Operations Director - Project Management (M5)

About the company
At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site.

About the project
Major Life Sciences Project in Oxford

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Leads the delivery of key assignments and oversees the implementation of Major Project (or account) strategies, providing strategic direction and monitoring delivery aligned with overall vision and objectives.
• Promotes Mace's value of Safety First, exhibiting visible safety behaviours, sharing lessons learned and using safety moments, safety tours and Mace's HSW framework.
• Supports the safety and wellbeing of all Mace staff.
• Responsible for determining and assembling project team resources, including required external specialist appointments and the recruitment of new staff.
• Responsible for improving performance from the bid baseline by optimizing multi-disciplinary resources, monitors, reviews and evaluates activities, systems and methodologies as well as cross-selling.
• Conversion of client’s vision into a deliverable plan that includes and exploits the full benefits of Construction to Production (C2P), Net Zero Carbon, and Digital & Data innovation.
• Relationship owner and primary contact for Mace executive team engagement.
• Responsible for ensuring efficient governance to support project activities within the business, gains organisational support and commitment, ensuring the achievement of strategic priorities.
• Key client relationship management, interfaces, and supporting communication.
• Responsible for CRM across the account (including multiple geographies) with live prospects and leads.
• Accountable for leading and maintaining exceptional safety, quality, cost, programme, sustainability and project compliance standards.
• Accountable for full service excellence/service quality.
• Establishes/influences the correct Build Strategy and C2P plan for procurement and execution.
• Creates and nurtures a high-performing and inclusive team environment that encourages contribution, recognition and inclusion.
• Engenders, promotes and influences quality and Service Excellence in all conversations and project interactions.
• Ensures the project or programme or works is operating an effective risk management strategy with appropriate management actions and risk treatments established.
• Responsible for conveying and connecting the wider business strategy to the project team and promoting the associated initiatives.
• Leads key internal and external project review/reporting meetings.
• Actively networks and utilises the full depth and knowledge of the Mace Group and Centres of Excellence to support the project delivery.
• Actively promotes knowledge share and resource share with others and supports their team in growing their network.
• Ensures operations are fiscally and ethically viable, influencing the achievement of business objectives and meeting organisational and legislative compliance obligations.
• Builds and maintains internal and external relationships (e.g. clients, contractors, consultancies and other stakeholders) to foster growth and increase networks.
• Regionally recognised expert in specialised stream, directly influences long term development of strategy for a function or Business Unit (BU), creating a sustainable business future.
• Decisions have considerable financial, commercial or reputational risk.
• Typically, a formal member of the (Sector) senior leadership team.
• Works collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition, and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.

You’ll need to have:

• Proven experience and track-record for procuring and delivering large or complicated projects and teams.
• Advanced technical understanding of project management practices, construction methodologies, sequencing and logic.
• Full budgetary oversight (profit plan and fee structure).
• Advanced risk & opportunity management/practitioner.
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills across estimating, scheduling, procurement, contract administration, financial controls and reporting, across the project lifecycle.
• Contract literate to a good standard.
• Performance management to ensure a high performance culture is maintained.
• Advanced competency and understanding of current Health Safety Executive (HSE) regulations (or local equivalent).
• Relevant and commensurate technical, leadership and management qualifications.
• Established and effective industry/sector wide network of clients, consultants and contractors.
• Proven innovator with a track-record of creating and implementing high-value innovations and better approaches/ways of working.
• Highly regarded across the relevant sector/market and operating at the highest level of compliance.
• Excellent communicator (verbal and written), relationship manager.
• Confident presenter and public speaker; ability to capture the audience and clearly transmit the position/message.
• Effective appraisal/analytical skills to support skilled negotiations, problem solving, or conflict resolution.
• Develops and maintains excellent professional working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Growth mindset that promotes curiosity, high quality contribution and team collaboration.
• Encourages awareness of colleagues from different technical, social and cultural backgrounds.
• Encourages sharing of best practice and lesson learnt between teams.
• Manages upwards effectively and constructively challenges Business Unit Director.
• Leads others effectively, gives clear direction, coaches and supports others to reach their full potential.
• Mentors and develops the project team and others in the business; provides a safe work environment to learn and mature, sharing knowledge and experience.
• Adapts and reacts well to changing priorities and requirements (both business and project).
• Demonstrates a growth mindset and explores innovative approaches, in pursuit of a better way.
• Embraces new technology and helps others to adapt.
• Takes responsibility for their actions, leads by example and acts in an ethical, legal and responsible way.
• Understands personal strengths and weaknesses and introduces the right selection of skills and competencies to balance.
• Recognises and actively pursues the collective power of diverse and inclusive teams.
• Champions inclusivity.
• Celebrates the small wins and the major milestones - making colleagues feel proud and bolstering morale.
• Extensive sector and/or market-specific experience, knowledge and contacts.
• Extensive experience in successful delivery of major projects and programmes, through all project phases.
• Leadership and management experience and capability to lead a large team.
• Tertiary qualifications in related (project management and/or construction related discipline), non-related degree or equivalent professional experience/apprenticeship, combined with a demonstrable level of role knowledge (or equivalent).
• Appropriate Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, or global equivalent MCIOB/MAPM/MRICS/MICE (or equivalent local certification).

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.