Construction Lead

Job description

About The Role

We’re seeking a dynamic Construction Lead for John Lewis & Partners, to join our team and help shape the future of our iconic brand. In this pivotal role, you’ll spearhead the delivery of complex, strategic construction projects and programs. You will lead and develop a team of direct reports and external Consultants, driving innovation, efficiency, and exceptional project outcomes from ideation to completion.

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Salary - £69,800 - £114,000. Please note, from 1st April 2025 the salary range for this role will be £70,400 - £130,000.

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Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

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Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. 

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Location - This role will be based at our Pimlico Head Office in London, with regular travel to our stores. A full UK driving license is required.

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Please note, internally this role is known as Construction Programme Lead. 

Key Responsibilities:

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Lead the shaping and delivery of complex strategic projects/programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and brand strategies.

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Manage a rolling year-to-year capital plan, optimizing in-year benefits through meticulous activity and resource planning.

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Drive innovation to reduce costs and increase value, always keeping the customer’s voice at the heart of decision-making.

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Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of teamwork, honesty, and trust.

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Build and maintain strong relationships with internal customers and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and effective decision-making.

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Mitigate risks and ensure all projects are delivered safely, legally, and to the highest quality standards.

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Be the lead for allocated workstreams to support the Business units/trading division in achieving their objectives.

Essential Skills/Experience You’ll Need:

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Degree (or equivalent) in a Construction or Project Management related subject.

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In-depth knowledge of retail development, with a high degree of customer understanding.

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Full understanding of the town planning process and related matters and proven track record of influencing senior external bodies.

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Experience of leading technical inputs toward complex Agreement for Lease negotiations.

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Full UK driving licence.

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Experience of administering complex construction contractual arrangements with positive outcomes.

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Can evidence project, team and programme management skills through highly complex projects and programmes of work.

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Experience leading broad teams of senior managers in delivering against their own objectives.

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High level of political awareness at all levels.  Demonstrates an awareness and ability to work across boundaries to achieve results, influencing senior stakeholders to achieve desired results.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

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MRICS/MCIOB or MSc level qualification in relevant discipline or suitable experience of managing construction within a retail/supermarket environment.

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Membership of RICS/CIOB and active engagement with these bodies.

About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.

Attachment: JL-Construction-Programme-Lead-PL5-v0.2-1-1-1.pdf