The London Heritage Quarter (London HQ) is an alliance of Business Improvement Districts covering Victoria, Victoria Westminster, Whitehall and Northbank. The area stretches from Belgravia to the Royal Courts of Justice and along the Strand and Victoria Embankment to Aldwych. It includes major London landmarks such as Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square. Encompassing the majority of the historic processional route through Central London and major transport hubs, the area is also home to a large number of corporate occupiers, office workers and Government Departments.

We play a fundamental role in generating, promoting and executing projects that aim to support economic growth through placemaking and create a vibrant destination for those who work, visit or live in the area. Creating a high-quality public realm and environment is at the heart of what we do.

The London HQ Executive Team has responsibility for various BID areas: Northbank, Victoria, Victoria Westminster and Whitehall, and work together in the delivery of each BID’s Business Plan objectives.

With the ever-changing political landscape, BIDs are becoming firmly established as a key delivery agent working on behalf of the private sector. Influencing key government decision making processes and lobbying for change are becoming focal points of activity within the BID agenda.

We are recruiting a Placemaking and Sustainability Project Manager who wants to influence and deliver an exciting programme of placemaking and sustainability projects.

If you are looking for a change in your current role and want to know more please read further.

This is a permanent role across the four BIDs which re-ballot every five years. At this point all contracts are reviewed.

You will be responsible for:

• Delivering public realm and placemaking projects from inception to delivery, including those set out in the BIDs’ business plans, public realm visions and strategies and those relating to the curation and activation of spaces, wayfinding, buildings illumination, and place management;
• Delivering sustainability projects from inception to delivery including the key themes of air quality, aligned with Westminster City Council’s Sustainable City Charter;
• Commissioning and leading research to influence and inform strategic public realm, placemaking and sustainability thinking in relation to the delivery of projects in the BID areas;
• Working closely with partners and stakeholders including Westminster City Council, Transport for London, Network Rail, building owners and managers, developers, Neighbourhood Forums and residential and amenity groups;
• Ensuring the delivery of projects to time, quality and budget;
• Building positive relationships with and articulating the BIDs’ public realm and sustainability visions and strategies internally and with key external stakeholders and partners;
• Delivering projects in line with WCC and GLA policies including those relating to the public realm and placemaking, climate emergency, sustainability and greening;
• Drafting and presenting well written and timely reports for Project Boards, Steering Groups, and Strategic Boards;
• Applying for funding and managing funding according to supplied criteria;
• Involvement in the day-to-day management of project governance, reporting and control structures, with issues, risks and decisions escalated through the agreed current internal, and also partnership, arrangements as appropriate;
• Managing project budgets;
• Coordinating with the Head of Sustainability on setting, measuring and reporting on key performance indicators;
• Ensuring members and key stakeholders are continuously and fully briefed on projects;
• Contributing to the development of consultation and policy responses;
• Contributing to the continuous business improvement processes and to the meeting of business objectives;
• Working with colleagues in other work themes to optimise projects;
• Being an ambassador for the company at all times internally and externally;
• Compliance with all relevant Health and Safety legislation, resolving arising issues or escalating as appropriate and ensuring the safe delivery of projects;

The above outlined responsibilities are not exhaustive and you may be required to carry out other tasks that are appropriate to your role in addition to these.

Our ideal candidate will be educated to degree level and be professionally qualified and experienced in a relevant discipline (e.g., urban design, transport planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental or sustainability) or demonstrate technical experience in a relevant discipline, and have:

• A good understanding of public realm design principles and processes and the RIBA Stages of Work;
• Good knowledge of highways, public realm and placemaking disciplines;
• A proven record of taking personal responsibility and accountability for delivery of projects with multiple interfaces, and delivering projects to time, budget, and quality;
• Good knowledge of sustainability initiatives and frameworks to achieve net zero projects within the themes of freight and waste consolidation, active travel, and air quality which reduce pollution and carbon use with relevant monitoring and evaluation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of project and programme management methodologies and their practical application;
• Knowledge of community stakeholder consultation;
• Knowledge of stakeholder engagement approaches and practices;
• Good knowledge and understanding of project controls, tools and techniques;
• Good knowledge and understanding of project budgeting, procurement processes and contract management in a project setting;
• An understanding of local authority elected Member committee and Cabinet Member approval processes;
• High levels of written and verbal communication, advocacy and influencing skills appropriate for a complex and dynamic stakeholder environment;
• Knowledge of Business Improvement Districts – purpose and legal context;

Our ideal candidate will have the following experience:-

• Experience of working on transformational public realm projects at different scales;
• Experience of working in both the public and private sectors;
• Experience of working in a matrix environment, across organisations;
• Experience in commissioning and managing of suppliers;
• Experience in risk management and managing project budgets;
• Be qualified and experienced in the planning and delivery of complex projects.

You will be encouraged to realise your full potential as a valued member of staff. Everyone who works across the London HQ alliance of BIDs contributes to our success. By working together we will stimulate innovation and generate a more exciting and rewarding environment in which everyone will feel valued and respected.

Throughout our operations, you will be treated fairly and equally, irrespective of sex, marital status, sexuality, gender identity, age, colour, race, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, working pattern, educational or social background.

Please submit a CV with a covering letter before the closing date of 18th October 2023 using the application system or by email to [email protected]