Government Soft Landings Lead - Midlands in Belsize Park

We're searching for a public sector programme specialist for a brand new opportunity with our Built Asset Solutions team. Launched this year, our Built Asset Solutions service is a growth focused, global, multi-specialism offering. This opportunity is a key part of our UK growth strategy and an excellent chance to develop your own team specialising in government soft landings.

You will lead Gleeds' capability in Government Soft Landings (GSL), operational readiness, project handover, aftercare and in-use performance. The role will lead GSL delivery on major central government programmes such as DWP and GPA, while enhancing handover and soft landings discipline across Gleeds-managed projects.

As government soft landings lead, you will sit at the intersection of project delivery, operational performance and digital information. You will work collaboratively with our Project Management teams and our BIM / Information Management teams, ensuring buildings and infrastructure are not just completed, but operationally ready, supported by robust information, trained users, clear aftercare and measurable outcomes in use.

This role is more than a technical specialist role; you will lead clients, influence multi-disciplinary teams, shape methods, win work, improve quality and build a scalable Gleeds offer in an area that is becoming increasingly important to public and private sector clients alike.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Client leadership and programme delivery
• Service development and team growth
• Integration with Project Management teams
• Integration with BIM / Information Management teams
• Soft landings, operational readiness and handover
• Governance, risk and assurance

Key accountabilities will include:

• Successful delivery of GSL, operational readiness and handover services on live commissions
• Improved quality and consistency of handover and in-use transition across Gleeds-managed projects
• A stronger, market-facing Gleeds offer in soft landings and operational readiness
• Clear collaboration between Project Management teams and BIM / Information Management teams in the delivery of handover outcomes
• Visible improvement in aftercare, lessons learned, post-occupancy review and client confidence

Who we're looking for:

Essential experience:

• Substantial experience in project delivery, programme delivery, design management, technical advisory, commissioning, operational readiness, handover or soft landings within the UK built environment
• A strong track record on complex public sector, regulated or operationally sensitive projects
• Experience of leading handover, defects, aftercare, close-out or transition to operation on major schemes
• Experience working across project management, design, digital information, client operations and supply chain interfaces
• Experience of creating standards, templates, governance tools or service improvements across multiple projects rather than only within a single commission
• Evidence of building capability, influencing senior stakeholders and improving delivery quality at scale

Key knowledge:

• Strong working knowledge of Government Soft Landings and BS 8536:2022
• Strong understanding of the RIBA Plan of Work, especially handover, aftercare and in-use stages
• Strong understanding of BS EN ISO 19650, the UK BIM Framework and the principles of structured information handover
• Sound understanding of CDM 2015 requirements and the role of the health and safety file in handover
• Aware of the Building Safety Act and Building Regulations duty-holder environment where applicable
• Understanding of commissioning, seasonal commissioning, defects management, operation and maintenance information, training and post-occupancy evaluation
• Understanding of common procurement and contract administration routes, including NEC and JCT

Skills and behaviours:

• Strong leadership and influencing skills
• Commercial awareness and strong professional judgement
• Able to challenge weak assumptions early and constructively
• Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills
• Able to connect technical, digital and operational issues into a coherent delivery strategy
• Able to build practical frameworks and get teams to use them
• Collaborative, credible, organised and outcome-focused

Qualifications:

Full membership to one of the following professional bodies would be beneficial: RICS, CIOB, APM, CIBSE, CMI.

Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.