Estates and Facilities

Grade 7: - £33,797-£40,322 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 12th July 2021-25th August 2022
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 23-Jun-2021, 6:59:00 AM 

Job Family: Estates and Information Infrastructure Services
Job Reference Number: 21000374
Job Title: Project Manager
Department: Estates and Facilities
Projects and Infrastructure
Responsible to: Senior Project Manager
Grade: Grade 7
Salary range: £33,797-£40,322 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover only)
Working arrangements: Nominal 35 hours - Full Time

The Department and role purpose

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides a number of essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses, including:

• maintaining and regularly reviewing a maintenance programme which takes account of short, medium and long term needs of all buildings and University grounds;
• implementing the works identified and funded within the various maintenance programmes and operating a system for dealing with day-to day requirements, including the provision of an out-of-hours emergency service;
• providing a professional, technical service to the University for the design, construction and procurement of new buildings and adaptation works to existing buildings;
• identifying and recording the use of space and advising on ways of increasing space utilisation;
• property and asset management;
• acquisition and disposal of built environment related assets;
• procuring and managing utilities and services;
• providing postal, delivery and security arrangements and advice to the University; and
• the delivery of a wide-range of customer-facing services, including: contract management; estates and facilities relationships management; housekeeping and cleaning, business resilience, event management; reception helpdesk; university retail; business support; health and safety; and management information.
• The Project Manager will provide a total service in connection with the evaluation, planning, coordination, procurement, execution and timely completion of individual building/ refurbishment/infrastructure/remodelling projects within the Estates Strategy and wider-University Strategy.

Core responsibilities:

• Implement changes to the design and development of processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service strands or project streams.
• Provide specialist expertise and support with the collection of complex data and information and, interpretation and analysis for major building/refurbishment projects across the University estate.
• Contribute to development of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements design and planning of services.
• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking, managing the flow of information and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge.
• Contribute to and lead project meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Responsible for managing budgets for capital projects, including total development costs, life-cycle costs, pre-tender estimates and forecast outturns during the entire project delivery cycle, keeping records and processing invoices.

Role responsibilities:

• Provide management for the delivery of high-quality estates, and infrastructure support services across the University.
• Carry out investment/development appraisals and feasibility studies, property options, accommodation surveys and prepare business cases for submission to University Committees.
• Formulate procurement strategies  and tender documentation and procure project delivery teams and contractors, using the established frameworks.
• Plan and deliver all aspects of capital projects, including variations from inception to completion of the 12-month defect period, utilising internal and external resources.
• Promote and foster positive and highly collaborative approaches to problem solving and project implementation, helping to motivate, mentor and coach project team members.
• Act as a point of contact for service colleagues and stakeholders to interpret and resolve complex infrastructure, architecture and technical problems.
• Make decisions about the nature and level of problem solving, physical and analytical tools, techniques and protocols to deliver project and service objectives, providing advice and making recommendations for resolution as appropriate.
• Collaborate with other specialists within the Service and across the University, regarding the use of modelling and analytical tools, methods and standards to deliver integrity and consistency with service delivery.
• Schedule and monitor maintenance and installation works, projects and work streams across the University.
• Provide regular status reports and identify risk management and contingency planning to other service staff, specialists, users and managers.
• Liaise with internal and external agencies, local authorities, industries and visitors, where appropriate.
• Take responsibility for monitoring and updating risk assessments, safety procedures, providing guidance to others where necessary.
• Develop, modify and optimise design briefs and schedules of accommodation; ensuring University requirements regarding sustainable construction and renovation, fabric maintenance, buildings and engineering  services, design guidelines, energy management, fire precautions, health and safety, business resilience, ITC and security are incorporated.
• Checking plans, specifications, tender and contract documents to ensure compliance with the original brief and agreed variations.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific Role requirements

• May be required to work evenings and weekends, as business demands.
• May be required to participate in local, on-call arrangements, as relevant to the role.
• Attend all training and CPD, as required.

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below (including those listed in the section ‘Realising Your Potential Approach’).

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application. 

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV.
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in all of the requirements set out in the Person Specification and Realising Your Potential Approach Information..

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application will not be considered.

Contact details

For further information please contact: Iain Ramage, Ian.Ramage@durham.ac.uk

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office
3. Educated to degree level or HNC/D or equivalent in a relevant discipline or relevant Experience working at a similar level in a large complex organisation
4. Experience of being able to network internally and externally effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships
5. Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions
6. Experience of delivering and developing specialist services for buildings or estates, services
7. Experience of delivering infrastructure/construction projects from inception to completion
8. Health and safety compliance knowledge
9. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines
10. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues
11. Successful track record at a Project Manager level of leading, directing and managing a building project or programme

Desirable Criteria

1. Relevant industry and professional qualification or recognition and certification of achievement of skills and knowledge
2. Continuing professional development

Realising Your Potential Approach

Providing Leadership and Direction: Seeing the work that you do in the context of the bigger picture and taking a long-term view. Communicating vision clearly and enthusiastically to inspire and motivate others.

1. Ensuring plans are consistent with the objectives of the organisation.
2. Not losing sight of the vision in dealing with day-to-day pressures.

Embracing Change: Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an opportunity and being receptive to new ideas.

1. Communicating upwards to influence policy formulation.

Finding Solutions: Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

1. Being open to, and applying, good practice and fresh ideas from inside and outside an organisation.
2. Exercising judgement in line with an organisation’s strategy and priorities.

Working Together: Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Applying a wide range of interpersonal skills.

1. Working across boundaries to develop relationships with other teams.

Achieving Results: Planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.

1. Critically evaluating the success of projects; disseminating lessons that can be learned.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.