Job Description

About the job

National Highways have an excellent opportunity for a Sponsor to join our team in Major Projects. As a Sponsor, you will initiate and oversee the delivery of a small project portfolio/sub-programme or a singular large-scale project. This role supports one or more Programme Sponsors to achieve the outcomes of large scale regional or national investment, ensuring alignment with NH strategic priorities and identifying and managing several individual schemes’ benefits plans and Business Cases.

Please note this position can be based from any of our UK offices however travel to regional offices, such as Birmingham, to attend team meetings will be required.

• Assist in the development of the Project Brief, Project and Portfolio benefits and business cases at different stages, so that solutions are developed that meet the objectives and outcomes of the Roads Investment Strategy (RIS).
• Ensure that investment proposals fit with the longer-term asset strategy and secure the necessary investment to deliver the business case. Ensure that there is adequate funding for the project throughout all stages of the lifecycle.
• Ensure commercially viable option appraisal and design management is delivered, taking account of value for money, core business requirements, stakeholder risks, and interdependencies across local and strategic networks.
• Be accountable for the key decision making required throughout the project lifecycle to ensure all desired outcomes are delivered and benefits realised.
• Chair regular Project Committees for each project to ensure it is delivered in accordance with NH and Department for Transport governance requirements.
• Act as an escalation point for major risks, issues and changes, providing clear direction to the project teams throughout the lifecycle. Identify and manage all strategic risks within the project and work with project teams to mitigate them.

About you

• Ability to evaluate situations, think clearly and communicate accurately in making decisions and framing asks, risks, and issues.
• A good understanding of business cases and Benefits management for major infrastructure projects,
• Experience of working in a complex customer facing organisation and using a recognised Programme and Project framework
• Knowledge of how to build successful engagement with internal and external clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to drive best practice forward to effective implementation, dealing constructively with setbacks.
• Professional accreditation and/or membership of a relevant body is desirable.

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 to 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.

We offer many different ways to work flexibly and we’re open to discuss part-time working, job shares, and flexible start and finish times.

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

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