The Queen is Hiring a Planner to Help Manage the $479 Million Buckingham Palace Renovation
The Queen of England is looking to get a major facelift…for Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II is finalizing plans to embark on a massive renovation project totaling just under $500 million, and is looking for the perfect planner to help the project go as smoothly as possible.
The renovation of the 775-room Palace is expected to last for about ten years. The goal is to update the current 1950s-era electric, plumbing, and heating systems throughout the entire landmark building, wing by wing, in order to ensure Buckingham Palace is livable, workable, and presentable, for the next 50 years.
So, this is where you potential planners come into play. As the Planner, you will support the Strategic Planner and be the “key interface” between the in-house Program Management Office (PMO), which “oversees delivery to ensure the building is fit for purpose for the next 50 years,” and the contractors and consultants “to analyze and feed their programs into the wider Reservicing program,” the job description reads.
Basically, you’ll be in charge of making sure everything is going according to plan, because, well, you’re the planner.
“This is a large scale program in terms of duration and complexity, so your analysis, challenge and reports will be essential,” the listing continues. “Monitoring interfaces and interdependencies, you’ll identify conflicts and variances in order to keep the program on track.”
This is a ten-year, Monday-through-Friday position that packs in about 37.5 hours per week. The Palace is offering a £38,000 (about $49,000) yearly salary, which could fluctuate depending on prior experience in this type of work. Furthermore, the job comes with a “comprehensive benefits package, a 15% employer contribution pension scheme…as well as a range of catering and recreational facilities.”
Like any other job, the Queen and her staff are looking for someone with specific qualifications and a person that can handle the pressure. Ideally, you’re someone with experience in historical conservation, tight organization and problem solving skills, and experience with programming software. And because this is such a team-centric job, your communication skills and ability to work with others must be top notch.
“No two days will be the same and the variety and pace will challenge you,” the listing continues. “But as you support others, you’ll have exceptional opportunities to grow your own career in a great team environment. And knowing you’re contributing to the future of an iconic building will inspire you to deliver every day.”
If this job at the Palace sounds like your perfect-fit glass slipper, you can apply on the Royal Household website. The staff is accepting applications through November, so you may have to wait a while to hear back. But something tells us that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.