Vacancies

Construction Project Manager

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

About the role

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is recruiting three highly motivated and enthusiastic Construction Project Managers (CPMs) with the competence (knowledge, experience, skills, personal attributes and attitude) to deliver its extensive and varied range of property refurbishment, renovation, reconfiguration/remodelling and new build construction projects. Some of these projects have multimillion pound budgets and have complexities that will significantly challenge the project manager in their delivery.

The successful candidates will work in the Construction Team with a team of five existing CPMs and a Construction Programme Manager reporting to the Construction & Development Manager. The Construction Team is one of several that report to the Head of Works within the Assets & Environment Service which, in turn, sits within the Place, Economy & Environment Directorate.

The work of delivering construction projects on corporate properties requires the Team to works with a range of clients from within the Council such as Education, Adult Services, Northampton Children’s Trust and external partners and tenants. WNC delivers a high profile and wide-ranging capital programme to improve its existing assets portfolio and create new assets such as schools, commercial units and cycling & walking infrastructure to ensure effective and practical environments for the benefits of our community, frontline services and end users, some of which are vulnerable adults and children. Therefore, the role provides a high degree of job satisfaction through the creation of tangible social, economic and environmental benefits that contribute to the objectives and priorities in the Council’s Corporate Plan and are inherent in many of the projects being delivered.

The role also enables the Council to fulfil many of its statutory obligations such as building safety, working, living and care standards and the provision of school place. An understanding of the impacts of projects on carbon emissions and the need to minimise those is required as the Council moves towards its target of Net Zero by 2030. The size of the programme differs from year to year, but typically value will be in the region of £100 million per annum.

Furthermore, this post is categorised as a ‘flexible’ worker type which means that, even though your primary work base is The Guildhall or One Angel Square Offices in Northampton, you will not be allocated a set desk there and you may choose to carry out the majority (3 days or more) of your work remotely, either from home, from any other of the Council’s offices/hubs or any other suitable, safe and comfortable venue such a library or temporary construction site accommodation.

Interviews will take place between 14th and 16th November 2023.

What will you be doing?

The role requires the management of multiple projects to deadline, and the successful candidates will be able to prioritise workload from the brief through to delivery on time and within budget. This will include the use of the Council’s Project Management Methodology (PPM) to produce Project Initiation Documents and Business Cases and will include procurement, co-ordinating design teams, managing programmes and regular reporting on progress using Highlight Reports. The role requires excellent risk identification and management skills and the recording and sharing of lessons learned.
The CPMs will be competent in budget management and organisational skills to ensure that construction project documentation/systems are maintained.

About you

You will need to have strong communication skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships with stakeholders and partners, possess sound judgement and a high degree of personal accountability. The ability to work independently whilst remaining effective and efficient is key as is the motivation to enhance personal learning. For the right candidates, there is the opportunity to access formal accredited training through the Council’s Apprenticeship scheme.

Construction activities can be hazardous, so it is essential that the CPMs are competent in their understanding and compliance with health and safety legislation relating to construction. The management of health and safety through design, implementation and end use is a fundamental requirement of this role.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
Cycle to Work scheme.
Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
Car Lease scheme
Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
Ongoing training and development opportunities.
A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.