Retrofit and Refurbishment Programme Manager

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) is recruiting a Retrofit and Refurbishment Programme Manager to lead the Grenfell Housing Services capital programme. You’ll own delivery of complex refurbishment projects, acting as intelligent client to ensure safety, quality and value for residents.

Based in the Borough four days a week, you’ll coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage contracts and supervise delivery from inception to completion, keeping residents at the heart of every

Qualifications

• Proven track record in managing large refurbishment or capital projects.
• Qualified project management certification (PRINCE2, PMQ, PMP).
• Strong ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Develop asset management strategy for Grenfell Housing Services.
• Manage a multi-million-pound capital programme end-to-end.
• Act as intelligent client, ensure safety, time, budget and quality.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Financial controls

Communication

Education

PRINCE2 Practitioner

APM PMQ

PMP

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

Job description

Lead high-profile housing improvements that transform homes and deliver lasting quality for local residents.

As our Retrofit and Refurbishment Programme Manager, you’ll take ownership of vital housing improvements within Grenfell Housing Services. At RBKC, we’re all in when it comes to improving homes, and this is a role with genuine, community-wide impact – a chance to lead major capital works that directly improve residents’ lives and create safer, warmer and higher-quality housing across the borough.

The Grenfell Housing Services Team is a dedicated team set up as part of the Council’s commitment to residents following the Grenfell Tragedy to deliver high quality, personalised housing services to the homes which Survivors and Bereaved of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk now live in. It provides a bespoke housing management service to these residents, of which repairs and maintenance of homes and communal areas is a key part.

At the heart of the team’s work is a commitment to putting residents first, ensuring investment in homes is delivered to the highest standards while maintaining transparency, accountability and trust. From major refurbishment projects to personalised improvements, the team plays a crucial role in improving the quality, safety and sustainability of residents’ homes, creating positive outcomes for both current and future generations.

Working Style

You’ll be based in the Borough for four days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you’re on site or collaborating with colleagues, you’ll be part of a dedicated team committed to delivering high‑quality housing services for residents.

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you’ll take lead responsibility for developing our asset management strategy and managing a multi‑million‑pound capital programme of complex retrofit, refurbishment and personalised void works within Grenfell Housing Services. Acting as an intelligent client, you’ll oversee projects through every stage of their lifecycle, ensuring all construction activities are executed safely, on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.

You’ll lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, external consultants and contractors, establishing clear project boards, managing contracts and mitigating risk. Navigating complex governance, you’ll maintain tight financial controls, monitor site progress and evaluate payment requests. Crucially, you’ll build strong, transparent relationships with residents, elected members and senior stakeholders, balancing technical rigour and commercial value with genuine community priorities.

For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification

What you’ll bring

You’ll bring a proven track record in project management alongside substantial experience leading complex refurbishment, capital works or construction projects from inception to completion. You hold a recognised project management qualification, such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ or PMP, paired with a property‑related degree or professional membership of a relevant body such as RICS or CIOB. You also bring extensive expertise in managing multidisciplinary teams, external consultants and contractors within occupied residential environments.

You’re an excellent communicator who knows how to build trust across diverse communities, senior officers and elected members. Your strong commercial awareness, contract management expertise and proactive problem‑solving abilities will allow you to translate ambitious objectives into clear delivery plans while embedding our values of care, competence and fairness.

Most importantly, you’re someone who remains calm and credible under pressure, collaborative in your approach and deeply committed to delivering lasting quality for our residents.

Why join us

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of a high‑profile housing initiative within the Grenfell Housing Services team. You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues in an environment that prioritises accountability and teamwork, giving you the platform to build a positive legacy for residents and advance your career in capital project delivery.

We will invest in your professional development, offering continuous learning and training to help you lead with confidence. You’ll also receive a competitive salary and the support of a collaborative, dedicated team that takes pride in delivering safe, high‑quality homes for our community.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

In this role, the “we’re all in” mindset is central to everything you do. You’ll get stuck in to overcome complex technical and community challenges, taking ownership of high‑profile building works and staying committed through every step of project delivery to ensure every resident gains a safer, high‑quality home.

Interview Details

Interviews will be held in person at Kensington Town Hall week commencing 12th October 2026.

This role will require a basic DBS check.

Ready to join us?

We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range.

Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.