The Vacancy
We’re VIVID! – We’re the fifth largest developer of new homes amongst housing associations in England, having built over 1,500 last year.
We’re seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Construction to join our team in Portsmouth on a full-time, permanent basis working 37 hours per week. This pivotal role will be responsible for the leadership, performance and delivery of VIVID’s construction, development & regeneration programmes.
You will lead, motivate and manage a team of circa 20 people to ensure our new homes delivery objectives are achieved in accordance with our VIVID home standard, financial plans and targets. You will be driven by the opportunity to improve performance and efficiencies in your team via modernising ways of working and developing individuals to progress.
The Director of Construction will work with the Land and New Business Director to ensure that land banked sites are assessed and actively pursued to achieve a deliverable planning permission and ensure that risk in relation to new build activity is assessed, quantified and mitigated. You’ll work collaboratively with the construction & sales teams to ensure an integrated and orderly hand over of developments, and a robust customer focused defect and aftersales process is in place.
You’ll be a member of the senior leadership team (SLT) and the executive meeting group, making a significant personal contribution to the success of the business, ensuring that it is well positioned, has a clear strategy and has the capability to achieve its current and future objectives, plans and targets.
Want to know what we can offer you?
1. 30 days holiday (plus bank holidays), with the opportunity to buy or sell annual leave
2. A productivity-related bonus scheme to enhance your take-home
3. A generous contributory pension of 6%. We’ll match employee contributions between 7% and 10%
4. Life assurance paid at x 3 annual salary
5. Private medical insurance
6. Health care cash plan called Medicash
7. Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
8. Access to counselling, legal and financial information
9. Electric car scheme
10. Huge variety of in-house & e-learning courses and a range of coaching and mentoring programmes
Responsibilities include:
11. To lead the service strategy, standards and ambitions, and agree the targets for VIVID’s Development teams and to ensure that agreed performance is met.
12. Create a performance culture that drives an excellent customer experience, highly motivated colleagues and a continuous improvement approach to drive effectiveness and efficiency.
13. Assist with the training of staff to enable them to carry out their duties and responsibilities
14. Responsibility for the budget, effective financial monitoring and controls in accordance with policy and procedures, levels of delegated authority and financial controls/audit requirements.
15. Oversee project planning, budgeting, and scheduling.
16. Build and maintain effective relationships with appropriate external stakeholders to maintain a pipeline that delivers over 1,500 homes per annum.
17. Ensure effective controls are in place to manage department budget in excess of £300m pa.
18. Work collaboratively with the construction & sales teams to ensure an integrated and orderly hand over of developments.
19. Respond positively to new initiatives, policy or legislation to help the business with developing new strategies and practices.
20. Drive continuous improvement in construction processes and practices.
21. Implement Health and Safety Policy and Procedures, ensuring that all practices and procedures are undertaken in accordance with ensuring a healthy and safe working environment and that all employees are aware of their responsibilities in respect of their role, inclusive new starters.
Qualifications & experience
22. Extensive experience at executive level in a complex organisation
23. Experience managing large teams and driving continuous improvement in performance.
24. Vibrant and effective leadership skills - you will thrive in leadership and enjoy the challenge and success that that can achieved through seeing improvement in others
25. An understanding of the social housing environment, including regulation and emerging government policy would be beneficial
26. Excellent knowledge of construction methods, materials, and legal regulations
27. Significant experience and expertise in housing and construction procurement and delivery
28. Excellent commercial skills thus balancing risk, operational performance, external factors and budgetary pressures to deliver successful outcomes
29. The ability to deputise for an Executive member
30. Good commercial awareness and financial understanding, related to construction works
31. Strong understanding of project management techniques.
32. Knowledge and application of good procedures and practices relating to Health & Safety.
If you have a demonstrable track record of effective leadership skills and a strong desire to succeed, we encourage you to apply.
A driving licence with a car available for business use is essential.