Head of Planning; Estates

The UCL Estate comprises over 240 buildings, more than 6.5 million square feet of academic accommodation and around 4500 owned student bedrooms. The location, scale, variety and complexity of the estate are unparalleled in the Higher Education sector, including world-leading research, teaching, offices and student accommodation within our Bloomsbury and UCL East campus, at Stratford.

Together, Campus Experience and Infrastructure and Estates Development (CE&I and ED) is responsible for managing all aspects of the UCL Estate from the strategic to the operational, including property asset management, master-planning, capital projects and seamless end to end operational support. The function comprises approximately 350 FM and property professionals, project managers and customer facing operational colleagues. From providing student accommodation, security and catering, to delivering an estates masterplan and all forms of capital projects in a sustainable manner.

We are a collective of technical professionals who work together to deliver a resilient, functional, and vibrant estate.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Planning to play a pivotal leadership role within the Capital Projects Programme team. Reporting to the Director of Estates Development, Capital Programme, you will lead the planning (programme and schedule) function for UCL's Capital Works Programme and wider Estates Development portfolio.

The Capital Programme team oversees the delivery of all capital works across the UCL Estate, from inception through to operational handover. This includes refurbishment, adaptation and new build projects, as well as infrastructure and public realm works. Our projects are highly bespoke, designed and delivered to industry-leading standards, and play a critical role in shaping UCL's physical environment. The team also leads the development of Built Environment Opportunities, identifying and progressing property initiatives that deliver exceptional buildings and places for UCL.

In this role, you will establish and lead a robust, portfolio-wide planning function, working closely with PMO colleagues, Project Officers and Project Managers to plan ahead for stage-gate reviews and coordinate engagement across the wider Estates function. You will be responsible for capturing and maintaining an accurate, integrated programme overview across all works, setting the programme-wide planning and reporting model, and working with programme leadership to challenge performance and drive improvement.

You will also partner closely with the Estates Leadership Team to manage and optimise the estates pipeline programme.

You will bring demonstrable experience of leading and delivering the planning function across a large and complex portfolio of development and construction projects, spanning both early development and delivery stages. You will be comfortable working across the full project lifecycle and will have a strong understanding of how effective planning underpins successful programme delivery.

You will hold an HNC, degree or equivalent qualification in a construction-related discipline, or relevant trade qualifications, and will be able to operate confidently at both a strategic portfolio level and at detailed project level. You will thrive in environments characterised by ambiguity and complex interdependencies, using sound judgement and professional expertise to manage competing priorities and evolving requirements.

You will have demonstrable experience of working with a range of contract forms, including JCT and NEC, alongside a strong understanding of the RIBA process. You will be experienced in reporting to Executive and Board-level governance and will be adept at using accurate, insightful programme information to inform decision-making and drive improved performance.

You will have excellent working knowledge of industry-standard planning software, such as Asta Power project and/or Primavera, and will be a confident and effective communicator. You will be able to convey complex or technical information clearly and persuasively, both in writing and verbally, to a wide range of stakeholders, including non-specialist audiences.

Experience of working within a Higher Education and/or infrastructure environment would be highly advantageous.

Please review the JD, paying particular attention to the Essential and Desirable criteria, and ensure these are addressed in your application.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme:
  Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical…