Head of Capital Projects

Interim Head of Capital Projects (Operational & Commercial)

Rate: £800 per day (Inside IR35)
Location: North West England (3 days per week on site, remainder remote)
Duration: 6 months (with potential extension)
Working Pattern: Hybrid – minimum 3 days on site

 

The Opportunity

A North West local authority is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Operational & Commercial Capital Projects to lead the delivery of a diverse capital programme spanning schools, heritage assets, leisure facilities, corporate buildings, transport and operational depots.

This is a senior leadership assignment requiring a hands‑on, politically astute interim who can stabilise, accelerate and assure capital delivery across a multi‑project portfolio. You will act as the council’s Intelligent Client, ensuring governance, commercial rigour, and programme performance while leading internal teams and external consultants.

 

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead a multi‑disciplinary team of Programme Managers, Senior Project Managers and Project Managers.
• Provide clear direction, coaching and performance management across a busy capital delivery function.
• Embed strong governance, reporting, and quality assurance processes across the service.
• Build a collaborative culture with clear expectations, accountability and proactive problem‑solving.

Programme & Project Delivery

• Oversee a portfolio of capital projects typically ranging from £0.5m to £40m+, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.
• Drive projects through all RIBA stages, ensuring robust business cases, options appraisals, feasibility, and risk management.
• Champion sustainability, low‑carbon solutions, BREEAM considerations and social value outcomes within project scope.
• Conduct site visits and ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, Building Regulations and statutory processes.

Commercial & Financial Accountability

• Act as Intelligent Client, managing external technical consultants, design teams and contractors.
• Lead procurement strategies including consultancy frameworks, NEC/JCT contract administration and contract negotiations.
• Own programme‑level budget management, ensuring accurate forecasting, reporting, and cost control.
• Identify opportunities for efficiencies, external funding, grant contributions and cost‑saving measures.

Stakeholder & Political Management

• Engage regularly with senior stakeholders including Directors, Elected Members, corporate leadership and programme boards.
• Provide clear, timely reporting, updates and recommendations for decision‑making.
• Build strong working relationships with service leads, asset managers, finance, legal and regeneration colleagues.
• Represent the council confidently in external forums, consultations and partnership meetings.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Promote and uphold council values, behaviours and performance standards.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with Health & Safety legislation and internal governance frameworks.
• Model high standards of customer service, professionalism and public‑sector ethics.

 

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience delivering complex capital programmes in a local authority or public‑sector environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing multidisciplinary project delivery teams and external consultants.
• Strong understanding of RIBA stages, NEC/JCT contracts, procurement, governance and risk management.
• Proven track record delivering buildings, estates, regeneration or civic projects with similar scale and complexity.
• Excellent financial management capability with responsibility for multi‑million‑pound capital budgets.
• Skilled communicator able to influence, negotiate and build relationships in a political context.
• Professionally qualified (e.g. RICS, CIOB, RIBA, ICE, APM) or equivalent senior experience.

 

Desirable

• Experience delivering sustainability, decarbonisation or BREEAM‑aligned projects.
• Experience working with heritage buildings, leisure facilities or school estates.
• Experience implementing service transformation or process improvement within capital delivery teams.