Pre-Construction Director – Residential Refurbishment

Our client is currently undertaking several high-profile remediation projects across a number of high rise blocks in London.

The aim is to deliver complex projects on time, within budget and in line with stakeholder expectations.

The Pre-Construction Director to lead the planning of internal remediation works across multiple occupied residential blocks. This is a critical leadership role focused on shaping the delivery strategy, defining work scopes, and ensuring seamless coordination between consultants, fire specialists, design teams, and operational leads.

The ideal candidate will have a track record in residential refurbishment or internal upgrade projects, ideally involving fire compliance or building safety remediation. They must be able to bring structure, foresight, and clarity to complex programmes and ensure they are fully prepared for efficient delivery.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Programme Development

• Define and lead the overall strategy for internal remedial works across multiple high-rise blocks, including setting clear milestones and governance structures.
• Develop detailed pre-construction delivery plans, including phasing, access strategy, resident impact mitigation, and internal liaison with the Construction and Programme Directors.
• Assess buildability and sequence of works across internal systems e.g., fire stopping, doorsets, compartmentation, and finishes.

Stakeholder and Consultant Management

• Manage a multidisciplinary team of consultants, designers, fire engineers to ensure coordinated design and delivery readiness.
• Liaise with operations and stakeholders to align on scope, sequencing, and stakeholder expectations.
• Oversight pre-construction meetings, risk reviews, and internal programmes.

Design & Technical Assurance

• Oversee the collation and review of design packs, fire strategies, and specifications to ensure readiness for procurement and delivery.
• Ensure all works are compliant with Building Regulations, PAS 9980, and Building Safety Act requirements.
• Direct intrusive surveys and ensure scoping is evidence-based and accurately priced.

Procurement & Commercial Preparation

• Support tendering and contractor appointment processes, ensuring packages are scoped correctly and aligned with the delivery strategy.
• Review contractor bids for technical completeness and risk.
• Collaborate with commercial leads to input into budget planning, VE strategies, and programme phasing.

Risk, Quality & Compliance Management

• Anticipate project risks and develop mitigation strategies across fire safety, logistics, resident impact, and programme.
• Establish pre-construction QA processes and compliance trackers to support smooth transition into construction.

Experience:

• 10+ years in senior roles within pre-construction, technical delivery, or remediation in the residential sector.
• Strong understanding of building safety remediation, particularly internal systems and occupied building strategies.
• Proven experience leading the pre-construction phase on multi-block projects involving consultants, design coordination, and compliance.
• Knowledge of UK building legislation including the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, and fire safety standards.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong strategic thinking and programme planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organised with a strong grasp of technical detail.
• Calm, clear, and confident in complex or sensitive remediation programmes.