Head of Projects (Healthcare)
Location: Coventry
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
Are you an experienced healthcare construction and project delivery leader with a strong background in PFI environments? We’re seeking a Head of Projects (Healthcare) to lead the successful delivery of lifecycle, capital, refurbishment, variation and defect projects across a major NHS healthcare site.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who thrives in a complex stakeholder environment and can balance operational requirements, contractual obligations and commercial performance while delivering critical infrastructure improvements that support frontline healthcare services.
The Role
As Head of Projects, you will provide strategic leadership to the site project delivery team, ensuring all projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in line with contractual requirements. You’ll act as the senior point of contact for key stakeholders including NHS Trust representatives, SPV partners, investors, technical advisors and FM operational teams.
Working within a PFI environment, you’ll be responsible for protecting commercial value, ensuring robust governance and driving the successful delivery of projects from feasibility through to handover with minimal disruption to patient care and clinical operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a high-performing team responsible for delivering lifecycle, refurbishment, variation, defect and capital projects.
- Oversee the planning and delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient execution.
- Ensure all project works comply with Project Agreement requirements, Authority Requirements, Output Specifications and contractual obligations.
- Provide expert interpretation of contractual requirements, managing risks and responsibilities effectively.
- Maintain robust project governance, reporting, risk management and change control processes aligned to PFI contract structures.
- Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, HTMs, HBNs, building regulations, fire safety standards and infection prevention requirements.
- Manage project budgets, forecasting and cost control across multiple programmes of work.
- Protect the commercial position through effective management of deductions risk, unavailability events and performance impacts.
- Build strong relationships with NHS Trusts, SPV partners, investors, technical advisors and operational teams.
- Drive collaboration between project delivery and FM operations to ensure seamless service integration.
- Present confidently to senior stakeholders, boards and governance committees.
- Embed a culture of accountability, commercial awareness and continuous improvement across the project function.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Significant experience delivering construction, lifecycle, variation and defect projects within healthcare PFI environments.
- Strong knowledge of healthcare compliance requirements, including HTMs, HBNs, CDM Regulations and statutory building compliance.
- Experience managing complex project portfolios, typically ranging from £10k to £5m+ in value.
- A strong understanding of contract management principles, including experience working with JCT and NEC forms of contract.
- Proven leadership experience managing and developing project management teams.
- Excellent commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, forecasting and contractual risk.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior level.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence working alongside executive teams, NHS stakeholders and investors.
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