Job summary
- Main area
- Environment
- Grade
- Band 8d
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 360-G-11837
- Employer
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Watford General Hospital
- Town
- Watford
- Salary
- £96,626 - £111,084 pa inc HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 8d - Head of Capital Projects, Environment
Band 8d
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as Head of Capital Projects. Reporting to the Director of Environment, you will provide strategic leadership for the Trust's estates capital programme, overseeing the planning, procurement and delivery of a diverse portfolio of construction, refurbishment, infrastructure and engineering projects.
This is a high-profile leadership role at a pivotal time for the Trust, supporting major estate transformation and redevelopment programmes, including projects associated with our future hospital developments and estate modernisation plans.
We are looking for an experienced, ambitious and collaborative leader with a proven track record of delivering complex capital programmes within large organisations. The successful candidate will help shape healthcare environments that improve patient care, staff experience and sustainability outcomes.
This is a predominantly Monday to Friday role, with flexibility required to attend meetings and visit project sites across Trust locations as necessary. Full details will be discussed at interview.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Capital Projects, you will lead the delivery of the Trust's capital programme, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and in accordance with NHS standards and statutory requirements.
You will manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ranging from infrastructure upgrades and clinical refurbishments to major redevelopment schemes. Working closely with clinical, operational and corporate teams, you will ensure capital investment supports service transformation and strategic objectives.
The successful candidate will bring substantial experience of capital programme management, strong financial and commercial expertise, excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams. You will be comfortable influencing senior leaders, managing external consultants and contractors, and driving innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement throughout the project lifecycle
Working for our organisation
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [email protected]
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Head of Capital Projects has overall responsibility for leading the Trust's capital projects function and delivering a complex programme of construction, engineering and estate redevelopment projects.
Key responsibilities include developing capital strategies, managing project governance and budgets, leading business case development, overseeing procurement activities and ensuring compliance with statutory and NHS requirements. The postholder will provide expert advice to senior leadership teams and maintain effective relationships with clinical services, finance teams, regulators, consultants, contractors and external partners.
The role also includes leadership of the Capital Projects team, promoting high standards of project delivery, risk management, health and safety, sustainability and innovation.
The postholder will primarily work Monday to Friday during normal business hours, although flexibility will be required to support project delivery, attend stakeholder meetings and undertake site visits across Trust locations. On-call participation may be required in accordance with Trust arrangements for senior managers
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Degree in a relevant discipline such as construction management, building surveying, engineering, architecture, or estates management.
- Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institute of Building, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers or equivalent).
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Formal project management qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate qualification in project management, construction, estates management, or a related discipline
- Management or leadership qualification (e.g. MBA or NHS leadership programme).
- Membership of a recognised project management body such as Association for Project Management.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Extensive knowledge of capital project development, construction procurement, and programme management.
- Knowledge of NHS estates standards and technical guidance including Health Technical Memoranda and Health Building Notes.
- Strong understanding of statutory compliance and health and safety legislation including the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
- Knowledge of public sector procurement processes and contract management
- Understanding of business case development and capital investment appraisal methodologies.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of NHS capital planning processes and approvals including the NHS Capital Investment Manual.
- Understanding of sustainability, netzero carbon targets and energy efficiency in healthcare estates
- Knowledge of digital infrastructure requirements within healthcare facilities.
- Awareness of Integrated Care System (ICS) planning and collaboration.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant senior-level experience managing complex capital programmes or large construction projects.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering major building or infrastructure projects within complex operational environments.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams including consultants, contractors and internal staff.
- Experience managing large capital budgets and financial reporting.
- Experience of developing and presenting business cases and strategic proposals to senior stakeholders.
Desirable criteria
- Experience delivering capital projects within the NHS or wider healthcare sector
- Experience supporting large-scale hospital redevelopment or estate transformation programmes.
- Experience working within a live operational environment where services must remain operational during construction works
- Experience working with regulators and external partners such as local authorities or NHS bodies.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and develop highperforming teams.
- Excellent programme and project management skills, including planning, risk management and performance monitoring.
- Strong financial and commercial awareness with the ability to manage budgets and achieve value for money.
- Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior clinicians, executives and external partners
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities.
Desirable criteria
- Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex estates challenges.
- Experience using programme and project management tools and reporting systems.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Stuart Finn
- Job title
- Director of Environment
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07879473407
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
- Telephone
- 01442 365235, or 07423032842
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