Construction Director in England

Contract - 12 months FTC (with a view to becoming permanent)

Location - Between Cotswolds and London

Salary - up to £90K doe plus car allowance and other benefits

We are currently looking to recruit a Construction Director having longevity within the tier 1 - 2 construction industry or coming from a surveying / property consultant’s background who will be site based on two projects based in Hampshire and East Sussex. The role will initially be for 12 months with a view to becoming permanent and supporting the property lending team on development loans throughout the UK. Ideally you will be based between the south or west of London towards the team’s base in the Cotswolds.

Your role will be overseeing the management and performance of construction including the main contractor on each property site. Including scope of works, costs, planning, design, construction, programme controls and monitoring, ensuring the project is delivered to programme, safely, budget and specification through engagement with developers, contractors and our employer’s agents.

You will take full ownership of current projects and therefore the candidate should have a wealth of knowledge and experience with all aspects of the construction industry. There may be scope for additional projects to be added in which case you will be responsible for overseeing the scope/specifications of works, associated costings, contract, appointment of principle contractors & consultants on our existing construction projects.

The Role will work within our Property Team and report to our Head of Property, and the loan managers in the team, whilst there will be support from the Head of Construction whose team oversees a number of owned development sites.

Key Responsibilities (Initial 12 months)

• Producing or updating a detailed outlined scope of works require to each project.
• Advising on the project risks on each project regularly including production of risks registers.
• Managing the overall projects costs on behalf of the Client and any overspend where you will need to demonstrate the reasons behind the overspend to the Team prior to agreement.
• Managing our consultants appointed on each of the project along with agreeing their costs, scope of responsibilities and budgets for the projects where necessary.
• Agreeing the Principal Contractors payments with our appointed Consultants.
• Ensuring that all works are undertaken with 100% Building Control / Warranty provider or Building Regulation compliance standards.
• Managing all external authorities including Planning departments, Listed Building Consents, Highways, appointment of specialist consultants.
• Ability to drive technical excellence throughout the project duration and providing advice on new projects.
• Ensuring adherence to high standards of health and safety on sites.

If role becomes permanent:

• Acting as a sounding board at deal appraisal stage advising on risks of development loans including assisting team members with any key construction related initial queries before pricing a loan up.
• Assisting the lending team with construction related due diligence including assessment of procurement method, JCT form, main contractor suitability.
• Observing Lyell Investment Committee new loan submissions and inputting into preparation of IC Papers.
• Attending site visits with monitoring surveyors, helping to appraise their initial reports and generally assessing the quality of our monitoring surveyors.
• Interrogate and validate cost and programme data and assumptions, made by developers and their contractors, to ensure that reporting is realistic and accurate.
• Working with our borrowers and developments and highlighting risks across the development loan book and helping advise the commercial team on action to take to avoid any compliance issues, delays or cost overruns occurring on construction sites.
• Advising management on construction related matters on distressed loans as well as overseeing and appointing new third-party contractors and advisors to complete developments before a loan can be exited at maximum value.
• Working in partnership with construction lawyers to prepare sound and secure construction contracts.

Skills & Experience

• At least 15-20 years proven background in commercial / housing construction projects where you can demonstrate you have taken projects from inception to completion in a senior position.
• Degree-qualified in Construction Management, CIOB, RICS.
• Proficient in Asta Programme Management, MS Office suite.
• Valid CSCS Black or Academically Qualified Person.
• Proven ability to manage projects and deliver quality work on time, within budget.
• Able to work as part of a team as well as autonomously.
• Able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of Health & Safety legislation.
• Thorough, with strong attention to detail.
• Track project programmes, provide weekly detailed written reports / updates.
• Strong Time management skills with an ability to prioritise.
• Ability to communicate well with individuals at all levels and specialisms.
• Track and manage commercial changes/variations.
• Proficiency in contract forms, risk management, and governance.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of JCT contracts.
• Experience of providing procurement advice, tender documentation, and post contract services.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early, should we receive sufficient applications.

Blackfinch Group is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences. A copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy is available upon request.