Senior Project Manager- Construction

Job summary

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings, courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech, and a whole lot more.

Job description

Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we're on. In our world, it all matters.

Designing engineering solutions. Earthquake-proofing embassies. Managing construction contracts in challenging locations. Just a few examples of the incredible work our Engineering team does. They're the people who plan, design, and deliver innovation across all corners of the globe. Now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Bringing energy to embassies.

Designing systems that protect.

Realising the power of your skills.

It all matters.

Mentor teams to excel in project management

We’re looking for someone ready to take on significant responsibility in seeing our projects through to completion. This will entail coaching and developing staff in project management principles and techniques. Working to create an environment where teams are driven to identify and implement efficiency initiatives and innovations, helping us to reduce the cost of delivery. And as a line manager, you’ll have more opportunity to mentor and bring out the best in our staff.

Ensure efficient, effective project delivery

As a Senior Project Manager, you’ll be hands-on in ensuring effective delivery. Scheduling projects, including major work packages and milestones. As well as establishing the supply chain for each project, adding to the pipeline forecasting, and certify that we’re using our resources optimally. For your own projects, you will monitor finances, ensuring that all stays within budget – whilst doing the same for your direct reports’ projects. Ensuring that projects follow the FCDO Services Project Process Map and the FCDO Services Health & Safety policies, processes and procedures.

We’d like you to develop strong relationships with customers and stakeholders. You’ll ensure that they feel project KPIs are met and that feedback remains positive. Whilst spotting opportunities to repeat or create additional business from existing and new customers.

Bring expertise in project managing construction contracts

Bringing to the role experience in drafting, tendering and managing NEC4, or similar construction contracts. You’ve applied project management methodologies in the design, development and implementation of multidisciplinary construction projects, and led teams and managed people before.

As a project manager, you can be relied on for responsible budgeting, cost control, financial tracking and reporting. Your accurate cost forecasts have helped to support informed decision making. Alongside this, you’ll have strategic risk management experience. You’re able to identify, assess and prioritise risks, lead mitigation planning, and escalate threats or opportunities where appropriate. You will also be familiar with relevant Health & Safety standards and procedures including Construction Design Management 2015.

You have a relevant professional qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ or equivalent). Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. RIBA, RICS, ICE, CIBSE or APM) would be advantageous. Awareness of Project Management products such as M_o_R® , MSP® and M_o_V® would be another plus. As would any experience delivering projects overseas or in a secure environment.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

But we’re always looking to improve – just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, good holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

We are looking for people with:

• Prince 2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, ISEB Certificate in Project Management or equivalent
• Experience in drafting, tendering and managing NEC4, or similar, construction contracts
• Applied project management methodologies in the design, development and implementation of multidisciplinary construction projects
• Led teams and managed people
• Experience of relevant Health & Safety standards and procedures including Construction Design Management 2015
• Strategic risk management experience, including the ability to identify, assess and prioritise risks; develop and maintain risk registers; lead mitigation planning; and escalate threats or opportunities where appropriate
• Experience in project cost management, including budgeting, cost control, financial tracking and reporting, and the ability to produce accurate cost forecasts to support informed decision‑making

Qualifications

Prince 2 Practitioner, APM PMQ, ISEB Certificate in Project Management or equivalent
If selecting “or similar equivalent” please provide details of qualification or experience you are using as equivalent.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Led teams and managed people
• Experience of relevant Health & Safety standards and procedures including Construction Design Management 2015
• Experience in project cost management, including budgeting, cost control, financial tracking and reporting, and the ability to produce accurate cost forecasts to support informed decision making
• Strategic risk management experience, including the ability to identify, assess and prioritise risks; develop and maintain risk registers; lead mitigation planning; and escalate threats or opportunities where appropriate
• Experience in drafting, tendering and managing NEC4, or similar, construction contracts
• Commercial Awareness

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Led teams and managed people
• Experience of relevant Health & Safety standards and procedures including Construction Design Management 2015
• Experience in project cost management, including budgeting, cost control, financial tracking and reporting, and the ability to produce accurate cost forecasts to support informed decision making
• Strategic risk management experience, including the ability to identify, assess and prioritise risks; develop and maintain risk registers; lead mitigation planning; and escalate threats or opportunities where appropriate
• Experience in drafting, tendering and managing NEC4, or similar, construction contracts

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,209, FCDO Services contributes £16,863 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details

• career history with key responsibilities

• achievements

• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

Candidate will need to complete a job presentation along with the interview questions.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from FCDO Services, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit their website.

Attachments

Candidate pack -Senior Project Manager-Construction Opens in new window (pdf, 1842kB)