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Director Programme Integration, High Speed & Major Rail Projects

Employer
Department for Transport
Location
London (Greater)
Salary
£100,000
Closing date
16 Aug 2020

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Job Details

Summary

The High Speed & Major Rail Projects Group is at the heart of the Department for Transport, bringing together the leadership of the High Speed 2 programme such as - Crossrail 2, East-West Rail, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Department’s leadership of work at Euston Station. All of these projects bring the opportunities of driving economic growth and productivity and new models of building and planning railways alongside the challenges of keeping major infrastructure projects on track.

We are looking for an experienced candidate to join the senior leadership team of the High Speed & Major Rail Projects Group, bringing top-class project experience, commercial and financial skills, along with the leadership to motivate teams and represent the Department’s interests in relationships with partners and delivery bodies at the highest levels. You will lead a team of c.75, accountable for the successful integration of the complex portfolio currently being delivered and planned, as well as working with senior internal stakeholders to support change and improvement across the Directorate.

To fulfil this high-profile and highly challenging requirement, we require an experienced leader who is capable of inspiring, empowering and developing diverse, multi-disciplinary teams.

You will be a proven programme leader, ideally with experience gained within an infrastructure environment, able to demonstrate a track record in providing technical and commercial governance across broad and complex portfolios of major projects.

The successful candidate will also high standards of communication and engagement, with an ability to build engagement across organisational boundaries and with senior stakeholders across Whitehall and industry.

Job description

The post has a broad portfolio of responsibilities in some complex areas. The initial focus will be HS2, then seeking to integrate other major rail projects.

Key activities will include:

• Holding our delivery partner, HS2 Ltd, to account for the performance of its obligations under the Development Agreement. This role includes management of change, working with Project Sponsors as appropriate;

• Advising the SRO and Ministers on overall programme integration, benefits, schedule and budget issues, working closely with Project Sponsors. This is likely to become even more critical as the responsibilities for delivery of the construction and other works for HS2 becomes more fragmented across different delivery bodies;

• Managing the Group’s Programme Management Office which covers risk, planning, governance and assurance and supporting the establishment of a fully functioning integrated PMO based in HS2 Ltd. Over time and as appropriate, extending the reach of the Group’s PMO first to cover activities not undertaken by HS2 Ltd but critical to the programme and then to cover other projects within the Group;

• Leading much of the Group’s governance and oversight arrangements, including the Ministerial Task Force on Phases 1 and 2a of HS2.

• Maintaining effective, professional relationships with the leaders and senior teams of our delivery partners.

• Programme strategy, including responsibility within the Group for developing the strategy for integration with the conventional rail network as well as integration across the Group’s own projects;

• Monitoring the programme against its Spending Review outcome and other financial settlements, including provisions for inflation, flexibilities, contingency and delegations, and preparing for a successful future Spending Review;

• Owning general policy in relation to the safeguarding of land and landowner compensation schemes;

• Overseeing the significant Land & Property budget (£3bn plus) for all phases of the programme;

• Providing financial controls within the Group and, in close liaison with Group Finance, ensuring that the Department’s financial position is protected, alongside the Sponsor Directors’ responsibilities;

• Leading, managing and contributing to a set of cross-Group functions, including analysis, communications and technical advice, as well as project management and strategy;

• Close liaison with HM Treasury, the Infrastructure & Projects Authority, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the NAO;

• Being a role model and champion for effective project delivery within the Group and, as appropriate, the wider Department.

• Supporting the Director-General with a wide-ranging project to lift the Group’s capability and capacity for sponsoring major projects to be best in class;

• Directly leading a team of up to about 65 as well as contributing to the wider leadership of the Group of about 175 people.
 

Responsibilities

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate skills and/or success in the following essential criteria:

• Strong and proven programme and project leadership and management skills, ideally in relation to development and delivery of major infrastructure projects;

• Proven experience in leadership roles which have required being inspiring about the organisation’s work and its future, confident in engagement, and empowering teams to deliver, including experience of leading change in organisations;

• Commercial skills, with experience of concluding deals, holding a delivery agent to account through sophisticated contractual mechanisms, and managing consultants;

• Solid communication skills with an ability to collaborate at a senior level, support Ministers and influence others;

• Strong and proven financial skills, with an understanding of government accounting and project financing;

• Evidence of successfully delivering at pace and under sustained pressure.

Benefits

"Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement,
- attractive pension options,
- flexible working,
- good career development opportunities,
- a variety of career paths,
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance."

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23:55 on Sunday 16th August 2020. You will be asked to submit the following:

1. Some basic, personal information;

2. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;

3. A Statement of Suitability (max 2 pages, minimum font size 11) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer by 2020.

See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with [email protected]

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Company

Transport matters – what we do matters.

Transport touches the lives of everyone in the country. Across road, rail, air, sea and space, our transport networks affect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. It’s how we deliver goods to our shops, get people to work and reunite with our loved ones. Our staff know how important their work is and how they fit in.

 

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