Head of Delivery

Please note this role is a Job Share Wednesday to Friday based on a 24 Hour week and the salary will be based accordingly.

**FTE Base salary: £91,000pa to c.£113,750pa depending on skills and experience. In addition, we offer flexible benefits fund of 20% which is paid on top base salary and is fully pensionable, as well as a range of competitive benefits - check them out in the Benefits section on our website.**

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.

As a Head of Delivery & Corporate Sponsorship at HS2 you will be responsible for leading the HS2 Ltd Sponsorship Directorate’s accountabilities for the scope of the project which is in the delivery phase and for cross-cutting corporate sponsorship activities. Accountabilities are to lead the relationship with the Department for Transport (DfT, support the delivery of the HS2 programme and own and manage change to the consolidated set of programme requirements for delivery. The Head of Corporate and Delivery Sponsorship will also set the direction for and maintain the capability of the Corporate and Delivery Sponsorship team to effectively deliver these accountabilities.

**About the role**:

- To be responsible for leading the Corporate and Delivery Sponsorship Team, setting direction and prioritising work in an evolving context and providing support and challenge to a team of Senior Sponsors and Sponsors. You will proactively and regularly review performance and ensure that employees have the necessary skills, support and understanding to deliver the team's objectives.
- To be accountable for intervening in the resolution of issues where they cannot be resolved by Senior Sponsors or Sponsors, balancing senior relationships, technical complexity and political sensitivity to achieve best for programme outcomes.
- To be responsible for proactively leading the relationship for Sponsorship with HS2 Ltd Executive Directors for Civils, Stations and Rail Systems to establish Sponsorship as a credible partner in the delivery of HS2, supporting those Executive Directors and providing constructive challenge to ensure HS2 Ltd’s toplevel requirements are being cascaded, managed and delivered.
- To be responsible for proactively managing the most senior delivery relationships with DfT, principally the DfT Delivery Director, to ensure HS2 Ltd is responding to the reasonable needs of DfT and to push back where needed.
- To provide strategic direction and manage senior relationships on cross-cutting issues where there is an interface with DfT, such as costs, funding and ownership of the HS2 Development Agreement and HS2 Ltd Framework Document.
- To be responsible for ensuring that the Corporate and Delivery Sponsorship Team is able to act as the single gateway into HS2 Ltd for DfT and Government for significant matters related to the delivery of the project and cross-cutting corporate sponsorship issues, establish and maintain credibility with HS2 Ltd delivery leaders, and maintain formal and informal dialogue with Government officials.
- To be responsible for ensuring that a coherent set of top-level requirements of the project are maintained at the point at which they enter the programme. This includes ensuring that all gaps and trade-offs have been addressed and that changes proposed by either DfT or HS2 Ltd are effectively managed.
- To proactively lead on team wellbeing and developing members of the Corporate and Delivery Sponsorship Team, ensuring pressures are managed and team members supported as appropriate. Support and advocate for the team where needed.Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and support and comply with organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

**About You**:
**Skills**:

- Ability to lead and develop large teams to successfully deliver outcomes that are clearly defined by the post holder
- Ability to present complex issues to a variety of audiences, including internal stakeholders at various levels in the organisation, including the Executive and Board
- Ability to build and manage senior-level relationships in project delivery enviroments and with Government
- Ability to manage competing interests and conflicting priorities across organisations
- Ability to persuade and influence senior leaders across organisations and in Government
- Ability to set strategic direction and make decisions under conditions of uncertainty or ambiguity

**Knowledge**:

- Knowledge of requirements management and change processes
- Knowledge of governance and decision making in publicly-funded project delivery
- Knowledge of the political and economic context for HS2 and the strategic, economic and commercial goals for