Head of Construction

A senior role that sits at the heart of our mission, turning empty and underused buildings into safe, dignified places to live through our Empty Spaces to Homes programme.

 Habitat for Humanity Great Britain (Habitat GB) is part of the global Habitat for Humanity Federation fighting global poverty and homelessness. We believe that a decent home helps to permanently break the cycle of poverty and allows families to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance.

Job Purpose

The Head of Construction (Feasibility & Delivery) is a leadership and technical role responsible for the end-to-end development, delivery and stewardship of Habitat GB’s construction and property portfolio.

Key responsibilities include strategic planning and technical leadership for core aspects of Habitat GB’s domestic programme, such as the construction project pipeline associated with our Empty Spaces to Homes (ES2H) programme. The postholder will lead the feasibility, design, costing, procurement and delivery of demonstration construction projects, primarily the conversion of empty commercial and retail buildings into high-quality, affordable homes, while also ensuring the safe, compliant operation and maintenance of HFHGB-owned, leased and operated properties, including ReStore sites.

The Head of Construction (Feasibility & Delivery) is also responsible for the people management of staff, contractors and consultants and (where relevant) volunteers. Key areas of risk management that sit within the portfolio of this role include project and site health & safety, compliance and asset maintenance.

This role is central to translating Habitat GB’s mission and strategy into high-quality, buildable, scalable projects that maximise social impact.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Construction & Programme Delivery

•        Lead the planning, design and delivery of Habitat GB’s demonstration construction projects within the ES2H programme.

•        Contribute technical leadership to programme strategy, performance monitoring, evaluation and learning.

•        Work collaboratively with other ES2H workstreams (Advocacy, Research, Scalability) to ensure projects inform and support wider systems change.

•        Provide expert construction input into organisational decision-making, risk management, and strategy implementation.

Building Pipeline Development & Feasibility

• Lead the identification, assessment and prioritisation of potential conversion opportunities across Great Britain.
• Conduct frequent site visits to assess empty or underutilised commercial buildings.
• Undertake and/or oversee:
  • Building diagnostics and technical surveys
  • Early identification of structural, asbestos, planning, fire and compliance risks
  • Location-based risk profiling (logistics, supply chains, neighbourhood constraints)
• Act as the organisation’s technical authority on building viability and conversion risk.

Design, Specification & Cost Leadership

• Develop initial design concepts, spatial layouts and performance specifications that balance cost‑efficiency, compliance, buildability and the dignity of residents.
• Ensure all designs meet relevant statutory and organisational requirements, including:
  • UK Building Regulations
  • Fire safety and CDM 2015
  • Sustainability and environmental standards
• Provide client side cost leadership and quantity surveying oversight across projects, including:
  • Preparing feasibility cost models, early stage estimates and robust construction budgets
  • Assessing and benchmarking contractor quotations and negotiating best value outcomes aligned with charitable objectives
  • Maintaining effective cost control and financial visibility throughout delivery
• Lead the appointment and management of architects, planning consultants and specialist technical advisors as required.

Construction Delivery, Contractor & Site Management

• Identify, appoint and manage contractors, subcontractors and consultants on a project-by-project basis.
• Ensure projects are delivered: safely; to specification; on time and within approved budgets
• Combine on-site leadership with remote project management, using digital tools, dashboards and reporting systems.
• Maintain a national overview of live and pipeline projects, providing the Executive Team with clear, real-time updates on milestones, risks, spend and cashflow, and delivery confidence.

Health, Safety & Risk Management

• Be responsible for Health & Safety across Habitat GB’s construction and property portfolio.
• Ensure full compliance with relevant legislation, including CDM 2015.
• Oversee:
  • Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
  • Training and inductions
  • Incident reporting and corrective actions
• Ensure a strong safety culture across construction sites and property sites, working closely with the Site & Property Maintenance Officer to delivery their responsibilities successfully and safely.
• Work with colleagues to ensure appropriate insurances are in place.

Financial Management & Reporting

·        Own construction and maintenance budgets, ensuring strong financial control and value for money.

·        Lead procurement processes for works, materials, and equipment.

·        Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, cost tracking, and timely payment of invoices.

·        Maintain robust project management tools, trackers, schedules, and cost sheets.

·        Provide regular input into organisational performance reporting, risk registers, and assurance processes.

People Leadership & Culture

·        Line-manage and support direct reports, setting clear objectives, and providing regular supervision and development.

·        Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing, values-driven team and contractor network.

·        Ensure good practice management of consultants, contractors and volunteers.

·        Role model Habitat GB’s values, including commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.

Person profile:

·        Extensive experience in UK construction project management, particularly refurbishment and conversion projects, with responsibility spanning early feasibility through to delivery.

·        Strong technical understanding of:

•        UK Building Regulations and fire safety requirements

•        Permitted Development rights and planning constraints

•        Health & Safety management, including CDM 2015

·        Strong client‑side commercial judgement, with proven ability to develop feasibility cost models, set and manage construction budgets, and maintain effective cost control across projects.

·        Demonstrated experience appointing and managing contractors, consultants and procurement processes to deliver best‑value outcomes.

·        Strong leadership and people management experience, including the ability to lead teams, contractors and consultants with credibility and clarity.

·        Relevant construction or built‑environment qualification, or equivalent senior professional experience (e.g. MCIOB, MRICS or similar).

·        Valid CSCS card.

·        Recognised Health & Safety qualification (e.g. IOSH or SMSTS).

·        Full UK driving licence.

Skills and competencies:

·        Technically confident and commercially astute, with the ability to exercise sound professional judgement and make high-quality decisions in complex or ambiguous situations.

·        Comfortable operating across strategic leadership and hands-on problem solving, particularly within refurbishment and conversion projects.

·        Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise effectively across multiple concurrent workstreams, sites and geographies.

·        Confident and collaborative communicator, able to work productively with internal teams, partners, volunteers, contractors and external stakeholders.

·        Willing and able to travel extensively across Great Britain in support of project development and delivery.

To apply for the role, please send us your CV and a supporting statement (max two sides of A4) telling us about the skills and experience you would bring to the role and your motivation for applying, using the link on our website. Closing date is Monday 25th May 2026.