The Capital Programme Manager is responsible for leading, developing and delivering the UKHSA Porton Estates, Engineering and Facilities (EEF) capital programme, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and operational requirements.
Working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, they will lead the planning, prioritisation, governance and delivery of a diverse portfolio of complex capital projects within a live High Hazard Life Sciences environment. The programme includes professional services, specialist equipment installations, major refurbishment and new-build projects ranging from £5k to £10m, with an annual budget of circa. £20m.
The role will ensure effective programme controls, stakeholder engagement and the achievement of operational and financial objectives delivered in accordance with UKHSA governance, departmental procedures and government procurement requirements.
They will lead a small multidisciplinary team overseeing project delivery from business case development through design, procurement, construction and operational handover, while maintaining effective programme governance, reporting, risk management, resource planning and financial controls to ensure projects are delivered within scope, budget and timescales.
The role will provide leadership and support to the Capital Programme and EEF teams, promoting best practice, driving continuous improvement, value for money and compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
- Lead the development, prioritisation and delivery of the Porton Capital Programme, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, estate strategy and business needs.
- Manage a portfolio of capital projects including infrastructure, laboratories, engineering systems, specialist equipment, refurbishments and new-build developments within a live High Hazard Life Sciences environment.
- Maintain programme governance, reporting, risk management, assurance and financial controls across the capital portfolio.
- Manage capital budgets and forecasting, ensuring value for money and compliance with UKHSA governance and procurement requirements.
- Oversee project delivery from business case development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
- Lead a multidisciplinary team of project professionals, consultants and contractors, ensuring effective resource planning and performance.
- Provide technical, commercial and contractual advice to support investment decisions, business cases and procurement activities.
- Build stakeholder relationships and communicate programme performance, risks and outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, health and safety, quality and organisational requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement through best practice, lessons learned and performance monitoring.
Continues below
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Strategic Programme Leadership
Lead the development, prioritisation, approval and delivery of the UKHSA Porton Capital Works Programme, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, estate strategy, asset management plans & business priorities.
Develop and maintain a rolling capital investment programme supporting operational, scientific and infrastructure requirements.
Provide strategic leadership for programme governance, planning and prioritisation, ensuring investment decisions are informed by business need, estate condition, risk & long-term objectives.
Establish programme strategies, policies, standards, performance measures and KPIs, while managing interdependencies, risks & opportunities to optimise delivery outcomes.
Project Delivery
Oversee a diverse portfolio of capital projects from concept through to operational handover & benefits realisation, ensuring they are delivered to agreed scope, budget, quality standards and timescales.
Direct all stages of delivery including feasibility studies, option appraisals, business case development, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, validation and handover.
Ensure effective operational transition arrangements and undertake post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and drive continuous improvement.
Finance and Commercial
Manage the capital programme budget, ensuring effective financial control and value for money across all projects.
Monitor budgets, cashflow forecasts, expenditure and financial performance, taking corrective action where required.
Ensure compliance with UKHSA financial governance requirements.
Maintain oversight of change control processes, ensuring financial and programme impacts are assessed and approved.
Support robust procurement, contract management and commercial governance throughout the project lifecycle.
Governance, Risk and Assurance
Establish and maintain effective governance, assurance and reporting frameworks.
Develop and maintain programme controls covering risk, issues, change management, benefits realisation and performance monitoring.
Ensure accurate reporting of programme performance, finance and key risks to senior management and governance boards.
Provide assurance that projects are managed in accordance with recognised programme and project management best practice, organisational policies, and government requirements.
Stakeholder Engagement
Build productive relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders on site, suppliers and external organisations.
Principal point of contact for the Porton capital programme.
Communicate complex technical, commercial and programme information to diverse audiences throughout project lifecycles and present relevant information and programme updates to governance boards and senior leadership.
Manage stakeholder expectations, resolving issues and conflicts as required to maintain project objectives.
Technical Advice, Compliance and Health & Safety
Provide specialist technical, commercial and contractual advice on complex engineering, construction and infrastructure projects.
Support the development of business cases, option appraisals and investment proposals, while reviewing technical specifications, designs and procurement documentation.
Advise on procurement strategies, contract management and supplier performance.
Ensure all projects and staff comply with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
Continuous Improvement and General Responsibilities
Drive continuous improvement across programme management, governance and project delivery.
Implement lessons learned, develop management information and performance reporting systems, and promote innovation, efficiency and value for money across the capital portfolio.
Promote collaboration, professionalism, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post as reasonably required by management.
This list is not exhaustive.
Essential criteria
Significant experience managing complex capital programmes and multi-disciplinary construction projects within research, pharmaceutical, scientific or other highly regulated environments.
Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Building Services, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline (or equivalent experience), together with PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP Practitioner, APM PMQ or equivalent qualification.
Proven experience managing programme and project budgets, financial controls, forecasting, lifecycle costs and financial reporting, delivering projects to agreed scope, cost and schedule.
Extensive experience leading and developing multidisciplinary project teams, consultants and contractors, with excellent leadership, negotiation and stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
Sound knowledge of construction and engineering procurement, tendering processes, commercial management and contract administration, including a good working knowledge of the JCT and/or NEC suite of contracts and their application to construction and engineering projects.
Experience reviewing project designs, technical specifications, option appraisals and business cases.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing reports, presentations and business cases.
Desirable criteria:
Membership of a relevant professional body such as APM, ICE, IMechE, CIOB or RICS.
Contract Management experience.
Strong understanding of construction, engineering infrastructure, utilities, specialist equipment and process technologies.
Knowledge of relevant GMP, HSE, Home Office, Environmental Agency and other regulatory requirements applicable to research facilities.
Experience of GxP, GMP, GAMP or high-containment laboratory environments.
Knowledge of engineering safety systems, Building Regulations and Fire Safety legislation.
Advanced user of Microsoft 365, Smartsheet, and programme management software, with experience in programme reporting, risk management, performance monitoring and executive-level reporting.
Knowledge of operating and maintaining process plant and equipment, mechanical installations and facilities.
Selection Process Details (Success Profiles)
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience & Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
1500 word supporting statement.
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500.
Longlisting :
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria
Meets some essential criteria
Meets no essential criteria
If used, the pile(s) that meets ALL essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:
Significant experience managing complex capital programmes and multi-disciplinary construction projects within research, pharmaceutical, scientific or other highly regulated environments.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK
You will be invited to a single face to face interview at our Scientific Campus, Porton.
When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours, Experience & Technical skills will be tested at interview in the form of questions and a presentation.
The presentation topic will entail "Delivering a Complex Capital Programme in a Live High-Hazard Environment." The presentation should be no more than 10 minutes long.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
Lead Behaviour – Communicating & Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Seeing the Big Picture
Interview dates are to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria
External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this position.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check (SC).
For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC). UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.
