Director, Capital Delivery, Education Estates Directorate

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of multi-billion-pound construction programmes, improving the outcomes for learners throughout the country. Education Estates is one of the largest public sector construction clients in England, with a capital budget of 38billion until 2030.We have a ten-year strategy that focuses on proactive management, long term strategic maintenance and renewal which prioritises condition need, risk and resilience alongside delivering high quality new buildings where they are needed. This post is fundamental to the delivery of these strategic aims. In particular, as Director you will be responsible for leading the team to deliver the School Rebuilding Programme, rebuilding over 750 schools and sixth form colleges across England, alongside permanently removing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from the School Estate by 2029.

This is a key leadership role and is professionally accountable for successful delivery of high-profile building programmes and projects within the Department for Education.

You will be responsible for leading and co-ordinating a portfolio of high-profile capital delivery programmes, having overall responsibility for leading an internal team of project professionals, external consultants, contractors and suppliers. You will be the Senior Responsible Owner for the School Rebuilding Programme and accountable for the capital aspects of the Departments centrally delivered building programmes, including our Free Schools pipeline and Further Education and Skills Transformation Programmes.

You will lead a diverse team of approximately 300 people, supported by a high-performing senior management team of 7 Deputy Directors (4 of them regional delivery teams). You will work in collaboration with key senior stakeholders within Education Estates Directorate, wider Department and externally to monitor progress, manage risks, and prioritise activity and resources across the portfolio to ensure delivery.

You will drive and promote delivery excellence, reporting to the Director of Education Estates, ensuring continuous improvement of our operating model and supporting our aims to fully utilise modern methods of construction and move towards net zero carbon in the education estate. Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Provide clear leadership and strategic direction to multi-disciplinary teams to successfully deliver the intended benefits and outcomes across the portfolio of school and Higher and Further Education capital programmes.
• Maintain effective oversight of portfolio progress, including chairing governance boards for taking decisions on portfolio activity and development in response to escalated risks or opportunities.
• Create an environment where our people can succeed, effectively leading and developing your senior management team through clear delegation of responsibilities and agreement of performance criteria.
• Influence and manage our operating environment, including relationships with key senior stakeholders and customers, including Ministers, to ensure that goals and objectives are established and achieved.
• Effect positive changes to the way we work, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long-term vision to improve the delivery of capital programmes.
• Collaborate with fellow property and project leaders across government, making an impact on the wider function through innovation and thought leadership

Applicants will be assessed against the following Essential Criteria..

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.

• Proven senior leadership experience and results, inspiring confidence and high performance whilst leading through complexity and ambiguity. Experience of supporting, motivating and developing diverse, geographically dispersed teams, with a strong track record of building capability and developing people.
• Able to evidence successful delivery in terms of complexity and challenge of directing large-scale programmes in a complex environment. Note that we are looking here for experience of leading programmes of work at a senior level.
• Ability to think strategically and respond quickly to complex changing circumstances and challenging situations, maintaining a clear view of overall project priorities. Comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and can re-focus as details emerge.
• Ability to successfully engage and influence senior stakeholders, including relationships at Managing Directors, CEO, Local Authority Leaders, Local Planning Authorities, Ministerial and Director General level, demonstrating resilience and ability to challenge where needed.
• Excellent change management skills, and demonstrable experience of steering an organisation through substantial and ongoing change.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of public sector infrastructure delivery.
• Has or willingness to work towards MPLA (Major Projects Leadership Academy) qualification.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision