Head of Capital Delivery (Buildings and Community Infrastructure) - Interims in London

The Council is seeking an experienced interim Head of Capital Delivery to provide senior leadership across a complex portfolio of buildings, community infrastructure and related capital programmes.

Operating at Head of Service level, the postholder will be accountable for ensuring that projects and programmes are properly initiated, prioritised, governed and delivered within agreed time, cost and quality parameters. The portfolio may include schools, leisure centres, community facilities, parks and open spaces, corporate accommodation, operational estate and other emerging infrastructure programmes.

Key accountabilities:

• Provide senior leadership and delivery assurance across the assigned capital portfolio, maintaining a clear pipeline from project conception through feasibility, design, procurement, construction, handover and closure.
• Work with Project Sponsors, service leads and senior stakeholders to translate strategic requirements into deliverable programmes with clear scope, governance, accountabilities and resourcing.
• Ensure robust programme and project controls are in place, including delivery plans, gateway reviews, risk and issue management, performance reporting and timely escalation.
• Chair or lead project and programme boards, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, properly recorded and implemented.
• Ensure compliance with the Council’s governance, decision-making, procurement, financial and land transaction requirements.
• Apply strong commercial judgement to commissioning, procurement and contract strategies, including strategic contract reviews, material variations and delivery realignments.
• Act as Budget Manager for a high-value capital portfolio, overseeing budget planning, forecasting, variance management, affordability and value for money.
• Commission and manage external consultants, technical advisers, contractors and other delivery partners.
• Build effective relationships with Project Sponsors, Strategic Directors, senior officers, elected Members, internal service clients, partners and funding bodies.
• Provide leadership on health and safety and ensure that statutory and organisational requirements, risk assessments and mitigation arrangements are maintained across the portfolio.
• Lead Programme Managers, Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers, alongside multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers operating within a matrix environment.
• Promote consistent delivery standards, organisational learning and a high-performing, outcomes-focused culture across the Capital Delivery service.

Essential experience and skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant senior-level experience leading complex capital programmes from inception through construction, handover and closure.
• Strong experience of buildings and community infrastructure, ideally including schools, leisure facilities, public buildings, operational estate or other place-based infrastructure.
• A proven record of delivering high-value capital schemes within a large, complex and preferably public-sector or similarly regulated organisation.
• Strong knowledge of programme governance, assurance, risk management, procurement, financial control and formal decision-making arrangements.
• Experience of developing business cases and advising Project Sponsors and senior stakeholders on delivery, risk, affordability and benefits realisation.
• Experience commissioning and managing professional consultants, technical advisers and contractors.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, including budget management, forecasting, challenging assumptions and securing value for money.
• The ability to communicate complex information clearly and credibly to senior officers, elected Members, residents, partners and governance boards.
• The ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams, manage competing priorities and maintain delivery focus in a high-pressure environment.
• Sound knowledge of the technical, legal, procurement and health and safety requirements associated with capital delivery.

Qualifications

Candidates should hold:

• PRINCE2, Association for Project Management or an equivalent programme/project management qualification; and
• A degree or equivalent professional qualification.

Membership of a relevant professional body, such as RICS, CIOB, APM or RIBA, would be desirable.