Head of Projects

Fareham Source: WhatJobs

£70,000–£85,000

Most head of projects roles hand you a department that's already set. Someone else's processes, someone else's structure, someone else's decisions.

This one doesn't.

It's a critical cooling and air conditioning contractor in Hampshire, and it's growing. More sales resource is coming in next, so project volume is about to rise. The directors want the projects side ready before that happens.

At the moment too many projects still end up on the directors' desks. Your job is to stop that happening.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the project managers and build the projects function out. Right now that's three PMs, one of them senior, plus an installer who's being developed into a junior PM.

You'll put in the structure they work to: forecasting, resource planning, cost and risk reviews. The aim is that jobs get delivered without being escalated upstairs. You'll also decide how the team grows and who comes in next.

You'll report to the Director. His brief, in his words, is to "build and enforce some structure into the projects guys". He wants it owned, not managed on his behalf.

Why it's worth a look

This is the most senior seat on the projects side. The service side has just made the same kind of hire, and sales follows. If Projects Director is where you want to end up, this gets you there by building the department yourself rather than waiting for someone to retire.

It's an SME. There's no layer of middle management and no rulebook handed down. If you'd rather work to an established process, it won't suit you. If you'd rather write the process, it will.

What you'll need

You'll already be leading project managers, not just running your own jobs, and you'll report to a director. SME experience is better than corporate. You'll have come up through the technical side into project management and then leadership. You'll have put systems and commercial control into a projects function before.

HVAC, air conditioning, refrigeration or building services experience helps but isn't essential. The role is office-based in Hampshire and you'll need a full UK driving licence.