James Downham
Haywards Heath,West Sussex
Summary
A multi skilled Project Manager with over 10 years' experience in interior design and workplace management/strategy who consistently delivers complex projects within demanding time and cost constraints. Confident stakeholder manager able to influence and persuade at all levels ensuring high quality outcomes for all projects. Approachable team player who has the capacity and drive to tackle any project.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work history
Project Manager
Legal & General via Resource Solutions
Hove, East Sussex
12.2022 - Current
- On behalf of Resource Solutions Workforce Consultancy, I have been contracted to work for Legal & General in their Property and Workplace team as an embedded Project Manager, advising on workplace/estates strategies and managing facilities management/construction projects
- These have included the decant, decommissioning and strip out of excess property, managing its hand back to the property owners
- Acting on behalf of the client during staff relocations and office refurbishment projects and managing the transition
- Advising on estate logistics with the change of use of the estate to meet requirements.
- Delivered on projects' key objectives with agreed budgets, timelines and standards.
- Acted as single point of contact for customers and internal stakeholders.
- Used project management tools and techniques for positive, successful outcomes.
- Defined risk profiles for each project and prepared contingency plans to minimise business risk.
Workspace Planning & Design Manager
House of Commons, UK Parliament
London, City of Westminster
04.2016 - 11.2022
- I worked within the Workspace Team within our Strategic Estates department for the Houses of Parliament
- My role is in two parts, as a Workplace Consultant advising on best use of space, investigate and instil the most relevant methodologies in the use of space from across the sector and to consult with the business as well as individual teams on how the estate can work best for their working practices, for example with the COVID-19 Epidemic, I advised the business and provided plans on how to best layout the work environment in accordance with Public Health England
- The other part is to act as a client-side Project Manager/ for small to medium sized fit-out projects and medium to large scale decants/re-locations utilising our in-house contractors and Maintenance staff but also external framework contractors for the more complex, longer-term works
- These projects are between £50k and £2.5M
- This role is an expansion of my previous role from maintenance projects to capital investment/estate management projects
- I follow the RIBA stages of work process and I am involved from inception to handover
- I will engage with the client/stakeholders to develop the brief and then work with in-house architectural designers and consultants/contractors to produce the technical design that has been approved by the stakeholders for implementation
- I will procure the resources such as contractors and materials to complete the project following EU legislation through open tenders and frameworks where costs require it
- I use the Association of Project Managers standard method of project management to run multiple projects concurrently
- Most projects are running while the Houses are sitting, and tours are running within the Palace
- The Palace of Westminster is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and many of our estate's buildings are of a listed status this does present challenges that I manage with close working with English Heritage and our in-house Conservation Architects.
- Ensured consistency of design work by implementing, managing and reviewing CAD standards.
Professional Technical Officer
Maintenance Services, House of Commons
London
05.2014 - 04.2015
- I was responsible for the design, procurement and supply of ‘Business as usual' (BAU) furnishing and fit-out solutions across the Parliamentary Estate
- The occupancy profile consists of departmental staff of both houses at all levels, including Members and Peers, with exacting requirements that regularly have need of delivery within tight time constraints
- I liaise with Directors, Project Managers, Departmental Office Managers, Accommodations Managers, Maintenance Managers and other agency and support staff across both houses
- Solutions provided are bespoke relating to the business and operational requirements of those concerned, taking into account physical and financial constraints therein due to the physical layout of the respective site, combined with the need to demonstrate value from a financial perspective
- I was involved at all stages, from the initial contact through to delivery
- This would include providing samples from various suppliers to utilising AutoCAD to create an innovative design, fit for purpose and eventually, once the specification is agreed, ordering the items required
- Once these items have arrived on site, I coordinated the installation of the items with porterage and fitting contractors at a time which suits the client.
Police Community Support Officer
Surrey Police HQ
04.2012 - 05.2014
- Working within a neighbourhood team advising residents of crime prevention and community safety issues
- Working with communities and other partner agencies to tackle local crime and work with youth groups to help prevent anti-social behaviour
- I would visit the victims of crime to offer advice, support and reassurance as their local officer
- I was part of a team that secured the Olympic Cycle race through Surrey.
Cafe Manager
Maverick Catering Ltd
Chessington
02.2009 - 03.2012
- Managing a small café in a community centre
- Responsible for day to day running of the business
- Managing the catering team and cash flow planning
- Chef duties
- Menu planning
- Pricing
- Staff management and hiring, shift planning
- Procurement
- Promoted to assistant manager 2009 and manager 2010.
Junior Project Manager
Indigo Office Design Limited
Cheam, Surrey
01.2006 - 12.2008
- Part of small operation dealing with all aspects of business, involved in sales & marketing, office design and specification, procurement and installation project management
- Built company reputation by managing and successfully delivering projects.
- Trained in AUTO CAD software
Education
Agile Change Agent - Change Management
Agile Change Management Ltd
12.2020 - 12.2020
IOSH Managing Safely - Health & Safety Management
House of Commons
04.2015 - 04.2015
APM - Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) - Project Management
The Knowledge Academy
06.2017 - 06.2017
NEC3/4 - Introduction and Basic Management - NEC3/4 Contract Management
House of Commons
11.2016 - 11.2022
Microsoft Project - Project Management
The Happy Training Company
04.2015 - 04.2015
Police, Law and Community - Policing
Brooklands College
Weybridge, Surrey 05.2013 - 07.2013
GCSEs - English, Maths, Double Science, History
Beverley Boys School
New Malden, Kingston upon Thames 09.1999 - 07.2002
AS Level - Physics
Beverley Boys School
2001 - 06.2003
Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Technology integration
- Strategic planning
- Project Management
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Project
- Visio
- Outlook
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- SketchUp
- Adobe Design Suite
- Logistical planning
- Facility management
- Architectural feasibility studies
- Technical detailing
- Conceptual designs
- RIBA plan of work
- Interior design
- Commercial interior design
- Space planning methodology
- Strong analytical ability
Languages
English
Native
Timeline
Project Manager
Legal & General via Resource Solutions
12.2022 - Current
Agile Change Agent - Change Management
Agile Change Management Ltd
12.2020 - 12.2020
APM - Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) - Project Management
The Knowledge Academy
06.2017 - 06.2017
NEC3/4 - Introduction and Basic Management - NEC3/4 Contract Management
House of Commons
11.2016 - 11.2022
Workspace Planning & Design Manager
House of Commons, UK Parliament
04.2016 - 11.2022
IOSH Managing Safely - Health & Safety Management
House of Commons
04.2015 - 04.2015
Microsoft Project - Project Management
The Happy Training Company
04.2015 - 04.2015
Professional Technical Officer
Maintenance Services, House of Commons
05.2014 - 04.2015
Police, Law and Community - Policing
Brooklands College
05.2013 - 07.2013
Police Community Support Officer
Surrey Police HQ
04.2012 - 05.2014
Cafe Manager
Maverick Catering Ltd
02.2009 - 03.2012
Junior Project Manager
Indigo Office Design Limited
01.2006 - 12.2008
GCSEs - English, Maths, Double Science, History
Beverley Boys School
09.1999 - 07.2002
AS Level - Physics
Beverley Boys School
2001 - 06.2003