We are currently recruiting for an Innovation Park Medway Programme Manager to be the Councils lead intelligent client for the delivery of planning applications under the auspices of the Local Development Order, alongside the commercial investments at Innovation Park Medway. Acting pro-actively, independently and with assurance to resolve planning and commercial matters with specialist support as required.

To be the principal planning and commercial adviser leading the delivery of a £50+ million comprehensive programme of commercial investments at IPM. Including directing the acquisition and disposal of land, viability assessment, development agreements, planning, design, costing, safety assessment, procurement and construction for this programme.

Drawing on lessons learnt from direct experience of other complex planning and commercial development schemes to ensure the integration and delivery of the programme within the pre-construction and construction work programme and work closely with other Senior Managers in the HIF and Regeneration team to ensure alignment and integration across with wider ambitions of the Council.

To lead on the briefing of Cabinet Members alongside the Head of Service and liaising with stakeholders or their representatives to negotiate solutions to complex problems.

Direct the work of Commercial Advisors, Lawyers, Quantity Surveyors, Planners and other professionals to ensure the detailed programme management of the IPM programme addresses the critical milestones and outputs required by the Council.

Ensure the accurate and proactive management and monitoring of the £50+m budget for the scheme’s delivery, including all costs and fees to ensure comprehensive and accurate records are kept and authorised in accordance with Medway governance and audit requirements whilst meeting national best practice. To proactively find solutions to budget issues and pro-actively and confidently manage that relationship.

Formulate, gain approval for, and deliver a procurement strategy ensuring compliance and value for money. Utilizing this strategy to actively de-risk the council’s investment in the programme.

Assessing progress reports, identifying issues and escalating these within Council governance structures, ensuring decisions required from the Council are made in a timely manner to ensure progress remains on programme.

Ensuring all appointed contractors are delivering and reporting on their CDM 2015 Regulation requirements and any associated responsibilities delegated to it by the Council.

Reviewing and supporting the Planning, Principal Designer, Design Team and Principal Contractor procurement processes and onward contract management for physical delivery of the scheme.

Effectively manage the Principal Designer, Design Team and Principal Contractor and ensure that they plan, design and deliver the works package and final scheme for the IPM development programme in accordance with the Council’s vision and objectives.

Ensure robust and effective risk management systems are put in place for the pre-construction and construction elements of the programme, that these are delivered in line with the Council’s Risk Management approach and are coordinated with the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.

Demonstrate an overall ability to adapt and manage complex situations and scenarios, with managing a team, managing senior colleagues and member expectations and demands, whilst ensuring that key milestones are achieved and delivered where appropriate.

To lead other capital regeneration schemes as required such as can be managed alongside the key IPM role.

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.  Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change. 

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please e-mail Janet Davies on janet.davies@medway.gov.uk  

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.