Band 8d - Head of Capital Projects, Environment

West Herts Hospitals; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 97,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Watford seeks a strategic leader to become Head of Capital Projects (Band 8d) within Environment. You will oversee the estates capital programme across multiple sites, driving planning, procurement and delivery of diverse projects.

The role requires senior leadership of a multidisciplinary team, strong financial governance, and collaboration with clinical services, regulators and external partners to deliver transformation and sustainable

Qualifications

• Degree in construction management, building surveying, engineering, architecture or estates management.
• Chartered membership in a relevant body (RICS, CIOB, CIBSE or equivalent).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Postgraduate qualification in project management, construction, estates management or related field.
• Leadership/management qualification (e.g. MBA).
• Membership of a recognised project management body such as APM.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's capital programme ensuring safe, on-time delivery within budget and NHS standards.
• Manage multiple complex projects and coordinate with clinical, operational and corporate teams.
• Provide expert advisory support to senior leaders and external partners.
• Lead the Capital Projects team and promote risk management, safety and sustainability.
• Support hospital redevelopment and estate transformation programmes.

Skills

Leadership

Programme management

Financial awareness

Communication

Analytical

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Chartered professional membership

CPD evidence

Postgraduate qualification in PM/Estates

Leadership qualification (MBA)

PM body membership (APM)

Job description

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Band 8d - Head of Capital Projects, Environment

Band 8d

Main area Environment Grade Band 8d Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-G-11837

Department name West Herts - General Staffing Site Watford General Hospital Town Watford Salary £96,626 - £111,084 pa inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/2026 23:59

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

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

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.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

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

• 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.
• 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

• 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.
• 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

• 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.
• 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

• 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