Job Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Project Lead to lead the delivery of an ambitious heritage capital restoration project in Halifax, initially supported by the Architectural Heritage Fund.
An experienced project leader, you know how to develop and deliver a project from inception to completion, balancing the interdependencies between capital and public-facing components. You can inspire and lead a team of highly engaged people, and with experience of large, complex, and (preferably) partnership projects. You will need the following:
The project aims to bring the beautiful Queen’s Road Neighbourhood Centre (QRNC) back into use as a vibrant and stunning community hub. The project is the most significant community-focused capital scheme in Halifax and is a partnership between Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT) and Calderdale council. HOT is the project lead and will be the beneficiary of a community asset transfer of QRNC during the project process.
We are seeking an experienced Project Lead to lead the delivery of an ambitious heritage capital restoration project in Halifax, initially supported by the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The project aims to bring the beautiful Queen’s Road Neighbourhood Centre (QRNC) back into use as a vibrant and stunning community hub. The project is the most significant community-focused capital scheme in Halifax and is a partnership between Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT) and Calderdale council. HOT is the project lead and will be the beneficiary of a community asset transfer of QRNC during the project process.
You’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, and successful delivery of all aspects of the project, including:
• Reviewing and improving existing project documentation and plans
• Developing a robust fundraising strategy
• Resubmission of a Development stage application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Developing relationships and bids with/to other suitable funders
• Setting up and running the Project Partnership board and Friends of Queen’s Road Neighbourhood Centre
Stakeholder relationships
Working for HOT as the capital project commissioner and accountable body, and eventually reporting to a joint HOT and Calderdale council Project Partnership Board, this role will shape and lead detailed planning and delivery for the restoration of QRNC, including core stakeholder management with the HOT board of Trustees, Council members/staff and key delivery partners such as the Friends of QRNC Group.
Strategic direction
Shaping a vision for QRNC, reimagining its spaces through commissioning excellent design, and developing the business plan to deliver long term sustainability and act as a catalyst for wider community regeneration in Park ward.
Engagement
Promoting the understanding of the project (vision, purpose and work), this role will be the voice of the Project Partnership, providing advocacy internally and externally.
Project leadership
Lead and coordinate the delivery of all aspects of the heritage capital project. Shape the project to deliver against the agreed vision and aims, ensuring the use of the right specialist skills to develop conservation capital works, exhibitions, interpretation, collections management, fundraising, communications, evaluation, governance and activity plans. Manage external consultants, contractors and suppliers to deliver to time, within budget and specification. Oversee governance, risk, change control, procurement (in line with funder guidelines).
Income generation
Leading and significantly contributing to funding bids to trusts & foundations, including Development and Delivery Phase bids to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Leading the campaign to raise sponsorship and donations from local residents and businesses.
People leadership
Creating and leading a team of experts to deliver the project. Expected line-management of a Community Heritage Coordinator (subject to further funding) to ensure development of an Activity Plan and delivery of a programme of heritage-themed activities that will attract interest, support and participation of the local community and service users. Actively blending expertise and capacity of the professional capital side project management with the internal HOT team and specialist consultants supporting the people focused aspects of the project. Creating a work environment that fosters individual commitment, provides clear lines of responsibility and embeds collaboration and open and effective communication. Having significant autonomy for responding to the needs of the project to ensure successful delivery within delegated authority limits set by the HOT CEO and Project Board.
Financial performance and reporting
Ensuring the cost-effective use and protection of funder investments by the judicious application of financial and risk management. Delivering regular, up to date project and financial reports and forecasts to the CEO, Project board, HOT trustee board and funders. Managing the process by which any significant decisions on project scope and cost changed are determined by the Project Partnership Board. Ensure mitigation of financial risks, including VAT liability and considerations, cost overruns and sustainability of the building once open.
• All staff must comply with Halifax Opportunities Trust policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Data Protection
• Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, in line with agreed annual performance objectives
• To undertake any other tasks and duties that may be reasonably requested by HOT
An experienced project leader, you know how to develop and deliver a project from inception to completion, balancing the interdependences between capital and public-facing components. You can inspire and lead a team of highly engaged people, and with experience of large, complex, and (preferably) partnership projects. You will need the following:
• Proven track record delivering large-scale heritage or capital projects, ideally with National Lottery Heritage Fund investment.
• Knowledge of listed buildings, conservation processes, permissions and working with statutory bodies.
• Very good understanding of project management lifecycles, processes and practise, including governance requirements.
• Sound experience of funding, procuring, contracting and financial processes. Proven track record of managing budgets to control costs.
• Experience (or an excellent understanding) of working on projects with complex funding arrangements (ideally public sector and/or NHLF projects).
• Proven experience in sponsor, stakeholder and client / supplier relationship management
• Experience of working with external agencies, contractors and organisations
• Experience (or an excellent understanding) of working in partnership.
• Experience of writing large scale and successful funding applications
• Knowledge of communications and stakeholder management processes and practices, including techniques to influence and negotiate at all levels.
• Experience of active management of commercial and contractual relationships and issues.
• Experience of planning and estimating with consideration to risk and contingency.
• Knowledge of the challenges associated with constantly changing horizons.
• Experience of acting as the front face of a major project, representing the Partnership Board and HOT
• Experience of working with a charitable Board supporting it to take timely and effective strategic decisions on a major project
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Project Management, Building Surveying, Heritage, Conservation or a related field.
• PRINCE 2, Project Management Professional (RICS), Institute of Project Management or equivalent experience
• Highly developed project management skills, able to make decisions and drive projects forward working to budgets and timescales.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills including the ability to manage and motivate project teams made up of staff, consultants and volunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public presentation and facilitation.
• Excellent people and influencing skills, enabling strong relationships externally and internally, to be built and maintained.
• Able to navigate complex partnership interests
• PC literate using MS software and other packages to intermediate level.
• Ability to deliver results through successful delivery of projects to scope, time and quality.
• Ability to work as part of a team sharing learning and ideas. Ability to coach and mentor others.
• Resilience to maintain focus on vision and aims whilst leading complex project decision
• Ability to quickly establish trusted relationships with HOT board, internal team and external professional team.
Please email your CV and a short cover letter to recruitment@regen.org.uk
Halifax Opportunities Trust is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018. Halifax Opportunities Trust takes its responsibilities under the Act very seriously.
The information provided by you is collected for the purposes of processing your application for employment against the Job Description and Person Specification. Application forms are used to determine who to interview for the advertised position by way of shortlisting.
If you are successful in your application and are subsequently offered a position with Halifax Opportunities Trust, the data collected will be used to carry out pre-employment checks and ensure your suitability for the position. The data will then be transferred onto your personnel file.
You may withdraw consent at any time to recruitment@regen.org.uk. In addition you have the right to see what information is held about you, to have inaccurate information corrected, to have information removed from our system unless we are required by law or a statutory purpose to keep it and the right to complain to the Data Protection Officer if you feel that the data has not been handled in accordance with the law. Halifax Opportunities Trust Data Protection officer is Malgorzata Ciewiertnia and can be contacted at Privacy@regen.org.uk .
Applications will be kept for a period of six months for unsuccessful candidates. For successful applicants, the information will be transferred to your personnel file and will be kept for a maximum of the individual’s employment with us plus seven years or as per recommended guidelines for jobs working with children and vulnerable groups, term of employment plus 25 years or until such a time as the data is reviewed.
We are a Mindful Employer which means we take our employees’ wellbeing very seriously and find ways to promote good mental health within the organisation. We offer a dedicated, confidential phone-line support service (Mindful Employer Plus) through which staff can access practical advice and support 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
We are a Disability Confident committed employer.
The Trust offers a NEST auto-enrolment pension to all qualifying staff.
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progression
People Powered
Purpose Driven
As a charity, our day-to-day is underpinned by doing good. This doesn’t only apply to the 1,700 people we reach each day, it also applies to the 180 people who work at Halifax Opportunities Trust. We like to recognise the good things our employees do, which is why we celebrate when people go above and beyond to bring our values to life, with acknowledgement awards. Furthermore, we’re driven by the following three principles:
We recognise you are an individual and want ensure we treat you like one, so we’ll work with you so you have the tools and support to succeed.
Just like our name suggests, our work revolves around opportunity. We create, and encourage employees to take, opportunities that will make them feel fulfilled in work and life.
Your work should inspire growth, both personally and professionally, so we work with you to identify beneficial career progression and development pathways.
In our daily endeavours to achieve our goals, we are guided by our values. They reflect our culture, the way we want things to be and our expectations of the people we work with.
