Senior PFI Contracts Manager

There is a real buzz about our corner of London. Our distinctive culture-led approach to economic growth and regeneration is driving one of the fastest growing local economies in London. We are intensely ambitious for Waltham Forest, investing in the Borough’s future, and creating a legacy that will benefit our residents for years to come.

We aim to be bold in harnessing the power of our unique strengths and assets – our communities, our people, our staff and our heritage. We are growing the delivery team to accelerate our £533 million Capital Programme, implementing our plans for new neighbourhoods, delivering 27,000 new homes by 2035 and creating communities that are equal and fair for all residents as part of our 15-Minute Neighbourhood Framework ambitions and the Local Plan.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Property and Delivery Team (shortlisted for LGC’s Large Team of the Year award 2023) within the Place Directorate of Waltham Forest Council as the Schools Senior PFI Contract Manager. 

Waltham Forest has a diverse schools property portfolio, which includes three schools PFI contracts encompassing nine schools with an estimated value in excess of £15m per annum.

As Schools Senior PFI Manager you will oversee the management of the Council’s £15m Schools PFI Contract. You will lead the day-to-day relationship with key stakeholders including School Business Managers, Head Teachers and Council services to ensuring that FM services and works are completed to time, budget and quality standards.

The successful candidate will be experienced in managing complex operational FM contracts, preferably under PFI within schools using your organisational skills, whilst being meticulous and independent.  You will need to quickly establish good working relationships with colleagues that play a role in the PFI contracts and with key internal and external stakeholders. In this busy and varied role, the postholder will be expected to deliver operational results whilst applying continuing focus on improvement.  The successful candidate will:

• have experience of managing a PFI contract throughout a whole lifecycle, preferably within Local Government.
• lead on the management of the operational service to effectively manage the administration of Waltham Forests Council’s PFI Contracts.
• be responsible for the day-to-day interface with schools, the SPV and FM provider.
• manage the performance of the FM contractors for the schools’ PFI contracts; ensuring Waltham Forests PFI school buildings are maintained to a high standard, enabling educational services to be delivered without disruption.
• commission all PFI activities relating to property management and ensure that relevant transactions are undertaken professionally and expediently in line with legislative and statutory requirements. 
• be an excellent communicator with negotiation and influencing skills, building and maintaining positive relationships between contractors, schools / colleagues with high levels of service delivery.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require an Enhanced DBS.