Head of Projects & Plans

The Head of Projects & Plans, as a senior member of the Museum’s Estates Department, will lead on the management of a range of activities, including capital construction projects, building and estates infrastructure and refurbishment projects and programmes with a value of up to 20M. Additionally, the role will provide professional support with property management in respect of leases and other commercial arrangements. The successful candidate will have significant client-side experience of planning and delivering buildings projects in a complex environment.

The post holder will be confident building relationships with multiple stakeholders and to plan and manage works within the broader Museum context, considering the impact on operations and on visitor experience, whilst ensuring delivery of the service to the highest possible standards. The post can be based at IWM Duxford or IWM London and will be expected to travel to all of the IWM sites as required.

In addition, your duties will include:

• Leading on the client side to deliver infrastructure investment in the IWM, along with other separately funded capital infrastructure, building and construction projects across the IWM portfolio.
• Strategically contribute to the development of the infrastructure programme through the development of PIDs, PEPs, schedules and resourcing plans to ensure that the cross-cutting benefits are delivered.
• Develop corporate level procedures, policies and strategy specific to programme and project management that will ensure successful delivery.
• Work closely with colleagues to gain buy in to new policies and ensure they are suitable across the Museum Estate.
• Lead on the articulation and integration of Estate requirements with Masterplans and, when tasked, delivery of Masterplan capital projects.
• Represent the Director Estates, Projects & Sustainability at internal forums such as local Masterplans and Collections Management meetings, and external forums such as Local Planning Authority or neighbourhood meetings.
• Lead on the management of the Estates Portfolio tracker, ensuring that progress and financial data remains up to date and fully populated by all team members.
• Oversee and lead on predominantly estate-related projects that support the IWM Estate Strategy and policies, focusing on infrastructure, buildings, sustainability, capital, minor capital, and improvement plans, taking responsibility for projects from initial proposal, through to feasibility, business case and all subsequent project stages to completion.
• Lead on the development of the project management and delivery function in the Estates Department, to include management of the team and identifying appropriate levels of resourcing.
• Ensure effective delivery of projects on time and to budget, meeting their objectives so far as practicable.
• This will be achieved by following best practice as identified in the Museum’s project processes and policies, coupled with industry standard guidance.
• Promote the continued development of quality standards.
• Implement the Museum’s formal governance requirements in respect of programmes and projects, ensuring that these are followed by all members of your team.
• This will include setting up and maintaining accurate project records and documentation and provide updates on project progress to boards via written reports or verbal presentations as required.
• Undertake project planning with colleagues to develop a shared understanding of stakeholder interests specific to the project and work effectively in teams.
• Manage interdependencies with other projects and with day-to-day Museum operations.
• Preparation of detailed specifications for tendering to external contractors, and to prepare detailed briefing documents for external consultants, as required.
• Act as a point of liaison and ‘Intelligent Client’ for projects across the Museum programme, actively engaging on all estate matters, particularly in relation to integration with existing infrastructure and services, and forward maintenance planning.
• Provide professional support to the Estates Asset Manager with leases and lettings and the delivery of the IWM Sustainability Strategy.
• Provide professional support to Estate related procurement activity.
• Work closely with other Museum departments, including Site Managers, consultants and contractors as necessary, to ensure safe management and working systems, and optimal environments for all users of the Museum Estate.
• Compile risk assessments and RAID logs and ensure induction of site operatives on Museum H&S rules as and when required.
• Manage the Estates Programme team, including your direct reports, manage cross-Museum project teams and oversee consultants and contractors to ensure that projects are delivered to time and on budget, with acceptable performance levels.
• Manage project budgets monitoring and controlling costs.
• Identify issues and make recommendations for their resolution.
• Manage the change control process.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please view the Job Description.