Head of Projects & Plans – IWM Duxford
We are seeking a Senior Estate Programme Manager to join the Estates Department at IWM (Imperial War Museums). Acting as the intelligent client, you will lead the delivery of capital construction projects, infrastructure upgrades, and refurbishment programmes across the Museum’s estate, with an annual value of up to £25 million. You will also provide professional support in property management, including leases and commercial arrangements.
This role is based at IWM Duxford, with travel required to other IWM sites.
What You Will Be Doing
- Leading the delivery of infrastructure investment and capital projects across the IWM estate.
- Developing strategic plans, policies, and procedures for programme and project management.
- Integrating estate requirements into Masterplans and overseeing their delivery.
- Representing the Director of Estates, Projects & Sustainability in internal and external forums.
- Managing the Estates Portfolio tracker and ensuring accurate financial and progress reporting.
- Overseeing estate-related projects from proposal to completion, ensuring alignment with the IWM Estate Strategy.
- Leading and developing the project management function within the Estates Department.
- Ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high standards.
- Implementing governance and maintaining accurate project documentation.
- Collaborating with stakeholders to manage project interdependencies and operational impacts.
- Preparing specifications and briefing documents for contractors and consultants.
- Acting as the ‘Intelligent Client’ across estate matters, ensuring integration with infrastructure and maintenance planning.
- Supporting lease management, sustainability strategy delivery, and procurement activities.
- Ensuring safe working systems and environments across the Museum Estate.
- Managing project teams, consultants, contractors, and budgets.
- Identifying and resolving issues, and managing change control processes.
Who We Are Looking For
We’re looking for individuals with:
- Degree-level education in a construction-related discipline.
- Membership (or working towards) of a relevant professional body (e.g., APM, RICS, CIOB, RIBA, ARB, ICE).
- Extensive experience in project management within the built environment, including procurement and contract management.
- Recognised project/programme management qualifications or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge of listed buildings and planning regulations.
- Proven experience in construction health and safety (CDM).
- A track record of delivering high-quality client services.
- Awareness of sustainability and energy efficiency in building projects.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders across multiple locations.
- Proficiency in MS Office and project scheduling tools (AutoCAD desirable).
Apply Now
If you’re ready to lead impactful projects that shape the future of a nationally significant heritage estate, we’d love to hear from you.
For a full list of duties and the person specification which your application will be marked against, please view the Job Description
Application closing date
November 24th 2025, 9:00 AM
Interview Details
Interviews for this post are planned for the week commencing 1 December 2025
Benefits
The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.
- Annual Leave: You’ll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days
- Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits: Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.
- IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being.
- Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
- Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)
- Free Entry to IWM Air Shows: Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.
- Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries: Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.
- In-House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme: Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program.
- Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.
- Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.
- Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges.
- Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).
- Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.
- Staff Events and Networks: Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.
…and more!
Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and become part of IWM!
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:
A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
Equal Opportunities and Flexible Working
IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.
We miss out when people feel IWM isn’t for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.
Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.
At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.
We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.