About the job

Job summary

House of Commons

The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system. 

Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.

Introduction 

The Project Delivery Team, within the 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. While we are part of the House of Commons service, we provide services to the House of Lords as well.  

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 Cost 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.
• 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

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• MRICS Qualification.
• 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 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.