Clerk of works in London

The Inclusive Economy and Housing Directorate at Newham oversees strategies for inclusive growth, tackling poverty and inequality, and ensuring residents benefit from borough development. Property Services sits under this Directorate, and the post of electrical clerk of works falls within this department. The London Borough of Newham is seeking an experienced professional to fill the role in the Property Department. This will be a full-time post 36 hours over 5 days a week.

You will take ownership of a varying range of projects up to a value of £1m, managing all aspects from tender to making good defects, overseeing external consultants and contractors, ensuring statutory, quality, H&S and contractual compliance. You will carry out property surveys, diagnose building issues recommending effective strategies including decarbonisation measures. Manage planned and ad-hoc works, ensuring excellent customer care. Manage projects including various types of electrical building projects, procurement, variation management and strategic thinking on project viability. Demonstrate commercial acumen, technical expertise, and risk mitigation, value engineering, and stakeholder management.

The applicant should have a basic understanding of the following forms of contracts (JCT Minor works, Intermediate and Design and Build plus MF1). Manage the appointment of external consultants, oversee their work for mechanical and electrical works and various types of surveys.

Key Responsibilities:

• LBN Building Asset Portfolio Management: Assist the surveying team recording the condition of Newham’s buildings stock. Also, decarbonisation and maintenance priorities.
• Forms of Contract: Oversee and advise on various forms of contract. Issue instructions and where necessary agree variations.
• Contract Administration: Maintain records to inform the contract administrator. Assist the contract administrator in planning, costing and organising of workload to ensure targets are met.
• Procurement & Contracts: Assist with the tender processes, advising on contract documents, analysing bids, managing main and sub-contractor orders and authorising payments.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Communicating with clients, consultants, site managers, and other professionals on commercial and contract matters.
• Risk Management: Identifying and managing commercial risks and contractual issues. Ensure works are carried out in safe and professional manner.
• Team Leadership: Mentoring and supporting younger members of the project team.
• Reporting: Preparing and presenting progress and briefing reports and reporting to project managers.
• Surveys: Undertake investigations/surveys of various building types and advise on the condition of existing electrical systems.
• Councils Key Initiatives: Comply with council’s quality management frameworks, Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Continuity Planning, DDA, compliance etc.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience as a clerk of works over several years in the construction industry overseeing maintenance works and projects.
• Have a good knowledge of construction, maintenance and design engineering.
• Ability to oversee many projects of varying types and sizes often at the same time.
• Good understanding of the relevant statutory regulations, codes of practice and British Standards.
• Strong understanding of M&E forms of contract and the management of them.
• Management of procurement strategies, and project management.
• Good IT skills (Emails, Excel, Word).
• Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to work at heights.
• Able to work some out of hours duties should a project demand it.

Closing date 26th July.

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.