About the job

Job summary

The Project Delivery Team, within the In Strategic Estates Directorate in Parliament takes great pride in looking after and improving the buildings of Parliament itself, as custodians of the Estate.   Our aim is to provide the right environments for building users whilst restoring and protecting our heritage buildings.

The Project Delivery Team is accountable for the delivery of all the current major projects across the Parliamentary Estate, having recently undergone a reorganisation the team will focus on a portfolio management approach, alongside an enhanced focus on construction quality, cost scrutiny and consistency of approach whilst strengthening opportunities for professional development and career progression across the team.

Job description

The role reports to the Head of Programme Delivery. The candidate must be able to manage senior stakeholders with competing needs and priorities and a strong leader with excellent people skills.

This is a new role and, as such, there will be an initial need to spend time setting the objectives and overall focus for the team reporting to this post. The Head of Commercial will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the contract management and cost functions for Project Delivery.  They will also be responsible for engaging within the Estate’s matrix style organisation; working effectively with project teams, Project and Portfolio Directors, SE PMO and Procurement teams to ensure full support throughout all phases of procurement and delivery, to achieve the best cost outcomes for our projects.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Leading a team of professional quantity surveyors to achieve better value through enhanced contract management and cost planning.
• Undertaking resource planning to ensure continued and timely support to projects and project teams.
• Supporting a ‘cross project’ assessment and readiness process to understand the developing costs and procurement proposals associated with each project, to reduce Business Case approval timescales.
• Supporting a ‘cross project’ approach to benchmarking and standardisation to improve forecasting and understanding of risk.
• Expanding on current contractor engagements to ensure continued proactive and timely monitoring of change.

Person specification

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours:  

• Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Evidence of strong cost management gained through supporting large scale, complex projects or programmes, managing budgets and risk with project experience spanning early feasibility through to handover. Knowledge and use of QRSA would be an advantage.
• Excellent people management, with experience of establishing high performing teams through developing ability and creating an inclusive and collaborative culture which values diversity and encourages openness, approachability and sensitivity.
• Demonstrable experience of monitoring performance, addressing poor performance and ensuring achievement of project objectives and outcomes within a complex client environment.
• The ability to evaluate data from various sources to make well considered and often difficult decisions and presenting reasonable conclusions to inform and/or influence senior Stakeholders.
• Experience of developing and creating systems and processes that are proven to enhance performance either from a quality, time or cost perspective.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,900, House of Commons contributes £18,603 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your anonymous CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.