Please note, the recruitment for this role is being administered by the Local Government Association on behalf of Local Partnerships LLP
About Local Partnerships
Local Partnerships LLP is jointly owned by the Local Government Association, HM Treasury and the Welsh Government. We occupy a unique position in the public sector, facilitating change through working impartially and collaboratively across all parts of central, local and regional government, and devolved administrations.
Our vision is as simple as it is challenging: to strengthen the public sector to deliver more effectively, achieve more swiftly, and give value for money to the taxpayer and customer.
Our impact report for 2020-2021 can be found at:
https://localpartnerships.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Local_Partnerships_impact-report_2020-21_v1-2.pdf
In our PPP/PFI work, demand continues from public sector organisations for our support in relation to new and operational PPP and PFI contracts across sectors. This is centred on negotiation and resolution of issues, ensuring ongoing delivery of facilities and services in accordance with the contractual requirements and standards, and ensuring appropriate rectification where this is not the case.
There is now a significant need for support as an increasing number of operational PFI projects approach their contract expiry date.
Our support in the PPP & PFI sector includes the following activities:
- delivering operational savings from existing commercial arrangements
- undertaking contract management reviews and client training
- savings identification and implementation
- contractual negotiation
- issue identification and resolution
- supporting governance teams and officers on identifying and implementing strategic and operational priorities and aligning those to wider organisational priorities
- business case preparation (strategic, programme, outline or full)
- support through periodic events in the contractual life of PFI projects, such and benchmarking and market testing processes
- advising through key contractual events such as provision of financial and commercial advice through refinancing and termination
- undertaking strategic reviews of projects, contract management and governance arrangements
- supporting clients through refinancing processes
- facilitating collaborative working across council boundaries
- representing local government clients in discussion with sponsoring departments and HM Treasury
About the role
Project Directors are responsible for the successful delivery of a major stream of business activity for Local Partnerships. Project Directors may work on their own but will more often form part of a team of different specialists undertaking an assignment stretching over weeks or months, or occasionally years, for a client who will typically be a central government department or one or more councils.
Project Directors are assigned to a programme area headed by a Programme Director. While every assignment is different, Project Directors typically bring their professional expertise and project management skills to bear on complex projects and problems and ensure the Local Partnerships’ quality standards are met in completing the assignment on time and budget.
Project Directors need to have an understanding of decision-making in the public sector, including the role of elected politicians, in addition to their professional expertise. Almost all assignments involve preparing reports containing complex written and analytical information for the client, so excellent communications skills are vital. Knowledge transfer to the client is a key part of the role.
Project Directors may be based anywhere in England and Wales. They will need to travel to clients’ offices around the country.
About you
- Educated to a degree standard, with professional qualifications appropriate to the role
- Extensive experience advising procuring authorities (at senior and contract management level) of contractual, commercial and operational issues
- Detailed knowledge of government (local and central) procurement methods and contracts, strategic and commercial management, outsourcing, governance issues and change management
- Substantial experience of working on high profile complex projects with a track record of effective delivery
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and management skills including the ability to deliver solutions that meet collective needs and communicate in a variety of different ways
- Able to specify, create and manage effective teams within organisational structures to deliver projects and commissions
From a specific PFI / PPP perspective, we are looking for:
- A significant level of PFI / PPP experience – ideally greater than 10 years
- Strong financial advisory skills – ideally with experience of running a refinancing and / or a contract termination process
- Excel modelling skills
- Understanding of the contractual aspects of PPP & PFI projects, across all iterations of SoPC documentation (and knowledge of pre-standardised PFI contracts) and across sectors
- Strong commercial skills and a track record of operating in a commercial, PPP & PFI contracting environment
- Extensive experience of negotiating issues to the point of resolution on behalf of clients and supporting clients through the negotiation process
- Good understanding of the PPP/PFI market and the issues currently being faced, including the priorities of government in the PPP/PFI sector
- Experience of negotiating PPP/PFI contracts, during procurement and operational phases, including the management and balance of a project’s legal, commercial, technical, finance and insurance issues to ensure efficient procurement/contract management and value for money
To apply
For further information and to apply online please visit http://jobs.local.gov.uk
Closing Date: 5pm, Monday 18 July 2022
Interview Date: Monday 01 August 2022
We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, transgender identity, religion or belief