The Perse School - Project Manager Estates

The Perse School - Project Manager Estates

Project Manager, Estates Candidate Information Pack

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The Perse School

The Perse School is one of the country’s leading independent day schools and a charitable company, educating 1,700 girls and boys aged 3-18. We are a very special school which is both traditional and innovative, ambitious and caring, understanding and structured, industrious and fun. Located in Cambridge, we comprise of three schools. The Upper, Prep and Pelican. We also have two franchise Schools overseas in Singapore and Suzhou. Given the outstanding education offered, we are consistently over- subscribed and in strong financial health with an annual turnover of some £30million. The School regularly achieves some of the best public examination results and university application outcomes in the UK. In addition to the day to day curricular and co-curricular activities of the schools, The Perse provides public benefit to local and international communities. Over 70 pupils attend the School on means-tested bursaries meaning they pay no or subsidized fees. This enables the Perse to accessible to children irrespective of financial wealth. The Perse also works with 30 state schools in the UK and Christel House School overseas on projects to support educational attainment.

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The Perse comprises three schools, the Upper, Prep and Pelican and operates across five sites in and around Cambridge, including the Porson Road and Abington playing fields. In addition to the day to day operation of the schools the Perse oversees a busy programme of events, community outreach activities and commercial projects including the hire of its facilities to third parties. Background Information

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The Estates Department

The Estates Department is led by the Director of Estates and forms part of the Bursary. The Department is responsible for maintaining and improving the school estate, including all grounds and buildings. The internal staffing of the Department comprises the Director of Estates, Projects Manager, Facilities Manager, Deputy Facilities Manager and the Building Services team, the Head of Grounds and Gardens and the Grounds and Gardens team. External consultants and contractors are brought in to supplement internal staff. On its largest projects the School tends to employ a full range of consultants with the Bursar acting as project sponsor, supported by the Director of Estates and the Project Manager. On smaller projects the School either project manages the works while using the architect as contract administrator and employing consultants according to the needs of the particular works; or may alternatively plan and deliver the project entirely in-house. Term contractors are employed for both planned maintenance and servicing and also small improvements and reactive work to electrical and HVAC plant. A large number of other contractors, controlled by the Estates Department, provide regular maintenance and servicing to other equipment and installations. All the services provided by these contractors are subject to regular tendering. Building contracts are tendered individually.

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Job Description

Reporting to:

The Director of Estates

Ultimately responsible to:

The Bursar

Line management of the following staff:

n/a

Working hours:

full time, or 80% FTE will be considered competitive plus excellent benefits

Salary:

Job purpose

To plan and deliver projects including building alterations and improvements, refurbishments and new build capital projects, working in conjunction with the Director of Estates and externally appointed consultants as applicable. Assist the Director of Estates in ensuring works meet the needs of the School, provide best value, and are delivered in line with an agreed budget and timescale. To deputise for the Director of Estates, as required. Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety and fire safety regulations and promote best practice in these areas.

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Key responsibilities

1. Management of Major Estates Projects • Provision of information to consultants • Relaying information back to the School • Liaising over detailed design options • Act as primary point of contact between School and Site during construction • Attendance at design meetings and site meetings • Oversight of project costs, extras, FFE • Management of defects

2. Design of Minor Works Projects • Liaising with stakeholders on design options and details • Carrying out detailed design work • Acting as Principle Designer • Submitting Planning and Building Control Applications and • Writing a detailed specification of works

3. Management of Minor Works Projects • Managing the tender process • Co-ordination of contractors • Estimating costs • Contract administration • Cost management and purchasing of FFE • Project management • Risk Management • Defects

4. Compliance • Administration of construction warranties

• Liaison with buildings insurers to advise of buildings works on site • Ensure the Perse complies with CDM Regulations 2015 responsibilities

5. General • Completion and continual update of electronic drawings including services • Identification of external decoration works, producing proposals and schemes • Annual update of Rapid Access Kit • Management of O&M manuals • Participate in the Estates Department Out of Hours rota for emergency calls / call out. • Provide cover for other members of the Estates Department, including deputising for the Director of Estates in his/her absence • General administration 6. The Perse is a dynamic organisation and opportunities and requirements change over time. The Project Manager, in line with other employees, is required to exhibit a can do attitude and take on additional duties and responsibilities as reasonably required by the Director of Estates.

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Person Specification

Education/Qualifications • Educated to degree level or equivalent • Prince II or similar project management methodology qualification • Relevant professional qualifications (see below) Knowledge & Experience • The successful candidate’s primary background could be in quantity surveying, project management, architecture or general construction but they need to have some knowledge and experience of working alongside all these professional disciplines • Familiarity with forms of building contracts • An understanding of all types building services • Knowledge of construction processes • Knowledge of energy conservation measures • Proven experience in managing programmes to budget and time • Experience of liaising with stakeholders • Experience of working in or for an educational establishment - desirable Skills and Abilities • IT literate with proven skills using MS Office packages. • Proficient in the use of AutoCAD • Excellent communication skills, developing and managing relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, staff and contractors • Strong analytical skills • Confidence to manage competing priorities under own initiative • Ability to remain calm under pressure The ability to identify, diagnose and solve problems before they affect the operation of the School

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Equality, diversity & Inclusion

The Perse School actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. Safeguarding The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Application Process

To arrange a confidential conversation to discuss the opportunity in more depth, please contact Nicholas Coppard ([email protected]) Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and a covering letter (of not more than 2 pages).

For more information about The Perse School please visit https://www.perse.co.uk

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