Application
3 Ideally hold a recognised project management qualification Application
4
Experience
Essential criteria Criteria description Assessed by
5 Experience in managing the delivery of large–scale capital expenditure projects on residential buildings. Application/Interview/Test
6 Experience in leading a multi–disciplinary team. Application/Interview/Test..... click apply for full job details