The Head of Projects will provide strategic leadership, operational management, and commercial direction for the company’s Projects Department.
This senior leadership role forms part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and carries full responsibility for the performance, profitability, and growth of the project delivery function. The role will oversee Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, and Site Management teams, ensuring consistent standards of delivery across all live and future projects.
The Head of Projects will be responsible for managing a multi-million-pound project portfolio, driving performance improvements, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong strategic vision, commercial acumen, and the ability to lead and develop high-performing teams while maintaining full control of departmental output and client satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Departmental Growth
- Provide clear strategic direction for the Projects Department, aligning delivery with company objectives and growth plans.
- Lead business planning, forecasting, and resource strategy for the department.
- Drive year-on-year growth in revenue, profitability, and project capability.
- Identify opportunities for expansion into new sectors, clients, and regions.
- Establish and maintain robust governance, processes, and delivery standards across all projects.
- Contribute to wider company strategy as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Commercial & Financial Management
- Hold full P&L responsibility for the Projects Department, ensuring profitability targets are met and exceeded.
- Oversee project financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, cost control, and margin improvement.
- Work closely with Commercial and Finance teams to ensure accurate reporting and financial governance.
- Review and approve tender submissions, pricing strategies, and commercial risk assessments.
- Ensure effective contract management and mitigation of commercial risk across all projects.
Operational Excellence & Project Delivery
- Ensure all projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality.
- Oversee project planning, programming, and resource allocation across the full project lifecycle.
- Implement consistent delivery processes and performance tracking across all teams.
- Monitor KPIs, project performance data, and delivery metrics to drive continuous improvement.
- Maintain oversight of high-risk or high-value projects, providing direct intervention where required.
- Promote best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement in project delivery.
Team Leadership & Department Management
- Lead, manage, and develop Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, and Site Management teams.
- Set clear expectations, performance targets, and accountability across all levels of the department.
- Foster a high-performance culture aligned with SOL Services’ values.
- Support recruitment, succession planning, and long-term capability building.
- Drive professional development, mentoring, and training across the project delivery function.
- Ensure strong collaboration between Projects, M&E, Commercial, and Pre-Construction teams.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the senior point of contact for key clients and strategic accounts.
- Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships to support repeat business and growth.
- Lead client engagement on major projects, ensuring expectations are managed and exceeded.
- Support business development activities including bids, tenders, and presentations.
- Protect and enhance the company’s reputation through exceptional delivery and communication.
Governance, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all projects comply with Health & Safety legislation, CDM regulations, and company procedures.
- Maintain oversight of RAMS, quality plans, and project documentation standards.
- Champion a strong safety culture across all project teams.
- Ensure compliance with ISO standards and internal quality management systems.
- Lead project reviews, audits, and lessons-learned processes to improve performance.
Key Skills and Core Competencies
- Proven experience in a senior leadership role within construction, refurbishment, or building services.
- Demonstrated success managing multi-project portfolios and delivering strong financial performance.
- Strong commercial acumen with expertise in contract management, procurement, and risk mitigation.
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with experience developing high-performing teams.
- In-depth understanding of project delivery across fit-out, refurbishment, and M&E coordination.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to drive growth, innovation, and operational improvement.
- Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills at senior level.
- Strong knowledge of Health & Safety, CDM Regulations, and quality assurance frameworks.
- Analytical and data-driven approach to performance management.
- Fully aligned with SOL Services’ core values of Quality, Passion, Trust, Care, and Flexibility.
Work Environment
- Hybrid role combining office-based leadership and regular site visits nationwide.
- Key member of the Senior Leadership Team with regular engagement with executive management team.
- High level of interaction with clients, internal departments, and external stakeholders.
- Flexibility required to support national project delivery and business growth initiatives.
Salary dependant on experience. This role is based in Milton Keynes
Pay: £42,800.88-£101,478.16 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
