Project Manager - Development

Crown Estate Scotland has an exciting opportunity for a Project Manager – Development to join our Property team on a permanent basis. 

The role will be responsible for managing the development of investment projects across a range of Crown Estate Scotland assets with a focus primarily on, but not limited to, new initiatives including the Challenge Fund Investments, decarbonisation activities, climate adaptation and resilience activities.

About the role

The successful candidate for this role within the organisation will be responsible for:

• Developing project proposals, investment papers and business cases utilising the Five Case Model.
• Working with stakeholders, both internal and external, develop, manage and update business cases that justify new investment and/or projects including preparing materials for presentation to Board and its committees.
• Developing new, progressive and innovative options for investment and return that satisfy Crown Estate Scotland’s wider value requirements through appropriate use of capital funds.
• Interrogating business cases to confirm viability and optimisation of project requirements and outcomes, including wider value.
• Taking responsibility for the conversion of the project ‘vision’ to project requirements.
• Sourcing of other funding to support investment cases as appropriate.
• Delivering benefit realisation / ROI to agreed scope and cost. 
• Leading risk management for the project and work to produce mitigating actions.
• Communicating progress to stakeholders at planned intervals / milestones and managing communications of contingency measures appropriately.
• Challenging the deliverability of the scope and associated timescales and cost, with the ability to present and manage project change.
• Managing project gateway reviews at appropriate points throughout the project lifecycle to enable governance decisions to be made, considering progress, risk and alignment with organisational goals.  
• Complying with the requirements of investment regulations, corporate governance, and governance for projects.
• Building and developing relationships and partnerships with SMEs and community organisations to help deliver CES objectives.
• Providing support and working with local community groups and similar external stakeholders to develop robust business cases to explore viability and value for money of their proposals.
• Building effective relationships, both internally and externally, to balance the requirements of the end user, asset manager and organisational goals.
• Developing a relationship with asset managers/managing agents to enable effective project delivery from initiation to completion.
• Working closely with wider CES teams including Corporate Operations to progress decision making on very early-stage investment opportunities identified as part of a ‘one team’ approach.
• Selecting, appointing and managing external consultants to work alongside in house asset/development managers and external partners, in the development of business cases and delivery of projects.
• Managing appropriate project budgets, procurement exercises and contracts
• Progressing all delegated duties from the Head of Built Development in line with current and emerging priorities.

The contractual working location of this role is our Edinburgh office.  However, we believe work is something you do, not a place you go to, and we are committed to supporting employees to work flexibly and in a way that suits their role and preferences. 

The salary will be £50,938.77 with potential for future progression and annual cost of living rises. The maximum salary for this role is currently £62,154.98.  The role also benefits from 25 days’ annual leave, plus 11.5 of public/ privilege days.  Crown Estate Scotland encourage flexible working and operate a discretionary flexi-time scheme.  This role offers participation in the Civil Service pension scheme.  Contribution levels for the scheme are currently 5.45% employee contribution at the entry salary for this role whilst Crown Estate Scotland contribution levels are 27.9%.

About You

You should:

• Have at least five years post qualification experience, with a broad range of professional experience including property/asset management, project design and project / programme management.
• Be educated to degree level in a relevant discipline with (or working towards) relevant professional membership, such as RICS/ICE/APM or equivalent experience.
• Have experience of working to deadlines within a multi-disciplinary team with accountability for budgets and achieving performance targets including new business development.
• Be comfortable when working with and instructing multi- disciplinary teams/consultants / managing agents, asset managers, development managers and solicitors.
• Understand and comply with project and corporate governance.
• Be able to work with and develop new initiatives taking them through internal governance process to fully fledged projects.
• Have a good understanding of wider non-financial value/benefits.
• Hold knowledge of site safety.
• Have demonstrable evidence of developing and managing the business case process on multiple projects.
• Have experience in managing a diverse portfolio of projects, including rural and/or coastal assets with a working knowledge of key challenges affecting these communities in Scotland or similar.
• Have existing network of industry relationships with a track record of building trust in internal and external relationships.
• Be able to evidence working with industry, public sector, especially local authorities, community groups and other stakeholders.
• Have experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team with responsibility for managing budgets and achieving performance targets including new business development within deadlines.
• Have experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously with clear reporting on programme, risk and outturn costs.
• Be able to demonstrate experience in understanding, capturing and clearly communicating and managing end user requirements.
• Be capable of motivating project teams.
• Hold working knowledge of contracts, statutory approvals and legislation associated with construction and development projects.
• Have detailed knowledge of safety legislation and regulations applicable to construction, particularly CDM.
• Be numerate and commercial with strong IT skills particularly in Excel, Word & MS Project.
• Have experience of relevant systems e.g. GIS and records management.
• Have experience of working with remote teams.
• Have experience in managing projects in a diverse property portfolio, including rural and/or coastal assets with a working knowledge of key challenges affecting these communities in Scotland.
• Have experience in working in an outsourced business model (client side).
• Have experience of development of business cases using HM Treasury’s Five Case Model.
• Be experienced in project management from initiation to completion.
• Have experience of writing and presenting reports to Board and committees.

You will have the following qualities, which are key to success in this role:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage with, and present complex information to, a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills, with a disciplined and methodical approach.
• A problem solver with a can-do attitude.
• Ability to work under own initiative with minimal supervision.
• Attention to detail.
• Good communicator with ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong negotiation skills.

Crown Estate Scotland is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we encourage applications from people from all backgrounds. We want to ensure every candidate has a positive experience and can most effectively demonstrate their suitability for the role they are applying for.  Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help you in your application or with our recruitment and selection process. 

We welcome requests to work on a job share basis and/or secondments.