Position Details Estates Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,485 to £55,295 with potential progression once in post to £62,098 Grade: 8 Full Time, Permanent Closing date: 6th November 2024 UK travel may be required for this role 'Open House' Drop In Session: We will be holding an ‘open house’ drop in session at the University’s Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Tuesday 24th October 2024. If you’re interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event – you can drop in at any time. Our offer to you People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham Background People are at the heart of what we do in the University of Birmingham Estates Office. We are a multi-disciplinary team with responsibility for the development, maintenance, and operations of our extensive University estate. Our division is made up of over 180 dedicated members of staff, including apprentices, across seven teams. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the University’s ambitions of becoming a Global Top 50 University and being operationally Net Zero by 2045. We strive to deliver a world-class university experience for the benefit of all students, staff, academics, and visitors. The University of Birmingham has a large, varied, and global Estate. In the UK, we have 672 acres, with over 200 buildings of different ages, complexities, physical condition, and use. They range from grade one and two listed properties to brand new state-of-the-art learning and research spaces. In the City of Birmingham, there are two main campus sites in Edgbaston and Selly Oak, as well as properties in the city-centre. Across the country, we have sites in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Tyseley, Ansty, Coniston and Ironbridge. We also have a new campus in Dubai, UAE. Our Birmingham campus is in the midst of one of the most transformational campus redevelopments since the first phase of building on our Edgbaston campus was completed in 1909 under the auspices of Sir Aston Webb. We have recently announced our 2045 Campus Vision which provides broad ideas for how the university’s estate can be developed over the next two decades and beyond. It will steer our decisions and provide the flexibility to adapt, embrace new technologies and sustainability approaches, and navigate new challenges. We continue to invest in our global campuses to advance our research, enhance our education, strengthen our residential offer, accommodate growth, and develop even more vibrant, accessible, inclusive and sustainable environments for our communities. Over the last 10 years, there have been many developments on campus which support our research, education, campus life and residential offer. Some examples include: The Molecular Science Building, completed in 2023, is a state-of-the-art facility which combines our research capabilities in the chemical, environmental and bio-molecular sciences. It supports research into materials for energy applications or healthcare; making plastics recyclable, environmental effects of drugs in the ecosystem; and the environmental impact of critical materials such as lithium. The Engineering Building, which opened in 2021, includes a 179-capacity Design Centre, open plan spaces and cellular facilities, 350-seat seminar rooms, and 20 flexi-bays specifically designs for collaboration between staff and students. Pritchatts Park Village was recently re-developed and opened in 2023. These are our first low-carbon student homes, offering contemporary and sustainable student accommodation, and enhancing the student residential offer. The Green Heart, which opened in 2019, measures over 12 acres. This space opened up the centre of campus for students, staff, and the local community. Throughout the design and construction process, sustainability was at the heart of this project and has resulted in a natural and environmentally friendly landscape for both people and wildlife. Role Summary The main purpose of the role is to design and manage University building and special projects to deliver the University’s programme of internal and external adaptations to ensure a more accessible and diverse estate for students, staff and visitors. Day-to-day duties will include carrying out surveys of university premises to determine appropriate adaptation solutions, preparing specifications for the work involved including the technical aspects of the design, liaising with occupants, building users and other stakeholders, getting estimates, carrying out inspections, preparing schedule of works, obtaining any necessary Local Authority approvals, project managing and handover. There will also be a need to manage the annual process of budget setting, prioritisation and management of expenditure within agreed parameters including regular reporting of cash flow. The post holder will also support the Capital Development Team in carrying out technical reviews of emerging designs for major developments and be expected to be part of the design development process to ensure that accessibility and diversity are embedded into the project delivery process. Main Duties Provide expertise on matters relating to disabled access and diversity for university buildings and campuses. Provide advice and support to service users (staff, students, visitors to campus) and stakeholders on the technical aspects of carrying out internal and external improvements and adaptations to buildings. Through liaison with customers and other parties as necessary produce clear and comprehensive project briefs ensuring any proposals meet the University’s requirements. Interact and communicate at all levels to keep governance groups, users, and service providers updated on progress of impacting factors on capital projects. Report into the Accessibility Oversight Group (AOG) in relation to accessibility issues and their impact on capital projects. Communicate effectively with the Director of EDI and Staff Wellbeing, and Head of Health & Safety Unit. Undertake a critical role in the coordination of the interface between the Estates Department, internal University support groups, and external consultants. Manage the accessibility audit process, update audit data, and work with the Estates Condition Programme Manager to report on the overarching accessibility and condition survey priorities; establishing a programme of work by category that can be easily adapted for new projects and changing priorities. Work with the space management team, advising on space categorisation, teaching spaces access gradings, and specification requirements relating to accessible and inclusive facilities. Provide comprehensive development solutions for accessibility and diversity related projects from inception to completion, ensuring that projects are cost effective, efficient and consistent with good design practice. This shall include development of briefs, preparation of estimates, scheme design, statutory approvals, preparation and updating of tender and full contract documentation, recommendation and selection of suitable consultants and/or contractors, project management, site supervision and inspections, handing over of completed projects and settling of Final Accounts and Payments. Coordinate closely with the Project Team in carrying out technical reviews of emerging designs for major developments and integrate fully with the design development process for all projects to ensure that they comply with the relevant statutory regulations and the Equality Act 2010 to ensure accessibility and diversity are considered and embedded into the project delivery process. Have the ability to demonstrate competency in all areas of contract administration and tender analysis with proven analytical and problem-solving skills. Supervise consultants where they have been appointed to undertake design and/or Project Management activities. Provide assistance to Estates colleagues in relation to accessibility and diversity aspects of proposed projects by giving advice or undertaking design and specification setting as necessary. Monitor progress and quality of service in respect of projects, report on statistical data and comparison against financial approvals. Anticipate and identify deviations from the planned activities and deliveries at an early stage, proposing and implementing corrective action as required. Provide all relevant documentation to Local Authorities for Building Regulations Approvals, Planning Applications, and Fire Safety Applications. Ensure that all statutory notices are dealt with according to statutory requirements. Ensure compliance with Statutes and Codes of Practice insofar as they apply to relevant projects, the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM Regulations), Building Safety Act, Building Control and Planning Legislation and guidelines. Stay well-informed of new and revised legislation regarding Building Control and best practice, particularly with respect to accessibility and diverse use of buildings. Take full responsibility for making recommendations on prioritisation of expenditure for accessibility and diversity related projects. Maintain project records electronically and ensure the Estates CDE is fully utilised, ensuring all documentation, drawings are up-to-date and stored according to University Estate Office procedures. Establish a programme of work that prioritises all identified projects by category and can be easily adapted for new projects and changing priorities. Undertake feasibility studies, Option Appraisals and commissioning activities within the University as required by the Head of Capital Development. Participate in post project evaluations and make recommendations for improvements in project procurement procedures, relying on experience and judgement. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post and experience. Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification plus substantial work experience in a relevant technical and/or management role. A higher degree may also be held. Where no equivalent qualification is held a proven track record of extensive and substantial work experience in a series of progressively more demanding and relevant roles will be required. Proven ability to make relevant innovative technical solutions and the ability to assess the needs for reasonable adjustments within the context of priority-based budgeting. Professional qualification and understanding of condition surveying of buildings or M&E assets would be beneficial. Membership of a relevant institution or professional body in construction, buildings, surveying or accessibility (NRAC) would be beneficial. Be able to apply an expert understanding of their specialism to the needs of the University, in identifying areas for development or improvement, or in being able to recommend the resolution of complex issues. Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area. Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied. Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action. Ability to work on several concurrent projects and to tight time scales with a determination to deliver projects on time to the necessary quality, within budget and to the satisfaction of Users. Have proven experience in the management and development of diverse groups including interest groups, highly technical internal and external consultant teams. Requires the skills and experience to manage budgets, resources and funding, and make sustainable long-term improvements across area. Informal enquiries to Simon Shakespeare, email: s.j.shakespeare@bham.ac.uk View our staff values and behaviours here We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .
