Pre-Construction Housing Delivery Team Manager - Harlow District Council

Harlow District Council is an ambitious authority delivering a significant Housing Capital Programme, with investment of approximately £150m over the next two years. The council is building a high-performing team of professionals to support the delivery of its housing and asset management priorities. Harlow itself offers a strong quality of life, with excellent shopping, leisure facilities, and strong transport links, including access to the M11 and M25, as well as rail connections to London and Stansted Airport.

The role: Harlow Council is seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Team Manager to join its Housing Capital Works team, supporting the early-stage development of a large-scale programme of refurbishment and component replacement works across occupied council homes, including both low- and high-rise blocks. This post requires the successful individual to be based on site 2-4 days per week. The role sits within a fast-paced pre-construction environment where you will take responsibility for shaping future investment programmes before delivery begins. This includes ensuring schemes are properly scoped, designed, costed and fully compliant prior to handover to the delivery phase.

Working collaboratively with internal housing, asset management and procurement teams, as well as external consultants and technical advisors, you will help identify priority estates and buildings, coordinate surveys, inspections and feasibility work, and develop well-defined capital projects ready for tender and delivery. A key part of the role will involve ensuring all works are developed in line with CDM 2015 regulations, the Building Safety Act 2022 and RIBA Plan of Work principles, with a strong emphasis on safety, compliance and quality in occupied residential environments.

You will also work closely with the following colleagues:

• Consultation and engagement teams to ensure Section 20 Leasehold consultation, Tenants communication and RLO function are fully and timely informed of programme matters and ensuring appropriate consultation is supported throughout programme development.
• Procurement colleagues to support the tendering and evaluation of consultancy services and planned works.
• Delivery teams to ensure smooth transition from pre-construction into execution via timely contract execution, handover, mobilisation and supplier P2P set-up.

This is a role for someone who can operate across multiple schemes at different stages, maintaining a strong overview of programme priorities while driving detailed project development at pace.

The experience you will bring:

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in a similar role with either a housing association or local authority.
• Proven experience managing housing refurbishment projects and multi-million-pound contracts (£3-5m).
• Experience managing a team, including Project Managers and Resident Liaison Officers.
• Experience in managing consultants and contractor performance.
• Experience of design and build / traditional contracts (desirable).
• Strong experience in KPI reporting, budget monitoring, and monthly valuations.
• Experience of operating successfully in Major Works (Capital).
• Unwavering focus and significant capability in delivering real outputs and value for the organisation and residents.
• Demonstrate ability to lead and motivate.
• Proven capability to work collaboratively with other teams and colleagues, delivering the required outputs for Harlow residents.
• Knowledge of and capability in delivering applicable social housing, asset management legislative and regulatory obligations.
• Experience of using asset data and resident feedback to develop Major Works’ capital investment programmes.
• Significant capability in ensuring data is accurate and utilising it to support effective decision making and add value to SHP's activities.
• Experience of maximising outputs and value for residents via effective engagement and involvement.
• Experience of supporting accurate budget monitoring reporting.

Responsibilities and Outcomes:

• Effective Team leadership and management of the team, delivering the required outputs for HOPS and residents.
• Support delivery and compliance with all applicable asset management legislative and regulatory obligations.
• Lead on the development of intelligent Major Works programmes utilising accurate, reliable data, systems and reporting.
• Supporting the delivery of accurate and effective budget planning, management and forecasting.
• Effective collaborative working with other colleagues and teams delivering the required outputs for SHP and residents.
• Leading and supporting the delivery of service improvement projects delivering the required outputs for HOPS and residents.
• Check suitability of condition data for homes and programming works to ensure all homes meet the Govt’s Decent Homes legislative standard and also accurately reporting on this.

Qualifications:

• Professional building services qualification, eg. RICS, CIOB. (Desirable)

What to do next: If you are interested in applying to this post, please do so on the Working for Essex site or email louise.butler@essex.gov.uk for further information.