About the role:

Gentoo is a values-led, charitable organisation that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We have a clear vision and a social purpose. We believe that everyone has the right to live in a good quality home that they can afford.

We currently have a rare opportunity for an experienced Project Manager to join Gentoo’s Asset Property Investment team. This is a great time to join us as we continue with our ambitious and exciting 5-year investment plan, delivering over £ 200m worth of planned improvements to our customer's homes.

The Asset Management delivery team are based at our Sunderland head office at Doxford Park. Led by the Contracts Manager the team includes a Commercial Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Assistant Quantity Surveyor, Asset Delivery Co-ordinator, Project Managers, Project Surveyors and Client customer liaison officers. This role will report to our Contracts Manager, John, who has worked for Gentoo for over 20 years and has significant experience in the overall management and delivery of the Gentoo Planned Investment programme.

In the role of Project Manager, you will play a leading role and be responsible for the operational and financial management, coordination and reporting of up to a third of the Group’s planned investment schemes annually. Ensuring the Group delivers the investment plan (circa £ 42m pa) and achieves value for money while meeting KPIs.

• Management responsibility for the projects allocated to you across all disciplines of project management. With responsibility for their success from implementation to completion, incorporating all aspects of programming, quality and specification compliance, health and safety and customer satisfaction.
• Lead a small team which consists of a Project Surveyor and Client Customer Liaison Officer.
• Interact, input, and contribute during the planning stages of each scheme to ensure a smooth delivery once the schemes become “live” and are managed directly by you and your team, via our appointed Principal Contractors.
• Liaise with a wide range of Gentoo teams including Planning and Building Surveying, Customer Voice, Health and Safety, Communications, Procurement, Leasehold, Risk and Insurance and Housing colleagues to assist you in this role. In addition to this, we have appointed the services of external Principal Designers (CDM and BSA), Consultants and Principal Contractors.
• Supported by the Contracts Manager, our Commercial team and an Asset Delivery Co-Ordinator.

What we are looking for:

It is essential that you are experienced in all aspects of contract management from a client perspective and will be at ease managing Principal Contractors, chairing meetings, leading projects, reporting on performance, making decisions and effective challenges. You will be empowered in your role and will be expected to take total ownership and accountability of your projects.

You will be able to demonstrate proven experience in managing multiple projects from a client perspective, via Principal Contractors, simultaneously and your ability to successfully deliver across all performance areas including, Contract Administration, Programme Performance, Health and Safety, Customer Satisfaction, Quality standards, Environmental, Specification compliance and Financial aspects of project management.

You will be methodical and very structured in your approach to managing your allocated schemes and Principal Contractors, ensuring your reports are suitably detailed, on time and in line with your diarised monthly meetings.

You will also have excellent demonstrable knowledge of building construction, building standards, compliance obligations, planning regulations, regulatory standards and leasehold legislation.

You must be able to demonstrate excellent people skills with the ability to lead, direct and support your team as well as work within a team and on your initiative.

You will be very customer and solution-focused and driven to positively resolve issues.

You must have a full understanding of current CDM and highly desirable that you have a full understanding of BSA regulations

You will be passionate about delivering excellent customer service and will always deliver exceptional performance.

You will be able to demonstrate through experience ownership, proactiveness and confidence with direct client relationships as well as with our external Principal Contractors and Consultants.

You need to be competent with all Microsoft Office Packages.

Previous experience within a social housing environment is not essential, but what is essential is that you have a “can-do” or “will-do” approach, with a desire to take ownership and make a difference.

The role is subject to a basic DBS paid for by Gentoo.

Some of our great benefits include:
31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with an option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year.
12.30 pm finish on a Fridays
Flexible and hybrid working.
Free Health Cash Plan, with cashback for dental, optical, physio, wellbeing therapies and more, with some free child cover.
Access to private healthcare through the Health Cash Plan.
Competitive Aviva pension scheme - Gentoo will contribute up to 10% based on your personal contribution.
Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme
Enhanced family-friendly leave
Car mileage allowance if you use your personal vehicle for business purposes.
Life assurance cover to the value of 3 times your annual salary.

Closing date:

26-May-2024

We're a housing association that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We're a values-driven organisation, with a clear vision, a social purpose and a commitment to investing in people, place and property. We believe everyone has the right to live in a good quality home they can afford and invest millions of pounds every year in keeping our existing homes safe, secure, and compliant.

We're also playing our part in addressing the UK housing crisis locally, by building hundreds of new, modern and contemporary homes for rent in Sunderland - homes that meet the needs of local people. Not only do we provide vital housing - we support our tenants, residents and communities by investing in services that help people live their best possible life.

This includes helping people to work, victims of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, young people to live independently, as well as a wellbeing service that supports our elderly tenants and residents.