About Action

Action is the fastest growing non-food discount in Europe.
We started our business with a small store in Holland in 1993 and today our company has grown into an international retail organization with more than 2,500 stores in 12 countries and almost 80,000 people of 136 nationalities and these numbers are growing every day.
Working for Action means having a solid and financially reliable employer, with a concrete and motivating approach.

Construction Manager (Head of Construction)

The Construction Manager is managing the Construction department as Head of Construction in the relevant country and reports to directly to the Acquisition & Construction Manager (Head of Real Estate). The job has around 10 direct reports - Team Lead Store Facility, Team Lead Drafting Employees, Team Lead Process Coordinator, RE Project Managers - around 20 in total.

Arranging all construction work to be done in an orderly, timely and efficient manner, ensuring an optimal mix of quality (technical) and low cost (capex). The construction work covers constructing new stores, refurbishing and relocating existing stores as well as ongoing maintenance.

Areas of responsibility

Operational Management

• Oversees the relevant country Construction team, it's tasks and procedures and designates tasks and responsibilities to ensure an efficient operation
• Develops strategic and operational plans for the Construction team
• Provides Acquisition with technical support for store expansion and portfolio management
• Constructs new stores and relocate/refurbish existing stores and provides technical maintenance to existing stores
• Sources materials and services for the lowest possible price
• Ensures clear communication of relevant Construction specifications both internally and externally
• In coordination with the Group Construction Manager monitors and manages local construction partners
• Makes sure our ways of working and stores are in line with local regulations
• Implements and maintain relevant Construction processes and systems, e.g. Planon
• Keeps an up-to-date administration for Construction
• Works within the guidelines of the Central organization (PoR, standards, document naming, h drive structure, timelines etc.)
• Functions as a sparring partner for the relevant country Project Managers

Optimizing

• Continuously optimises the relevant country Construction processes and ways of working in order to be as efficient and lean as possible, particularly in relation to capex optimisation

People Management

• Clearly steers a category team, takes the lead, gives clear working instructions, plans employees and activities in such a manner that targets are successfully achieved
• Is actively involved in improving employee skills by providing constructive feedback, instructions, explanation and coaching
• Makes employees enthusiastic, clearly indicates the intended effect of targets, brings about a positive attitude towards the work and inspires team members' strong will to perform
• Gives direct and constructive feedback about the delivered performance and personal development related to future requirements and priorities
• Stimulates employees to join in on the thought process and to actively contribute to the development of new ideas and to learn from his/her own experiences and those of others
• Responsible for an optimal staffing, recruitment activities and retaining of employees within the department

Building local Construction teams

• Hires and trains local Construction employees
• Implements best practice processes and ways of working from other country Construction teams.
• Communicates local exceptions and circumstances and integrate these in our way of working
• Actively participates in the Country RE Meetings and lead the Country Construction Meetings

Reports

• Prepares various (periodic) Management Reports for the relevant Acquisition & Construction Manager.

Requirements - hard and soft skills

• University master degree (preferable technical study)
• Proven performance and relevant experience with:
  • Constructing stores (min. 8 years)
  • Managing and motivating (construction) employees
  • Managing external construction parties
• Excellent comprehension and fluency of both Italian and English (both written and spoken)
• Make proposals for efficient and effective working methods with the least possible complexity and implements these
• Demonstrates a high level of pragmatism
• Is very organised, is able to structure activities and projects, sticks to agreements within deadlines and according to guidelines
• Works efficiently and effectively, also when under time pressure