Job Description

Up to 12-month Fixed Term Contract

About the job.

Reporting into the Director of Enhancements you will lead a segment of a Major Projects Programme; managing the performance of project teams, external contractors and consultants and ensuring adherence to effective governance, quality assurance, health and safety, technical and specialist standards across the supply chain and National Highways, to ensure successful delivery of agreed project outcomes and acting in line with mandatory and delegated responsibilities.

This is a pivotal leadership role where you will oversee a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple locations, driving delivery excellence and strategic outcomes. Acting as a key member of the Enhancements Leadership Team, you will actively contribute to the management and operation of the division, working closely with the Director of Enhancements and broader leadership team to support wider delivery and business management activities.

Please note that this role can be based at any National Highways office; however, travel to Birmingham will be required twice a week.

Continuous improvement of health and safety performance and wellbeing within your team and the delivery of key performance indicators (as a minimum) for health and safety of the relevant programme or project

• Development and maintenance of effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with programme objectives
• Delivery of the programme in accordance with National Highways governance; ensure approvals are granted, value for money is delivered, and realisation of project benefits with the Project Sponsor
• Maintain compliance with the National Highways Portfolio, Programme and Project Management System (P3MS), clarifying roles and responsibilities within your team, and maintaining high standards for baseline management, the production of timely and accurate reports, and for creating and maintaining records
• Deliver commercial, financial, and schedule performance for all relevant projects; maintain high standards for budgeting, forecasting, and contractual management and ensure the Quality Assurance and the overall integrity of the programme or project
• Ensure the appointment of external delivery partners and consultants is in accordance with HE commercial governance.

About you.

• Hold or willing to attain certified project/programme management accreditation or demonstrate capability to achieve IPMA Level B (e.g., MSP Advanced Practitioner, APM)
• Professional accreditation as Full Member of APM (MAPM) or relevant body, or commitment to attain
• Evidence of leadership on safety standards and implementation across multiple team structures in complex projects with a demonstrated ability to mentor and coach to develop project management talent
• Practicing or willing to become an accredited medium/high-risk reviewer to support delivery assurance
• Extensive experience leading people and teams to deliver complex, high-risk projects and high-profile change programmes within matrix organisations
• Proven track record of managing complex stakeholder relationships and influencing for positive outcomes along with strong commercial acumen with expertise in negotiating and managing contracts to deliver outcomes and drive value for money

About us.

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England’s motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

Major Projects are responsible for major enhancements, complex renewals and 3rd party schemes on our road network. We make roads safer, journeys more reliable and unlock economic growth.  At the same time, we seek out ways to create opportunities for sustainable travel, help nature to thrive and support our journey to net zero carbon.

Our team work closely with the supply chain to design and construct road projects, as well as develop a pipeline of possible projects as we look to the future. ​​​​​​Our skills span many areas from customer experts, land and property advisers to project management. We understand the potential that our road schemes can bring.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Why you should join us

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We’re proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.

So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it – then you’ll be a great fit for our organisation.

A connected and sustainable working approach has been adopted across National Highways. For some roles, this means being able to work in a hybrid way spending up to 60% of time working from a remote location such as home.

Please wait until the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.

Our benefits package

• Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
• Flexible hours and an approach driven by connected and sustainable working which includes hybrid working
• Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
• A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
• Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience

And we are

• Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
• Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme
• Community friendly – offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year

If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include:

• Right to work check
• 3 year employment history references
• DBS criminal record check
• Social media and adverse journalism check
• Driving licence check (if applicable)
• Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)
• Qualifications and/or professional membership check (if applicable)

And finally

We reserve the right to close before the advertisement expires.