Head of Capital Delivery (Buildings and Community Infrastructure) – AR

Job Details

Head of Capital Delivery (Buildings and Community Infrastructure)

Location: Colindale, Barnet
Working Arrangement: Hybrid
Department: Capital Delivery, Growth Directorate
Contract: Interim
Reporting to: Assistant Director of Capital Delivery

About the Role

Barnet Council is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Capital Delivery to provide senior leadership across a diverse portfolio of building and community infrastructure projects.

You will oversee the planning, governance and delivery of complex capital programmes, ensuring projects are delivered to the required standards, within agreed budgets and timescales. The portfolio may include schools, leisure centres, community facilities, parks and open spaces, corporate accommodation and other council-owned assets.

This is a senior leadership position requiring strong programme management, commercial awareness and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams while working closely with senior stakeholders across the council.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the delivery and oversight of multiple capital projects, from initial planning and feasibility through design, procurement, construction and final handover.
  • Work with project sponsors and senior stakeholders to establish clear project objectives, delivery plans, governance arrangements and resource requirements.
  • Monitor project performance, budgets, risks and timelines, ensuring issues are identified, escalated and resolved promptly.
  • Chair project and programme boards, ensuring decisions are properly documented and implemented.
  • Manage high-value capital budgets, including financial forecasting, expenditure monitoring, variance management and value for money.
  • Oversee procurement strategies, contract management, external consultants, contractors and technical advisers.
  • Ensure compliance with council governance, procurement, financial, legal, health and safety requirements.
  • Provide strategic advice to senior officers and elected members on project progress, risks, affordability and delivery options.
  • Lead and motivate Programme Managers, Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Promote consistent project management standards, effective governance and continuous improvement across the Capital Delivery service.

Essential Experience and Skills

The successful candidate will have:

  • Significant senior-level experience leading complex capital programmes from inception through construction, handover and closure.
  • Strong experience delivering building and community infrastructure projects, ideally within schools, leisure facilities, public buildings or operational estates.
  • A proven track record of delivering high-value capital schemes within local government, the public sector or a similarly regulated environment.
  • Strong knowledge of programme governance, project assurance, risk management, procurement and financial controls.
  • Experience developing business cases and advising senior stakeholders on project delivery, affordability, risks and benefits.
  • Experience commissioning and managing external consultants, contractors and professional advisers.
  • Strong commercial and financial management skills, including budget forecasting, contract oversight and value-for-money assessments.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders, elected members and external partners.
  • Proven leadership skills, with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and competing priorities in a demanding environment.
  • Sound understanding of the technical, legal, procurement and health and safety requirements associated with capital project delivery.

Qualifications

Candidates should hold:

  • PRINCE2, an Association for Project Management (APM) qualification or an equivalent project/programme management qualification.
  • A degree or equivalent professional qualification.

Membership of a relevant professional body, such as RICS, CIOB, APM or RIBA, would be desirable.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced capital delivery leader with a strong background in major building and infrastructure programmes. They will combine strategic oversight with sound commercial judgement, financial accountability and effective team leadership, ensuring projects deliver the required outcomes for Barnet Council and its communities.