UPP - Pre-Construction Manager

UPP - Pre-Construction Manager

UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

PRE-CONSTRUCTIONMANAGER UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK

FEBRUARY 2020

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

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Introduction to University Partnerships Programme

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Our Partnerships

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The Student Experience

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The role of the Pre-Construction Manager

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Job description and person specification

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Benefits of working at UPP

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Further Information and Application Process

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

Introduction

University Partnerships Programme

UPP

We are the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure.

We have over 35,000 rooms in operation or under construction through long-term, bespoke partnerships with 15 world-leading universities.

With over 900 employees, since 1998 UPP has invested well over £2.6bn in the UK higher education sector and provided homes to over 350,000 students. We create bespoke, long-term partnerships which enable universities to make the most effective use of their assets, free up resources and improve student services. We fund, design, develop and operate high-quality and affordable accommodation on campus and deliver the very best student experience in partnership with universities. Our unique partnership approach enables our university partners to develop their estates whilst reinvesting in their core services of teaching and research. We fund, design and build new on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure, complete estate transfers and operate facilities over the long-term. Our transactions are typically undertaken on a demand-risk-transfer basis through a non-recourse approach, with the asset returning to the university in an agreed condition at the end of the concession. We encourage our partners to take an equity share in the project company so that both parties benefit from the successful delivery and performance of the accommodation, with interests aligned over the life of the partnership.

Our Vision

To be the UK’s leading student accommodation provider working with the trust and confidence of our university partners.

To deliver on this ambitious vision, we have three strategic aims:

1. To drive operational excellence throughout our Business. 2. To delight our university partners through the services we provide to them and their students. 3. To generate value for our investors to enable them to further invest in the growth of our Business.

To achieve the aims, we all need to focus on six strategic priorities:

1. Student experience – to provide an easy-to-access, reliable and excellent student experience. 2. Partnership – to develop and maintain highly-effective university partnerships. 3. Our people – to develop a safe, highly-engaged, skilled and collaborative organisation. 4. Accommodation – to apply effective asset management to provide good-quality accommodation. 5. Continuous improvement – to promote a culture of continuous improvement by embracing technology, innovation and efficiencies. 6. Development – to ensure highly-effective development, design and construction capabilities.

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

In Partnership, for the long term.

We deliver a range of services which can help universities to invest in improvements their estate, or improve student services. Our range of services includes; funding, design, build and operation of student accommodation. We employ over 900 people managing more than 35,000 rooms in operation or development. Our support, delivered in partnership, is helping 15 UK Universities to upgrade their estates, make best use of their physical assets, improve services and enhance In the last decade we have provided more than £2.6billion in new funding, supporting our partners to invest and grow, to meet demand and improve the student experience. Any UK University with a strong strategic vision can benefit from a partnership with UPP, or access our range of services. A film detailing our latest project, Elena Rose House, can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/1s01jDHeXjI the student experience.

Our University Partners

Imperial College London Lancaster University Leeds Beckett University Loughborough University Nottingham Trent University Oxford Brookes University

1,172 Rooms / FM Services

4,347 Rooms / Eco-Residences / FM services 2,038 Rooms / Eco-Residences / FM Services

1,310 Rooms / FM Services

4,402 Rooms / Academic / Retail / FM Services

771 Rooms / FM Services

University of Plymouth University of Exeter

1,764 Rooms / Academic / FM Services 2,569 Rooms / Academic / FM Services

University of Kent

1,840 Rooms / Eco-Residences / Academic / FM Services

University of Nottingham University of Reading

2,223 Rooms / FM Services

4,971 Rooms / Accommodation Office / FM Services

University of York

1,043 Rooms / FM Services 1,711 Rooms / FM Services

University of London

University of Hull

1,462 Rooms

Swansea University

2,021 Rooms / FM Services

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

Student Experience

Great space and services with student experience built in. Our partnerships support universities to create environments within which students can live, study and thrive. We manage the needs of more than 35,000 students every term so we never stop learning and we share our experience with our partners. We also know that every University is as unique as the thousands of students it serves and this ensures that we are never complacent, and never take a one size fits all view. Listening, responding, adapting Students can be demanding and their needs constantly evolve. Independent qualitative and quantitative research helps us understand the evolving needs of students and face to face focus groups, and regular surveys with our residents enable us to check and adapt our approach quickly. As specialists, the quality of our staff and their in-depth understanding of the unique environment and the people for whom we provide services, enables us to support universities, understand their aims and their strategy and together deliver tangible improvements to the student experience. Our design teams work to understand how students want to use space, and how they interact with each other, leading to seemingly small improvements to the specification of a bedroom, or major changes that impact on construction or technology. At UPP we aim to deliver great places to live, with student experience literally built in.

Long-term, stable growth

Our clearly defined strategy for growth is based on our overarching mission to be the strategic partner of choice in the delivery of infrastructure and asset management services to UK universities. Our model is focused on long-term partnerships, supporting universities in improving the quality of their physical infrastructure and services to students. In aligning the interests of both parties, our unique approach provides security in the delivery of revenues and in turn, expected returns to investors. Our strategy will: • Grow the number of partnerships we have with selected universities • Increase the number of student rooms under management • Deepen the existing relationships we enjoy with our current partners • Invest in our staff to ensure we deliver the best customer service • Develop new and innovative ways of funding infrastructure projects • Identify new revenue streams and increase the value of existing revenue streams • Develop innovative solutions for the non-residential requirements of our partners • Wrest the economic benefits of ever more effective procurement

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

Job Description The Role of he Pre-Construction Manager

Reporting to the Managing Director of UPP Projects, the Pre-Construction Manager will provide technical design, project management and product development support for new build or estate transfer transactions and refinancing bids and projects. You will work closely with the Transactions team to ensure design is progressed, commercial and legal issues are adequately identified, managed and mitigated, before going on to work with the Construction team on the delivery of projects. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in the successful leadership at the pre-construction stages of large-scale, high-volume construction projects and programmes, preferably in student accommodation, residential, DBFO or a comparable sector. Exceptional design development and management skills are essential as the leadership of design quality and innovation forms a key part of the role. We’re seeking someone with excellent interpersonal and communication skills and who is a team player, creative and commercially aware. You will have detailed understanding of construction technology and applying innovation in design development as we continue to develop industry-leading facilities with our partners. This is a key role within the business and offers the chance for an individual to play a leading client-side role on the development and delivery of a diverse variety of large scale (typically in the £50m to £200m value range) projects.

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

Job Description

Company Location

UPP Projects Limited Gracechurch Street

Business Unit

Transactions

Job Title

Pre-Construction Manager

Reports To Direct Reports

Managing Director, UPP Management

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Job Purpose

To provide commercial, technical design, project management and product development support for new build or estate transfer transactions and refinancing projects as a member of the Construction team. To work alongside the Transaction Management team and other support functions to help ensure design is progressed, commercial and legal issues are adequately identified, man- aged and mitigated. To liaise with URSL regarding facilities management aspects of the projects in hand and to work alongside the UM construction delivery teams to help the transition from pre-contract to post contract and to enable the feedback of on-site knowledge apply continuous im- provement techniques.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Reporting to the Managing Director of UPP Projects:

• Review and confirmation of consultant appointment scopes

• Confirming UPP design parameters to design teams

• Managing design teams and ensuring design development matches UPP requirements in line with agreed programme

• Identification of risk and mitigation strategies

• Instigating and governing the cost planning process for new build projects.

• Oversight of the preparation of accurate and robust Employer’s Requirements

• Governing main contract procurement and contract placement

• Maintaining close market ties to ensure the product remains current

• Updating the UPP Design Brief for future projects

Key Skills/Qualifications

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Design team management

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Quantity surveying skills and commercial awareness

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Negotiating skills

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Ability to review, critique and direct design development

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Full and proficient ability with MS Outlook, Word and Excel

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Familiarity with MS PowerPoint and Projec

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Experience of DBFO/PFI/PPP

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHI S PROGRAMME

Job Description Person Specification

Attributes Essential criteria

Desirable Criteria

Experience

3 years of post-qualification professional employment Pre and post contract exposure, covering design development, procurement and contractor management Experience in the student accommodation or residential sectors

Experience of project finance (DBFO/PFI/PPP) Commercial delivery Contracts and transaction Closure experience Familiarity with Guaranteed Maximum Price contracts and other similar cost profiles Ability to prepare Whole Life Cost analyses, review sinking fund assessments and their formulation and their interrelationship through the whole life approach Facilities management services delivery The cost of providing facilities management services Performance measurement systems and payment mechanisms Facilities management contract procurement

Skills/Ability/ Knowledge

Feasibility stage cost planning Concept and detailed stage cost plan review Management of consultant EA/QS teams A comprehensive and detailed understanding of construction technology Management of design teams Management of the design development and approvals process Contribution to the product development process Identification of value engineering opportunities Preparation of accurate and robust Employer’s Requirements documentation Ability to contribute to consultant appointments including review of warranties and PI cover Familiarity with construction contracts, warranties, performance bonds, parent company guarantees etc. Construction procurement and contract placement Design & construction programme preparation and review An understanding of the technical implementation of BIM Change management ability Identification of risk and mitigation strategies

Education/ Qualification

Construction biased Commercial Management or Project Management degree, or Technical Design background complimented by commercial acumen

Membership of a recognised Professional body (preferably RICS or CIOB)

Personal Qualities

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with colleagues and external organizations at all levels Self-starter who can demonstrate drive and motivation to achieve deadlines Uses initiative but with a consultative approach Open and honest.

Ability to interact effectively with diversely skilled colleagues, external consultants, Universities, construction partners and banks Able to plan and manage work activities, and to communicate and prioritise workloads

Other The Pre-Construction Manager will travel regularly throughout the UK and overnights stays required as deemed necessary.

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The benefits of working at UPP

In addition to a competitive basic salary level and industry leading annual bonus potential UPP offer a diverse range of employee benefits, including: • Salary exchange pension – matched contributions of 5% • Private Medical Insurance – single cover with the option to add dependents • Private Health Insurance (Group Income Protection) • Life Assurance x4 salary (x2 salary if opted out of pension scheme)

• 29 days annual leave, plus 8 days bank holiday • Holiday purchase option – up to 5 days (FTE) • Bonus Exchange • UPP Payroll Giving (Give as You Earn) • UPP Rewards (discount portal) • Employee Assistance Programme

Our people forms one of our six strategic priorities. We strive to develop a highly-engaged, skilled and collaborative organisation that is diverse and has an embedded culture that promotes equality of opportunity. We offer the opportunity for flexible working and an inclusive environment for our people.

Further information and application process

For a confidential discussion to learn more about the role and opportunity please contact the UPP’s appointed recruitment partners Ben Duffill and Nicholas Coppard of The Management Recruitment Group.

Ben Duffill T: 0203 962 9900 M: 07976 125 010 E: [email protected]

Nick Coppard T: 0203 962 9900 M: 07896 079 495 E: [email protected]

Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV and supporting cover letter. Applications should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected].

The closing date for applications is Sunday 2nd March 2020.