Senior Project Manager - Local Government in Bristol

Position status: This opportunity is for a secured role within the Bristol and Cardiff Local Government and Communities team. If you would like to be considered please click to apply.

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.

The project: A great opportunity for Senior Project Manager to join our established Local Government and Communities sector within Mace consultancy business. The sector is currently experiencing an exciting period of growth. The existing team has a proven track record of successfully delivering a wide variety of projects of the highest quality across the South of England and Wales. You will have the opportunity to work with various local authority clients and the sub-sectors within the Local Government and Communities Sector, to include Heritage, Arts & Culture, Education, Residential, Sports and Leisure and Blue Light. This role sits, specifically the Local Government and Communities sector. This position will suit a candidate looking to further their career with exciting project delivery opportunities, within a leading construction consultancy business that is fast paced and industry leading. By delivering excellence and building client relationships you will support the sectors high ambitions for growth in the region.

As part of the role, the successful candidate will lead delivery of projects through all stages of the project life-cycle. This is a client-facing role where you will be responsible for managing wider consultant teams and project stakeholders to deliver the project successfully. You will be responsible to ensure the projects meet defined time, cost, technical performance & quality requirements. You will be highly motivated, understand developing a project plan, identify any specialist requirements and support with leading an existing professional team to drive forward the clients’ strategy. You will be responsible for management of necessary project governance and assurance tools to fulfil our obligations. The role entails hybrid working, allowing home working with attendance on site or within the regional office (Bristol or Cardiff) at least 3 days a week. This is to ensure development, both yours and that of junior colleagues, via in person interactions in our offices.

Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

• Safety first - Going home safe and well: You will promote Mace's value of safety first, exhibiting visible safety behaviours, sharing lessons learned and using safety moments and Mace's HSW framework to support the safety and wellbeing of all Mace staff. You will possess technical expertise in local health and safety rules and regulations relevant to project portfolio. You will promote a diverse and inclusive working environment and understand the importance of the wellbeing of the people in your team.
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise: You will ensure robust quality systems are in place and suitably managed in line with service excellence. You will develop, deliver and manage project plans from project inception/brief, through design development and planning, contractor procurement and construction phase in accordance with the overall delivery program and agreed project milestones. You will manage tasks and associated deliverables in support of Project Directors and other senior leaders, alongside the wider project and client teams, to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of the project. Owning projects throughout the project life-cycle from concept to handover and closeout. Managing multidisciplinary project teams to ensure project deliverables and outputs are achieved. At Feasibility, including commissioning surveys, coordinating design outputs, undertaking client reviews, and managing any changes to scope. Understanding client requirements and have strong stakeholder engagement to deal with complex third-party relations. Developing and managing effective communication and liaison with all relevant internal and external stakeholders to ensure that requirements are identified, assessed, and appropriately integrated into the project. Working with the client to establish the strategy and delivery for the project. Developing the client’s brief, delivery strategy and leading the design management, procurement and execution of the scheme. Driving the design development, initiating surveys and site visits as necessary to meet deliverables. Develop project business cases and manage project governance processes. Understanding of the design process throughout all stages of the project lifecycle and able to manage outputs and technical aspects as they arise. Producing strategic project programme and have the ability to scrutinise and integrate programmes from consultants and contractors. Management of the risks and able to work with project teams to identify, schedule and establish mitigation strategy for project risks. Coordinating, planning and managing internal and external meetings in relation to the project. Undertaking timely third-party liaisons, e.g. planning applications, land/access, power supply negotiations etc. in line with the project programme. Writing specifications, tender and contract documents to include project risk registers, schedules and others, formally assess tenders in readiness for contract award. Ensuring projects are delivered to the right quality, in the time allocated and at, or below the approved budget. Driving the procurement of services and works required to deliver the project, including site surveys. Managing budgets, estimates and ability to review and challenge contractors’ proposals. Providing input into client system safety and project risk assessment and management process. Leading management of sub-contractor and/or Sub-consultant suppliers, across all stages, securing contracts, agreeing fees and managing payments, scope management and change control. Managing interfaces across multiple projects within the delivery programme to deliver optimum programme efficiencies and site completion. Managing pre-contract design development and post-contract scope changes in an efficient manner. Undertaking and leading others with Contract Administrator duties, have a thorough understanding of the NEC and/or JCT suite of contracts. Dealing with all contract management aspects, such as payments, EWN, NCE’s etc. Managing contractors to ensure that the execution of projects is undertaken strictly in accordance with the contracts. Managing projects finances, ensuring resources are aligned to fee’s, projects costs, income and margins are aligned with the business targets.
• Integrity - Always do the right thing: You will manage project budgets and highlight any risks, challenges and mitigations. You will support the long-term development of your function or business unit (BU), creating a sustainable business future. You will commit to making a positive impact for our people, our clients, and our planet, and take ownership for holding others to account who do not uphold the Mace values.
• Create opportunity for our people to excel: You will manage design and wider consultant teams in a collaborative manner to ensure effective completion of responsibilities. You will lead and manage the project team and relevant stakeholders to achieve strategic project key performance indicators (KPIs). You will actively network, innovate, and seek understanding of best practice, utilising the full depth of knowledge of Mace group, the centres of excellence, mace way control centre and knowledge hub. You will manage and support junior colleagues, undertaking line manage duties and within your role as the project lead.

You’ll need to have:

• Membership of RICS, CIOB, APM, ICE or equivalent demonstrable professional or personal development.
• Substantial experience in the successful delivery phase of projects and programmes in the public sector. Previous Local Authority and/or education sector delivery experience is preferred.
• Property or infrastructure project management expertise is essential.
• Proven commercial and financial acumen.
• Significant experience of leading parts of projects within large, diverse teams.
• Significant experience of developing and forming relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing junior colleagues.
• Knowledge of how carbon and sustainability considerations will shape the outlook of the projects you are working on.
• You have significant experience in contract administration duties and managing projects using various standard forms of contract including but not limited to: NEC4 and JCT.
• You are a passionate, client focused individual and can build lasting client relationships and work well as part of a team.
• You are open to working across the South of England and Wales, with associated travel commitments.

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.