Regional Strategy and Stakeholder Manager

Your new role

National Highways (NH) is currently recruiting for a Regional Strategy & Stakeholder Manager to join our Regional Strategy Team. This team leads the key relationship with Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs), and internally with Operations Directorate (OD),on strategic matters to inform NH’s long-term network planning.

You will help to shape and influence transport strategy at both a regional level and nationally to align development of transport investment, to ensure future customer needs are met, sustainable economic growth is facilitated, and the goals of the Companyare supported.

What you’ll be leading on

1. Lead the Company’s relationship with one or more STBs, building effective partnerships and representing National Highways solely on joint areas of work and at key meetings. Provide information about NH activities, and harness expertise from across theCompany to influence and inform STB work. As required, support other regions or STBs in this activity.

2. Use your regional intelligence to inform the Company’s work. Maintain effective relationships and communication flows across the Company, but particularly with regional teams in OD. Work collaboratively to support effective liaison and helping ensurethat NH’s national network planning work (such as the Roads Investment Strategy, Route Strategies and the Strategic Roads Network masterplan) takes full account of strategic customer priorities and asset needs, and that local/regional OD decisions are informedby national intelligence. Provide reports, briefings and presentations as required.

3. Lead the team’s interface with one or more thematic areas - for example decarbonisation, electric vehicles or freight. Gather information and oversight of thematic work being pursued within National Highways and/or by STBs, pass this on as appropriate,and seek opportunities to influence and increase alignment and efficiency.

4. Lead one or more aspects of team development, such as communication mechanisms, ways of working or professionalisation.

5. As required, support senior managers by leading specific projects, studies or areas of work in the fields of network strategy, spatial planning or economic development. This may involve the management of research, analysis and possibly technical consultancyto provide recommendations to Senior Management and the Executive and/or provision of advice to the Department for Transport.

To be successful

Essential:

- Capability to work in a complex, public-sector or customer-facing environment to deliver successful outcomes.
- Ability to operate strategically at national and sub-national levels in strategy development or related environments
- Skills in relationship building, partnership and collaboration, with an ability to successfully work in collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver projects and make things happen.
- Effective communication skills including proven ability to influence at senior levels, to stand ground when needed, and negotiate pragmatic solutions.

Desirable:

- Knowledge of the transport sector, particularly roads and DfT’s Road Investment Strategy.
- An understanding of National Highways, the ways we work, and the requirements of us in terms of long-term strategic planning.
- Experience of working successfully in a Programme or Project Management environment

**About Us** 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 dobetter 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.

An informal blended working approach has been adopted for many of our roles across National Highways. 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 blended working between base location/home
- 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