Senior Project Manager

About the department

The Capital Programme Team at the University of Warwick are looking to recruit two Senior Project Managers, with one vacancy aligned to managing accommodation projects and the other managing maintenance projects.

These opportunities have arisen as the University campus is undergoing a long period of redevelopment in both upgrading current buildings and also maintaining the existing estate.

Further information about the respective sub teams can be located here.

Job purpose

To assume delegated responsibility for the management and ultimate delivery of Estates projects within defined cost, time and quality parameters. To ensure projects are managed within current Estates and Financial procedures.

To lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for the feasibility assessment, design, supervision and contract management of new build, refurbishment and planned maintenance projects across the University’s estate. Where directed carry out design, supervision and contract management tasks within projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Accept delegated responsibility for management and delivery of capital and other projects while complying with current Estates and Financial Procedures.

• The post holder will be expected, under the direction of a Programme Manager to effectively manage deliver a number of projects. The projects will normally comprise several major capital projects (usually up to £30 million) in both preconstruction and construction phases at any one time. In addition the post holder will be expected to manage a number of lower value capital projects, major maintenance schemes and development appraisals.
• Establish a project plan from inception to completion taking into account all relevant statutory and Local Authority requirements, establish targets with respect to project delivery; monitor and report on progress against these targets
• Manage the preparation of briefs with client departments, managing the preparation of drawings and outline specifications, informed by the completion of land and building surveys and the preparation of reports, where appropriate, in order to brief external consultants or to gain appreciation of the user departmental requirements and the proposals. Including in association with the Environmental Sustainability Manager in the Estates Office, take into consideration any environmental issues with regard to the projects managed, identify and implement methodologies and procedures to manage and minimise the risks identified.
• To prepare accurate project estimates and budget costs for schemes including building work, service installations, furniture and fittings, fees, VAT etc.
• Establish a project team; with the support of the Design Manager and Programme Manager lead the selection, appointment, instruction and management of external consultants, through a mini-tendering process, and other project specific expertise including in-house design teams, for capital projects. The University currently operates framework agreements for most disciplines. The post holder will provide timely reports on the performance and associated costs and Communicate with the client as and when required to update them throughout the life of the project.
• Manage the decision making process by carrying out all necessary liaison and negotiations with all parties involved ensuring value for money.
• Review drawings and specifications for tender and contract documentation using AutoCAD and NBS.
• Manage large, composite project and programme budgets in close liaison with the Finance and Procurement departments to ensure all projects and programmes are delivered within approved budget parameters.
• Liaising with the Purchasing department during the procurement process, including furniture installation, generally using Purchasing Consortium supplied equipment, this may be by separate trades, design and build, traditional, or management contracting.
• Carry out contract administration including financial management and settlement of final accounts, liaising with external consultants where employed, reviewing all payment requests made or due in relation to the project. It is expected that the post holder will establish and maintain a robust change control process and be responsible for reporting movements in cost and scope at the appropriate level and seeking approvals as appropriate within the project governance framework.
• Manage the University’s internal Project Progressing Committee process for individual projects and to carry out timely and effective management reporting
• Prepare Planning and Building Control submissions, together with the discharge of other statutory and legislative requirements including the duties of Client and/or, Planning Supervisor arising from the CDM Regulations.
• Ensuring an audit trail is maintained, the production of record drawings of projects for integration into the Estates Office AutoCAD archive together with appropriate data for entry in the Estates asset registrar by the Records Manager
• Co-ordinate and disseminate information to all necessary parties, ensuring all Health and Safety at Work (HASAW) regulations are fully complied with (CDM, COSHH etc.)

2) Provide technical guidance to team and other Estates personnel and acting as a ‘technical expert’ within a relevant professional discipline.

3) To manage the allocation of team resources both internal and external, within the structure of the projects allocated, to maintain an efficient, cost effective project delivery.

4) In collaboration with the Estates Design Manager, ensure completion of the Post Project Review process is completed for all relevant capital and other major projects in accordance with industry and local guidance.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

• A construction related degree or equivalent professional qualification in Surveying, Architecture, Engineering or Project Management.
• A professional membership of an appropriate professional body (e.g. RICS, MCIOB, RIBA, CIBSE, APM and ICE) (or working towards) or very significant experience of project delivery in a ‘client side’ lead project management position.
• Extensive post qualification experience of managing projects preferably in a multi disciplinary environment
• A high degree of competency in:
  • The use of construction contracts and their administration.
  • Construction procurement and project management.
  • Construction technology, building design and specification (including National Building Specification (NBS)).
  • Construction legislation, as client and designer.
  • Construction Health and Safety, as client and designer – ideally in possession of a CSCS card or similar qualification.
  • Cost management, value management and value engineering.

If you have a preference over either role; the Senior Project Manager focussed on managing accommodation projects or the Senior Project Manager focussed managing maintenance projects then please make this clear in your application. The candidate and client will then negotiate this after interview stage.

Interviews are to take place in person on Thursday 23rd June (PM) and Thursday 30th June, most likely in person. If you have a preference for either date based on availability, please highlight this in your application.

The University of Warwick has appointed SearchHigher as their recruitment partner for this campaign; please apply above by visiting the SearchHigher website and submitting a CV & Cover Letter in Word Document format, or you can also email your documents to enquiries@searchhigher.com; or call Jayne Reilly on 07823524581 for a confidential conversation.