Brighton College - Head Of Projects

Brighton College - Head Of Projects

Head of Projects Candidate Information Pack

About the School

Brighton College is an inspiring place to work. As the leading co-educational school in the UK it is renowned for its inspirational teaching and innovative education, whilst placing kindness and community at the heart of our approach to education. Named ‘ UK School of the Decade ’ by The Sunday Times in November 2020, we educate 1,200 pupils between ages 11 and 18.

Established in 1845, the College has grown exponentially in recent years. The Head Master, Richard Cairns, a recent Tatler UK Head of the Year, has been in post since 2006 and under his leadership pupil numbers have doubled. Since 2006, the College moved from 147th in The Sunday Times results table, to 3rd – the best position ever achieved by a co-ed school. The school site in Kemptown has seen the addition of stunning new facilities, sustainably designed by leading international architects, with recent investment well in excess of £100 million. These include the Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (2015), the Yeoh Building teaching complex (2017) and the School of Science and Sport (2020).

A stunning new performing arts complex, including a 400-seat theatre, is currently under construction. World-class facilities enable us to share a huge variety of opportunities with pupils and allow for innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and learning. We believe that we are a part of society, not apart from it, and so activism and community involvement are key parts of the curriculum. We have a thriving volunteer programme, driven by pupils, and are proud of our progressive stand on diversity, equality and inclusion.

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Brighton College also has a family of schools, which includes our three Sussex prep schools - Brighton College Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep; Handcross Park; and St Christopher’s. Overseas, we have opened schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Bangkok and Singapore. Our approach to education is regularly celebrated. We’ve been named ‘School of the Year’ twice by The Sunday Times (most recently in 2019); The Week named us ‘Most forward-thinking school in Britain’ for two years running in 2017 and 2018, and ‘Best in the UK for STEM’ in 2020. Our most recent ISI inspection in November 2021 gave us the highest possible grade (‘Excellent’) in both categories; the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and the quality of pupils’ personal development.

Most importantly, Brighton is a happy school. Staff and pupils feel fulfilled, and our emphasis on kindness lends itself to a thriving intellectual, sporting and performing arts culture. Our location in the city gives us the best of all worlds: we’re 5 minutes from the sea and the city centre, 10 minutes from the South Downs, and in the heart of the local Kemptown community. We hope that you will want to come and join the fantastic group of professionals who work here.

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Job responsibilities: •

Programme manage a portfolio of construction projects from conception to operation working with clients and stakeholders to deliver projects that exceed expectations. • Developing and implementing the works programmes for term time, College holidays and in particular the Summer period. • Collaborate with Architects and design team throughout the design phase. • Undertake project related option appraisals and feasibility studies, business plans, cash-flow forecasts and draw down schedules. • Provide line management to Assistant Project Manager(s), with responsibility for ongoing appraisal and development as well as frequent coaching, demonstration, guidance and support. • Ensure that appropriate personnel within the Directorate and other College Departments including Health and Safety are fully briefed and their requirements are fully incorporated, where appropriate. • Develop tender documents and oversee the tender process in line with procedures. • Manage all aspects of contractor works, tendering and reviewing as required. • Negotiate contracts with external vendors to reach profitable agreements. • Provide technical advice and support to space moves, layout change and refurbishment. • The role will require a high level of negotiation and influencing. • A key function of this post will be to work with consultants, professional contractors, internal staff and to lead multi-disciplined teams in the delivery of the project brief. • The role holder will provide high level professional advice and support and will be party to making collaborative decisions which have a significant impact. • Determine needed resources (human, equipment and materials) from start to finish with attention to budgetary limitations. • Measure and analyse the progress of each project to ensure it is developing as planned. • Participate in and supervise the successful execution of each stage of the project. This requires frequent, open communication with the project teammembers and stakeholders.

Head of Projects

About the role Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Head of Projects, to start as soon as possible. This key role will report into the Operations Bursar and will work across Brighton College with a range of senior stakeholders to oversee the project management of a portfolio of construction projects (up to £2.5m pa), both new build and refurbishment, from inception to completion and operation, through our procurement process, making use of and shaping our project management procedures and leading a small team of Project Managers. Acting as lead project manager, you will help to inspect the quality and safety of work on our construction sites, conducting regular inspections and checking that building plans are being correctly followed. You’ll check that work is being carried out to the correct specifications alongside adherence to legal, safety and environmental sustainability standards. We are looking for an accomplished, kind and collaborative leader with financial acumen who will deliver outstanding, safe, value for money, and compliant projects that our pupils can enjoy. Working closely with the Head of Energy and Sustainability, Head of Facilities (Maintenance), Head of Health and Safety, and Head of Sustainable Transport in particular, this is a rare opportunity to deliver innovative and sector leading projects.

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• Evaluate progress and prepare detailed reports. • Lead & manage all refurbishment projects (including all those delivered by third party contractors and internally at times). • Appoint contractors and other staff and allocate responsibilities. • Preparing a clear overview of planning schedule (what is happening when), with liaison with other key members of staff for impact. • Manage a capital and revenue budget of £2.5m and track individual project expenditure with managers. • Work with the other Heads of Service to ensure that environmental sustainability is embedded into all work via the developing energy master plan.

• Responsible for ensuring that a clear brief is established from the Client / Client group. • Ensure CDM Regulations and Health and Safety requirements on projects are managed correctly. Safeguarding responsibilities: • This role will involve daily contact with pupils and you will be engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. • All staff and volunteers have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA • Proven experience as a construction project manager. • A construction professional holding a degree level or equivalent qualification or demonstratable level of experience. • Experience of running a portfolio of projects, especially internal building refurbishments to time and budget. • In-depth understanding of construction procedures and material and project management principles. • Knowledge of current construction and safety legislation. • Familiarity with quality and health and safety standards. • Familiarity with construction/ project management software. • Outstanding communication and negotiation skills. • Excellent organizational and time- management skills. • A collaborative leader. • A confident communicator which will involve chairing meetings, taking an active role in project debate. • An exemplary level of customer service in dealing with all internal and external stakeholders.

• Computer literate and competent in the use of Microsoft software packages and Project Management programmes and Gantt charts. • Be able to work occasionally outside of normal College business hours, taking a turn at being on call. DESIRABLE CRITERIA • Membership, or working towards accreditation of an appropriate professional body e.g. RIBA, RICS, CIOB. • Ability to demonstrate a full understanding of the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015. • Able to showcase a range of completed projects in the education, hospitality, or similar working environment in the UK or overseas.

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Wellbeing and Benefits Wellbeing: • Significantly subsidised gym membership for the School of Science and Sport is available for eligible employees, which includes access to a variety of exercise classes, the gym and pool. • Healthy heart checks. • Meditation, Yoga and Pilates sessions. • Access to books, magazines and DVDs from the College Library.

Benefits:

• Complimentary lunch is provided during term time. • Free tickets to the College's music, dance and drama performances. • Job specific Learning and Development programme available to all employees. • Life Cover is provided to eligible employees whilst working at Brighton College after successfully passing probation period. • Brighton College provides a contributory pension scheme, which all eligible employees will be automatically enrolled into within 3 months of employment. • Sodexo Lifestyle Saving Programme.

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The Application Process

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The College is being supported on this recruitment campaign by search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG). For an initial informal conversation or to view the candidate briefing document please contact our advisor Melanie Pye. Applications should be sent directly to Melanie Pye and consist of a CV and Cover Letter. Melanie Pye E: [email protected] T: 07530 734 568 Closing date for applications - Sunday 15th May 2022

First stage interviews - w/c 6th June 2022 Final stage interviews - w/c 13th June 2022

The salary for this role is up to £70,000 per annum Remuneration

Safeguarding and equal opportunities Brighton College is committed to safeguarding and promoting

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children. The College is committed to ensuring that the recruitment and selection of staff is conducted in a manner that is systematic, efficient and effective and promotes equality of opportunity. Our full equal opportunities policy is available on the ‘Careers’ page of our website.

the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to successfully completing preemployment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the College’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, relevant original ID documentation and examination certificates.

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