Housing Capital Programme Contract Manager in Somerset

Role purpose

The delivery of Housing Capital Programme contracts, ensuring the objectives, targets and priorities of the Council are achieved whilst remaining compliant with statutory regulations.

The Housing Capital Programme team undertakes approximately £20m per annum of spend on a range of improvement projects, including retrofit, compliance and decent homes, to the 5,600 landlord properties within the HRA. Examples of contracts delivered include:

• Replacement kitchens and bathrooms
• Re-roofing
• Replacement windows and doors
• Installation and updating of door entry systems
• Upgrading insulation and ventilation
• Major environmental improvement programmes
• Electrical testing and remedial works
• Fire safety works, such as fire doors, emergency lighting and compartmentalisation

Responsibilities

• Deliver Capital Programme contracts across a range of workstreams that are customer focused, provide value for money and maintain properties.
• Set clear standards and performance targets for all Capital Programmes and monitor and report progress against them.
• Manage external contractors to deliver excellent performance across all allocated workstreams.
• Support the project management of large, complex projects within the social housing sector, including work to occupied properties, ensuring projects are delivered to cost, quality and time constraints.
• Manage multiple projects at different stages of their lifecycle, with a total annual value of approximately £3m.
• Take responsibility for budgets, health and safety, and delivery of a quality product while minimising disruption to residents.
• Ensure certification and performance reports are appropriately lodged, with performance recorded and shared with key stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Provide property-related guidance and awareness training to service delivery teams.
• Manage projects that are critical to resident and public safety, including fire safety and water safety compliance activities, while meeting legislative and regulatory requirements and maintaining the future value of the Council’s housing asset portfolio.
• Ensure consultation requirements are met for leaseholders and tenants so that necessary programmes of work can be undertaken.
• Support internal and external programme audits and help ensure approved recommendations are implemented effectively within agreed timescales.

Impact

• Provide an effective housing capital programme improvement service to tenants, ensuring properties are maintained to the standards and quality required by Council policies.
• Ensure responsible projects are delivered within budget, quality and programme requirements.
• Contribute to strategic and operational risk management activities.
• Ensure all responsibilities are carried out in accordance with current legislation, government policy, regulatory requirements, approved codes of practice and guidance, and align with the Council’s Corporate Plan, Business Plans and Service Plans.

Knowledge, experience and skills

Knowledge

• Understanding of the principles of data protection.
• Understanding of good customer service principles.
• Knowledge and understanding of health and safety legislation and requirements.
• Detailed and up-to-date knowledge of property-related statutory responsibilities, government policy, regulatory requirements, approved codes of practice and guidance.
• Sound working knowledge of Building Regulations.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of equality issues and legislation.

Experience

• A demonstrable track record of consistent achievement within an organisation of comparable scope and complexity.
• Significant experience of working in a project management environment, preferably within a construction-related field.
• Relevant local government experience and an understanding of the sector and its current challenges.
• Social housing experience or good working knowledge of the sector.
• Experience of working with elected members or in a political environment.

Qualifications, registrations and certifications

• A level or equivalent qualification and relevant surveying or construction experience.
• Evidence of continuing development of professional and managerial skills through training, qualifications and/or experience.
• Health and safety qualification.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent in construction or a related field.

Skills

• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office.
• Political sensitivity and commitment to the public service ethos.
• Flexibility and ability to multitask.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate, enthuse, inform and develop others to improve capability within the team.
• Strategic thinking and a proactive approach to developing and implementing continuous improvement across the service.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to consult, influence and negotiate with a wide range of people inside and outside the Council.

Working conditions

Regular travel in the Somerset area.

Working inside tenants’ homes. Conditions can be poor depending on the reason for the visit, and may involve confined spaces or working at height.

A significant part of the role involves working away from the office in all weathers when safe to do so. Buildings may include flats, houses, sheltered housing schemes, offices and depots.

Some housing conditions may present unpleasant circumstances involving cleanliness, aggressive tenants, drug paraphernalia, furnishings or pets.

Lone working and team working are necessary aspects of the role.

Exposure to unpleasant or hazardous environmental working conditions.

Working arrangements

Respond to emergencies on occasion during unsocial hours and participate in a rota to provide response cover.

Attend meetings with the Council and other organisations, including public groups, as required and sometimes outside normal office hours.

Corporate responsibilities

Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, organisational policy and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best practice.

Deliver the aims of the Council’s equality, diversity and inclusion policies; protect the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and demonstrate organisational values in everything you do. Ensure team members understand their responsibilities, including that equality and diversity practice covers interactions with staff, service users and communities, challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all.