Head of Schools Capital Projects PFI & BS

Head of Schools Capital Projects

Interim – 6‑month contract | 4–5 days per week

Aatom Recruitment is currently seeking an experienced Interim Head of Schools Capital Projects to work on behalf of a Local Council. This is a senior leadership role overseeing a significant and high‑profile education capital programme valued at circa £80m.

This opportunity is ideally suited to a seasoned interim professional who can quickly take ownership of complex programmes, lead multi‑disciplinary teams, and support the Director in delivering projects at pace that make a positive contribution to the city, its environment, and its communities.

The Role

City Council has an ambitious and diverse capital investment programme and is seeking an Interim Head to provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of complex education projects. These include:

* School expansion schemes (mainstream and SEND)

* Schools condition and modernisation projects

* PFI and BSF contracts, including contract expiry management

The post holder will lead the modernisation of the schools estate, ensure sustainability and Net Zero objectives are embedded throughout delivery, and manage the Strategic PFI Lead overseeing PFI contract compliance and BSF close‑out.

Key Informationk

* Location: Liverpool

* Hybrid working: 3 days per week in the office, home working on other days

Reporting & Team Management

Reports to: Director of Capital Projects and Sustainability

Key Responsibilities

Programme & Project Leadership

* Lead the delivery of the schools capital programme, ensuring projects are delivered to time, cost, quality, and compliance standards

* Oversee the development of education programmes in collaboration with sponsors, users, and the DfE

* Ensure all projects have robust programmes, milestones, and risk registers

Stakeholder & Contract Management

* Engage at senior level with key stakeholders, including:

* Director of Education

* Department for Education (DfE)

* Ensure operational effectiveness and compliance across PFI and BSF contracts, including managing contract expiry and close‑out

Financial & Commercial Management

* Full accountability for managing an £80m capital programme

* Prepare and manage budgets, financial reporting, programming, and risk management

Corporate Responsibilities

* Contribute to delivery of the Council Plan

* Promote excellent customer service and continuous improvement

* Champion equality, diversity, and non‑discriminatory practices

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

* Degree in a Built Environment discipline (e.g. Architecture, Surveying, Engineering)

* Chartered professional status (RICS, CIOB, RIBA, ACE or equivalent)

* Recognised construction project management qualification (e.g. RICS, CIOB, APM)

Desirable: MBA

Experience (Essential)

* Leading multi‑disciplinary built environment teams

* Delivery of school expansion and improvement projects across all RIBA stages

* Managing large and complex capital budgets

* Acting as Client PM / Intelligent Client for major projects

* Strong knowledge of:

* PFI and BSF

* JCT and NEC contracts

* DfE Building Bulletins and standards

* Experience working within local authority or public sector environments

* Ability to undertake site visits