Head of Projects

Candidate Opportunity Briefing Document   
Role: Head of Projects  

Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Group) are a leading Executive search firm to the UK, North American and European Rail, Defence, Technology & Heavy Manufacturing industries. 

Our search directors, search consultants and research teams specialise in all horizontal functions of our clients' organisations with expertise spanning engineering, commercial, procurement, HR, IT, finance, HSQE, sales, projects, operations and c-suite.  

We are trusted by over 100 leading organisations when they seek to make a leadership appointment, be that a permanent appointment or interim solutions.  We have been appointed by our client company on a retained search for a motivated and hands-on project management professional who can work with the business to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget.

Below you will find an 'candidate opportunity briefing document' developed from notes taken during the scoping meeting (Situational Discovery) held between the Head of Executive Search and Senior Research Associate of Ford & Stanley Executive Search and the Managing Director of the business.  

This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification. 

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include: 

• Demonstrate that you have built proper relationships across the business to enable smooth working.
• Work alongside the team to better understand their capacity and see the bigger picture.
• Demonstrate improvements in quality, cost and on-time delivery of projects.

Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)  

·        Proven ability in managing the end-to-end project cycle within an engineering or manufacturing environment.

·        Experience of delivering a circa £5mil + project portfolio

·        Previously worked within an SME environment

·        Project management capability and the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

·        Candidates to be within a commutable distance to North Nottinghamshire and comfortable being on site full time.

·       Desirable: Project Management qualification, Prince 2 or APM

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)            

·        Ability to work to a high degree of autonomy and hold their own.

·        A strong leader, someone who has the ability to challenge when needed.

·        Naturally a hands-on leader, 'no job too big, no job too small' attitude.

·        Problem solving and resilient character.

·        Proactive, confident communicator internally and externally.

Working Arrangements & Location: 

The Head of Projects is a present leadership role, as such will predominantly be based on site in North Nottinghamshire 5 days a week, the business does observe flexible (not home or remote) working.

Ford & Stanley Interview Process: 

• 1st Stage: Candidate Discovery: An open, conversational and consultative discussion where interested candidates are assessed on their suitability for the role in the context of the above and challenged on how the opportunity lines up with their career aspirations, motivations, financial expectations and personal circumstances.  
• 2nd Stage: The 'shortlist': Candidates are asked to reflect on the candidate discovery discussion, take time to reflect on the opportunity and undertake subsequent research on the client business, reporting back on their thoughts, questions and providing additional specific information on their suitability (if applicable). Final checks of role, package and logistical alignments made.  

Client Company Process:   

• 1st Stage interview: To be held with the MD, preferably face-to-face on site.
• 2nd Final Stage interview: Face to face with the CEO of the parent company and the MD of the business.

Good to know:   

• The business is a heavy engineering OEM in the rail industry with a long heritage in their sector. They have demonstrated a trajectory of innovation and dedication to their customers, with aftercare and warranty being a key offering in their service portfolio.
• The Head of Projects is a new role for the business, reporting directly into the MD. This role currently has no direct reports; however, it works closely with the engineering, design and production teams.
• This SME Business are currently working on 3 major projects, all at different points within their lifecycle, this is in addition to a major contract they have recently won working with a major Train Operating Company.
• Currently, there is an interim Project Manager who is supporting the business.
• The interim project manager has an engineering bias, and whilst they are adding value from that perspective, it has been agreed that this individual needs to predominantly be a project management professional first and foremost.
• There are lots of spinning plates with this role, with the key elements being to ensure projects are being delivered on time, on budget and on quality.
• The business has a close-knit, family feel; they are classed as an SME and are owned by a larger group.
• As it stands, there is no direct line management required with this role, which is purposefully designed to allow the individual to be autonomous and effective.
• It's vital that the incoming Head of Projects understands the landscape that the company is operating in and that the most advanced processes may not always be the most suitable (or applicable) to the business.
• The business is looking to invest in its projects function, focused on achieving more control over the project process and the revenue/margin across each project/contract.
• The company don't currently use a specific Project Management approach, but APM would be their preferred. The Company would look to the successful candidate to introduce this.
• It's vital that this individual is proactive and will take the initiative to ensure that key responsibilities are upheld throughout the business.
• The business has a project management process in place currently, but it is recognised that there are opportunities for improvement; ownership of this improvement will sit with the Head of Projects. It is important these improvements are bespoke to the business dynamic and realistic to the organisation's size.
• It's important to note that the business has a strong project pipeline and is expecting to go through a significant period of growth over the next 12 months with the projects that they are involved in, and needs to establish key processes to enable this.
• We are purposefully looking to obtain a strong Project Manager with experience within a high-integrity engineering/manufacturing business that will have exposed them to the complexity and criticality of engineering/manufacturing processes (Rail, Automotive, Aerospace, Infrastructure).

Budget: 

Competitive Salary Available 

Supporting benefits 

• Car Allowance - £500 PCM
• Discretionary bonus
• 25 days holiday + stat
• Standard pension

Executive Search Delivery Team: 

• Tom Norton - Head of Executive Search (Headhunting, Offer Negotiations, Client Consulting & Advisory)
• Emma Barlow- Senior Research Associate (Shortlisting, Networking, Research, Search, Longlisting, Interviews, Data & Market Intel)
• Ralitsa Kuzeva- Executive Assistant (Diary Management, Coordination, Candidate Experience).

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