Experienced Project Leader

At Mace, we strive to push the limits of ambition. Our mission is to create responsible environments that positively impact our people, communities, and societies worldwide. To discover more about our mission, culture, and priorities, please visit our website.

Within our construction division, we leverage our exceptional blend of advanced practical skills and project delivery consultancy to maximize the potential of every endeavor.

The Project Overview:

Our life sciences division is expanding, particularly in the Oxford region, and we are seeking a seasoned professional to contribute to our initiatives from the initial stages of tendering and preconstruction.
Projects typically range up to £60M within the life sciences sector.

Our core values guide our consulting approach and define the type of individuals we wish to have on our journey:

Safety First - Ensuring Wellbeing:

• Promote Mace's commitment to safety, demonstrating visible safety behaviors, sharing lessons learned, and utilizing safety moments along with Mace's Health, Safety, and Wellbeing framework to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff.
• Possess technical knowledge of local health and safety regulations pertinent to the project portfolio.
• Foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, recognizing the significance of team members' wellbeing.

Client Focus - Delivering on Promises:

• Ensure robust quality systems are established and effectively managed in alignment with service excellence.
• Oversee project delivery from tendering through pre-construction, procurement of subcontractors, and the construction phase, adhering to the overall delivery schedule and agreed milestones.
• Manage tasks and deliverables in collaboration with the associate director and other senior leaders, as well as the broader project and client teams, to guarantee timely and accurate project delivery.
• Lead the project and effectively manage team resources.
• Determine and coordinate project management, technical services, and external resources required for the project on both individual and team levels on behalf of the client organization.
• Collaborate with team members (clients, design teams, other consultants, and contractors) and all stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery in accordance with expectations, communicating strategies effectively.
• Exhibit Mace's safety-first value through visible safety behaviors and by utilizing safety moments and Mace's Health, Safety, and Wellbeing framework.
• Provide subject matter expertise to support teams from broader Mace projects and business units to achieve optimal project outcomes.
• Procure and manage design and consultant teams, as well as project stakeholders, to ensure effective completion of responsibilities, including project briefs, fees, claims processing, deliverables, and project variations.
• Actively encourage collaboration among all parties involved.
• Develop and manage design and authority programs (or collaborate with a planner) to integrate with procurement and delivery schedules.
• Ensure timely and successful project delivery from inception through design development, planning, contractor procurement, and construction phases, holding accountability for the project portfolio's scope of work.
• Achieve project objectives in alignment with the project execution plan, leading and managing project teams and relevant stakeholders to meet strategic project key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Prepare and adjust project plans as necessary, keeping them updated and relevant throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee project timelines and budgets, ensuring successful project delivery while identifying risks, challenges, and mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure robust quality systems are in place and effectively monitored in line with service excellence.
• Lead and document relevant meetings, providing contextual information and analysis to participants.
• Engage with stakeholders in risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Effectively coordinate and communicate with all project stakeholders, ensuring completion of responsibilities and maintaining appropriate standards and records.
• Take ownership of project changes as necessary, tracking and formalizing changes within agreed timelines.
• Ensure that approved handover documentation is organized and provided prior to practical completion.
• Promote and drive business priorities through construction to production, digital & data, and responsible business practices.
• Network actively and seek insights into best practices, utilizing the full depth of knowledge available within Mace, including centers of excellence and knowledge hubs.

Integrity - Upholding Ethical Standards:

• Manage project budgets, highlighting any risks, challenges, and mitigation strategies.
• Support the long-term development of your function or Business Unit (BU), fostering a sustainable business future.
• Commit to making a positive impact for our people, clients, and the planet, holding others accountable for upholding Mace values.

Creating Opportunities - Enabling Excellence:

• Manage design and consultant teams collaboratively to ensure effective completion of responsibilities.
• Lead and manage project teams and relevant stakeholders to achieve strategic project key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Actively network, innovate, and seek insights into best practices, leveraging the full breadth of knowledge within Mace.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Demonstrated successful experience in project management, overseeing medium-sized projects.
• Developed communication, presentation, project planning, and development skills.
• Expertise in budget oversight.
• Advanced proficiency in communication, coordination, and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Proven understanding of project management methodologies and practices.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills to support client/customer focus.
• Proactively manage internal budgets and fees, delivering agreed outcomes where applicable.
• Proven competency in understanding construction methodologies and sequencing.
• Developed bidding skills.
• Proficient knowledge and expertise in the specific sector/market relevant to the project/role.
• Relevant technical qualifications/certifications for project portfolios.
• Sound technical expertise in Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations (or local equivalents) relevant to the project/portfolio.
• Knowledge of consultancy, construction, infrastructure, and property sectors/markets, along with an understanding of estimating, scheduling, contract administration, procurement, commercial controls, and reporting.
• Seek opportunities for improved working practices.
• Identify opportunities for service differentiation and implement them.
• Manage relevant stakeholders for projects.
• Develop effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Utilize advanced communication skills to guide others in achieving project key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Exhibit good interpersonal skills for report preparation, negotiation, and relationship building with key stakeholders.
• Possess problem-solving and analytical skills for addressing planning, estimating, contract administration, and procurement issues within construction and design activities.
• Develop commercial and financial skills, capable of building fee proposals and project workbooks where appropriate.
• Demonstrate Mace values and behaviors.
• Partner with others to provide day-to-day project leadership to achieve deliverables.
• Manage teams, providing guidance, direction, and coordination.
• Act as the central point of contact for project portfolios for relevant stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Mentor and develop project teams, fostering a safe work environment for learning and growth.
• Champion inclusivity within the workplace.
• Competencies include interpersonal ability, influencing and negotiation, problem-solving and analytical thinking, technology and process, verbal communication, and written communication.
• Understand personal strengths and weaknesses, seeking learning and support where appropriate.
• Substantial previous experience in a project management role on medium-sized or complex projects, or leading smaller projects.
• Experience in the construction delivery phase of projects.
• MCIOB/MAPM/MRICS/MICE or local equivalent.
• Tertiary qualifications in a related (project management and/or construction-related discipline), non-related degree, or equivalent professional experience/apprenticeship, combined with demonstrable intermediate-level role knowledge.
• Appropriate Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card (or local equivalent).

Additional Qualifications:

• Membership of RICS, CIOB, APM, ICE, or equivalent demonstrable professional or personal development.
• Extensive experience in the successful delivery phase of projects and programs within the construction sector.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience leading segments of projects within large, diverse teams.
• Experience in developing and nurturing relationships with senior stakeholders.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet all criteria, as you could still be the ideal candidate for this role or another position within our organization.

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working arrangements where suitable for the role.

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