Head of Capital Delivery

6 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To provide strategic leadership and delivery oversight across a complex portfolio of capital projects and programmes, ensuring the successful delivery of buildings and community infrastructure schemes from inception through to completion, handover and closure.

The postholder will lead the Capital Delivery function for a diverse programme of projects including schools, leisure facilities, community buildings, parks, public realm, operational estate and other infrastructure assets. Acting at Head of Service level, the role will ensure effective governance, commercial management, financial control, risk management and stakeholder engagement, while delivering projects that achieve agreed outcomes, timescales, budgets and quality standards.

The role requires a highly experienced capital delivery professional with strong programme leadership, commercial acumen and the ability to operate effectively within a complex political and public sector environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Programme Delivery

• Lead the delivery of a major capital portfolio from project conception through to completion and benefits realisation.
  
• Provide strategic leadership across buildings and community infrastructure programmes.
  
• Ensure projects are properly initiated, prioritised, governed and resourced.
  
• Translate strategic objectives into deliverable programmes and projects.
  
• Maintain oversight of programme performance, dependencies and delivery risks.
  
• Ensure projects are delivered to agreed scope, programme, budget and quality standards.
  
• Promote consistent programme management methodologies and delivery standards.
  

Governance & Assurance

• Establish and maintain effective governance arrangements across the capital portfolio.
  
• Chair project boards, programme boards and governance meetings.
  
• Ensure gateway reviews and approval processes are effectively managed.
  
• Maintain robust risk, issue, change and decision management processes.
  
• Provide assurance reporting to senior leadership and governance bodies.
  
• Ensure compliance with Council governance, procurement, financial and decision-making requirements.
  

Commercial & Procurement Management

• Provide strategic oversight of procurement and commissioning activities.
  
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract strategy development.
  
• Review contract performance, variations and delivery arrangements.
  
• Ensure effective contract management and supplier performance monitoring.
  
• Commission and manage consultants, contractors and external delivery partners.
  
• Drive value for money through effective commercial management.
  

Financial Management

• Act as Budget Manager for a significant capital investment portfolio.
  
• Lead capital budget planning, monitoring and forecasting activities.
  
• Manage programme affordability, forecasting and variance reporting.
  
• Ensure effective financial controls are in place.
  
• Monitor project expenditure and financial performance.
  
• Ensure delivery of value-for-money outcomes across the programme.
  

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with:
  
  • Strategic Directors
    
  • Assistant Directors
    
  • Project Sponsors
    
  • Elected Members
    
  • Funding Bodies
    
  • External Partners
    
  • Service Leads
    
  • Consultants and Contractors
    
• Present complex programme information clearly to senior stakeholders.
  
• Support decision-making through high-quality reporting and recommendations.
  
• Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve complex issues.
  

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Provide leadership on health and safety across the capital programme.
  
• Ensure all projects comply with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
  
• Monitor compliance with CDM Regulations and construction safety requirements.
  
• Ensure risk management arrangements are embedded across all projects.
  
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the delivery portfolio.
  

Team Leadership

• Lead and manage:
  
  • Programme Managers
    
  • Project Managers
    
  • Assistant Project Managers
    
  • Multidisciplinary Project Teams
    
• Develop a high-performing and outcome-focused delivery culture.
  
• Support professional development and succession planning.
  
• Promote continuous improvement and organisational learning.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Significant senior-level experience leading complex capital programmes and project portfolios.
  
• Proven experience managing projects from inception through construction, handover and closure.
  
• Extensive experience delivering capital programmes involving:
  
  • Schools
    
  • Leisure Facilities
    
  • Community Buildings
    
  • Public Buildings
    
  • Operational Estate
    
  • Infrastructure Projects
    
• Strong programme governance and assurance experience.
  
• Experience developing business cases and investment proposals.
  
• Experience advising senior leaders, project sponsors and elected members.
  
• Extensive financial and budget management experience.
  
• Strong commercial and procurement management expertise.
  
• Experience commissioning and managing consultants, contractors and delivery partners.
  
• Significant experience managing risk, programme controls and performance reporting.
  
• Strong understanding of:
  
  • Capital Delivery
    
  • Construction Management
    
  • Procurement Regulations
    
  • Contract Management
    
  • Governance Frameworks
    
  • Health & Safety Requirements
    
  • Public Sector Delivery Environments
    
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
  
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams.
  

Desirable

• Local Government capital programme experience.
  
• Membership of:
  
  • RICS
    
  • CIOB
    
  • APM
    
  • RIBA
    
  • Equivalent Professional Body
    
• Experience delivering regeneration or place-based infrastructure programmes.
  
• Experience managing politically sensitive or high-profile projects.
  

Qualifications

• PRINCE2, APM Qualification or equivalent Project/Programme Management qualification.
  
• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Colindale Office (Hybrid Working)
  
• Hours Per Week: 36 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments