Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£86,000 per annum

About the Role
The Directorate oversees major devolved transport funding and delivery relationships during a period of significant change in how central government collaborates with Mayors, Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local leaders. The successful candidates will combine strong delivery grip with finely tuned political judgement, confidently engaging with Ministers, senior officials, HM Treasury, No.10 North and senior local politicians to secure progress, manage risk and maintain confidence across government and local areas.

There are two Deputy Director roles available:
- One postholder will focus primarily on delivery of the CRSTS and TCR portfolios, working with Strategic Authorities to agree delivery plans and investment priorities, building shared understanding of delivery progress, risk and confidence, and providing assurance and support to secure successful delivery and benefits realisation.
- The second postholder will focus on sponsorship of retained major infrastructure schemes within the CRSTS and TCR portfolio, with a central focus on the West Yorkshire Mass Transit (WYMT) programme. This role involves acting as the Department's sponsor for WYMT, working closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and partners to provide assurance, challenge and support through business case development, approvals and delivery planning.

Both roles will contribute to shaping the Directorate's evolving approach to delivery, assurance and sponsorship. Sponsorship responsibilities for retained schemes within the TCR portfolio will be shared across both roles, with the distribution of responsibilities evolving in line with organisational design and candidate strengths.

Responsibilities include providing visible senior leadership across delivery and sponsorship functions, building trusted relationships with senior colleagues in Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local transport bodies and government, designing risk-based reporting and governance arrangements, driving delivery across portfolios, investing time with local teams to strengthen delivery confidence, ensuring aligned sponsorship and governance arrangements, commissioning expert advice and assurance, and collaborating across government to maximise benefits and outcomes.

The postholder focusing on major infrastructure sponsorship will dedicate substantial time to the WYMT programme, ensuring clear governance, proportionate assurance, effective business case progression, and robust engagement with key partners.

Experience
- Proven senior leadership in sponsoring, overseeing or leading complex infrastructure projects, programmes or place-based funding settlements, ideally involving delivery through local or Strategic Authorities.
- Leadership of high-performing teams in complex, evolving environments, including capability development and cross-organisational collaboration.
- Finely tuned political judgement with experience operating effectively in politically sensitive environments involving Ministers, Mayors, senior local politicians and Government officials.
- Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with ability to build trusted relationships, explain complex issues clearly, secure alignment and provide constructive challenge.
- Ability to assess competing delivery, sponsorship and governance options, balancing value for money, affordability, assurance, benefits realisation and accountability in devolved delivery contexts.

About you
- Skilled in navigating competing priorities and political sensitivities.
- Collaborative and resilient leader able to work across organisational boundaries.
- Committed to public service values and delivering tangible economic and social outcomes for communities.

Qualifications
- While specific qualifications are not detailed, candidates must demonstrate the professional skills, breadth of experience and leadership qualities required to succeed at Deputy Director level in the Senior Civil Service.