Head of Project Development Delivery - Retail Focus

Job Description

Head of Project Development Delivery - Retail Focus
Contract: Permanent
Location: Field-Based
Recruitment Partner: Daniel.white1@boots.com

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Boots is on the lookout for a Head of Project Delivery Development to join our dynamic Property team in Nottingham. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of construction projects across our retail estate, ensuring we continue to provide exceptional experiences for our customers.
What you'll be doing
We are seeking an experienced Head of Project Development Delivery to lead the successful develop the key components of relating to delivery of construction projects across new stores, refurbishments, extensions, and fast-track macro roll-out programmes.
This pivotal role will work alongside the Head of Projects to help successfully navigate and manage the incoming workflow, ensuring all key process are followed, internal key stakeholders are engaged and aligned enabling sign off at strategic stages of projects.
The role will take accountability of analysis and streamlining of project processes to enable accelerated speed of delivery and approvals. It will also take on some responsibility for project delivery focused in the travel sector of the business and along with other elements of other major portfolio schemes.
This senior role carries responsibility for team management, strategic value engineering, architectural delivery, ensuring that specifications, cost efficiency / tendering and programme schedules are optimised without compromising brand standards or operational requirements.
The ideal candidate will need to be a strong leader with a deep understanding of retail construction, commercially astute decision-making, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across project delivery.

Key responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Project Managers and Architects
• Set performance expectations, provide coaching, and conduct regular reviews.
• Promote a culture of accountability, problem-solving, and delivery excellence.
• Support resource planning and team allocation across multiple concurrent projects.

End-to-End Project Delivery

• Oversee full lifecycle delivery of construction projects across the retail estate.
• Ensure all programmes meet time, cost, quality, and operational requirements.
• Lead pre-construction planning, risk management, and design coordination.
• Provide senior-level support for complex projects, escalations, and stakeholder alignment.

Value Engineering (Specification & Programme)

• Lead value-engineering initiatives to optimise specification, cost, and programme performance.
• Challenge and refine material specifications, construction details, and supplier choices to maximise efficiency.
• Analyse programme durations, identify bottlenecks, and drive improvements in delivery methodologies.
• Work with design, procurement, and supply chain teams to implement commercially viable alternatives without compromising brand intent or store performance.

Commercial & Cost Accountability

• Work closely with Quantity Surveyors and Finance teams to define budgets, monitor spend, and deliver cost-effective outcomes.
• Manage project changes and commercial risks, ensuring transparent reporting.
• Contribute to budget forecasting, cost-saving strategies, and long-term capital planning.

Contractor & Supply Chain Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with principal contractors, specialist suppliers, and consultants.
• Oversee tender processes, contract negotiations, performance management, and dispute resolution.
• Ensure the supply chain delivers consistently on safety, quality, and programme expectations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams including property, design, operations, merchandising, and store leadership.
• Provide clear communication on project status, risks, dependencies, and impacts.
• Ensure delivery aligns with brand standards, operational requirements, and customer experience objectives.

Compliance, Safety & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all projects meet statutory requirements including CDM, H&S, building regulations, and company standards.
• Drive a culture of safety excellence across sites and internal teams.
• Oversee quality assurance processes including design reviews, site audits, and handover procedures.

What you'll need to have (our must-haves)

• Extensive experience managing construction projects in a retail or fast-track commercial environment.
• Proven experience leading and developing project delivery teams.
• Strong understanding of value engineering, construction specifications, and programme optimisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and familiarity with contract management (e.g., JCT, NEC).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience in supermarket, high-street retail, or hospitality environments.

It would be great if you also have

• Professional accreditation (e.g., MCIOB, MAPM, MRICS) or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of sustainable construction practices.
• Experience with landlord approvals and planning processes.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong decision-making capability.
• Motivational leader who inspires team performance.
• Commercially driven, solutions-focused, and highly organised.
• Adaptable and calm under pressure with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Confident, engaging communicator across all levels and disciplines.

Where your brilliance can take you
At Boots, we believe in nurturing talent and providing opportunities for professional development. As the Head of Project Delivery Development, you will have the chance to shape your career path and make a significant impact on our projects and the communities we serve.

Rewards designed for you

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan (up to 12% company contribution)
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Generous employee discounts for you and a family member
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay
• Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.

There's lots more in our benefits and discounts, MyBoosts - there to give you that little lift in your everyday. Find out more at http://boots.jobs/rewards. Exclusions may apply; eligible roles only.
A bit about usAt Boots, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported, and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we're committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.
What's next?If you apply, our team will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application or to arrange next steps. Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you be at your best.
We hope to hear from you soon
Be brilliant with Boots.
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