Expertise
Zahira manages and delivers complex projects, primarily in the affordable housing sector, from start to finish. Her role involves serving as the project lead for multiple new build and re-modernisation projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget and to a high standard. She acts as the primary point of contact for clients, coordinating with design teams and other consultants to meet client needs and exceed expectations.
Zahira also serves as employer’s agent on design and build projects, where she manages and administers contracts, with a focus on compliance and quality. Her responsibilities include providing strategic advice on complex development agreement contracts, leading PMO/ process improvement initiatives, and conducting development appraisals to ensure accurate pricing for bids.
Zahira has assisted clients by developing and refining core project documentation and processes, enhancing compliance, standardisation, and operational efficiency.
How do you help clients?
I help clients with my strong leadership, problem-solving and communication skills. I effectively manage client accounts, build lasting relationships and oversee multiple projects concurrently. My proactive approach and attention to detail ensure that I deliver projects that meet client goals, whilst also achieving business improvements and cost savings.
Experience
- Managed a major £18m re-modernisation program for retirement schemes, ensuring seamless execution while residents remained in-situ.
- Led the end-to-end implementation of the Keystone Foundation, establishing a robust system for the electronic collection of property data.
- Served as project lead for the delivery of new build and refurbishment projects for multiple clients, demonstrating the ability to successfully manage and complete complex projects concurrently. This included a £32m Decent Homes Programme and the reconfiguration of the Homeless Assessment Centre in Vauxhall, enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency.
- Directed specific PMO/ process improvement workstreams and initiatives, enhancing commercial management methods, techniques and tools.
- Provided expert advice on complex Development Agreement contracts, skilfully navigating intricacies to safeguard client interests.
- Acted as employer’s agent on design and build projects, successfully managing and administering JCT contracts, with a focus on compliance and quality.
- Redrafting Employers Requirement, New Build Design Guides and Specifications, ensuring alignment with current legislation, regulations and relevant industry standards. Developed a suite of user-friendly templates and supporting guidance documents, to promote consistency, clarity and ease of use across multidisciplinary teams.
- Supported a major developer by reviewing existing development processes and providing detailed feedback on complex and challenging sites. Delivered clear practical and proactive solutions to improve delivery performance and service alignment. Successfully created new internal templates, enhancing consistency, auditability, and operational efficiency across multiple projects.