Job Title: Capital Programmes Director.
Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds or Manchester – The postholder is required to frequently visit GPA sites as part of the role, and will need to attend the Birmingham HQ on a weekly basis.
Salary: £97,000 – £149,000
External candidates will be offered up to £149,000 based on experience.
Existing civil servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment.
Contract Type
This role is being offered on a permanent and secondment basis.
The Role
This is an incredibly exciting time for government property – real estate is at the heart of reinventing Government, and the GPA is central to delivering on the vision of a ‘Modern Civil Service’. As an experienced commercial property and programme delivery leader, this is a challenge you’ll not want to miss!
As Director of Capital Programmes, you will provide leadership to the GPA by setting the cultural tone from the top, by delivering excellent outcomes for departmental clients by driving wider economic, financial and social value benefits, optimising asset efficiency and releasing surplus estate. You will be the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus Programme, one of the most significant real estate developments in the UK. These two programmes form part of the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) which brings significant ministerial, industry and media interest.
You will champion transformation, providing government departments and agencies with innovative solutions and specialist asset management and commercial property expertise that enables them to deliver wider business change. The GPA’s UK-wide presence will enable you to support the Government’s agenda for regional growth and strengthening the Union. The programme delivery is supported by a variety of freehold and leasehold solutions and a variety of routes to engage industry and the wider real estate supply chain. Therefore commercial and financial acumen in the creation of innovative routes to market with funders, developers, landlords, construction partners and professional consultants is a key requirement of the role.
You will shape and grow the organisation, building its capacity and capability, establishing its brand and enhancing its reputation – and delivering the promised benefits. Influencing across government, with tangible benefits to the Civil Service and the public we serve, this role requires a dynamic balance of strategic vision and pragmatism.
Key Responsibilities
- The Director of Capital Projects is a member of GPA’s Executive Committee (EXCO), reporting directly to the CEO and undertaking a central role in the leadership of the organisation;
- Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus Programmes. These two Programmes form part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP);
- Delivery of a number of significant technically complex, departmental Client funded projects;
- Set the strategic direction for, and lead the Capital Projects team of over 350 integrated GPA and strategic partner technical, project and cost management staff;
- Working closely with colleagues across GPA and local authorities, oversee due diligence, evaluation, and selection of preferred options for route to market and delivery;
- Oversee and take responsibility for the development of future Spending Reviews and then set and agree annual budgets and control totals for both CDEL and RDEL across the programmes;
- Oversee the development of a compelling range of programme and project business cases to demonstrate value for money, Net Present Value (NPV) and secure HMT investment approval for the Government Hubs, Whitehall Campus and other programmes;
- Oversee standard setting for accessibility, sustainability, security and wider design and look and feel to deliver high quality, sustainable and inclusive workplaces;
- Lead the health and safety, sustainability and security first cultures across the organisation;
- Oversee the management of programmes of both new build and redevelopment and sympathetic refurbishment of some of the UK’s most historic and recognisable buildings from initiation to occupation, including Government Soft Landings to exceed occupier requirements (through Leesman Surveys) and realise forecast cost savings;
- Oversee the evaluation, appointment and management of developers, construction and fit out contractors to meet time, cost and quality targets, and to achieve excellent post occupation evaluation feedback;
- Full P&L responsibility for the portfolio of all GPA capital programmes;
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement maximising opportunities to use innovative approaches, digital tools and data standards (including B2IM) and;
- Represent the GPA in many cross Government working groups, such as the Government Construction Board and engage fully with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Office of Government Property and related industry professional bodies.
This role is being offered on a permanent and secondment basis.
If applying on a secondment basis then the length must not exceed two years. Any proposal for a longer secondment at the outset or to extend the appointment beyond two years requires the approval of the Commission.