National Highways Looking for Planning Manager – Route Strategies at Birmingham Full Time

Your new role

The Customer, Strategy and Communications (CSC) directorate are growing and this is a great opportunity to get involved with the production of Route Strategies as part of the wider Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS 3 – 2025-2030). We are developing and enhancing our capability in order to manage our relationship with the government, key internal and external stakeholders and third party projects. As a result we are looking to recruit a Planning Manager to play a key part in the Strategic Route Planning Team within the Network Planning Division. The role is not limited to any particular office location. You will draw upon a wide variety of internal and external inputs to ensure the innovative approach to the next generation of route strategies continues and their findings are embedded in the development of the RIS investment portfolio. In doing so, you will ensure route strategies aid effective planning of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), influence future road investment strategies, wider investment and long-term strategic network planning for the Company.

What you’ll be leading on

• Centrally planning and managing a programme of work in relation to the development and production of the final Route Strategies, wider network planning projects, including strategic studies, and major scheme sponsorship,
• Maintain oversight and manage project interdependencies with the wider Road Investment Strategy and the work of the Network Planning Division including the interface with wider study teams within NH.
• Prepare business cases and tender documentation, complying with relevant requirements and evaluation to recommend appointment of Consultants,
• Prepare project and programme reporting including financial and budgetary information for all key reporting lines.

To be successful

• Demonstrable experience of working successfully and dynamically in a Programme or Project Management environment, preferably in a strategic, policy or transport planning role,
• Experience of at least one of the following: Delivering large and complex road feasibility studies (or similar), Sponsoring major infrastructure schemes, The Development Consent Order or Hybrid Bill processes or Developing strategies for infrastructure organisations.
• Knowledge of the role infrastructure plays at all levels in facilitating strategic development and planning the SRN generally and route based.
• Experience of working with and managing external supply chain/Consultants in terms of project delivery and performance.
• Evidence of partnership working with a collaborative approach with strong stakeholder management, engagement and influencing skills
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills to convey complex information to a wide audience and experience of managing and influencing a range of stakeholder relationships

A bit about us

The Network Planning Division is the centre of expertise for planning the network’s future.? We are responsible for the SRN’s long-term strategy by taking a comprehensive, consistent, and holistic approach.? We work closely with other teams across the CSC directorate as well as the rest of the Company, to consider the impact of future technology; facilitate economic growth; develop schemes for investment in future Road Investment Strategy periods; and ensure that the SRN is mitigated effectively in relation to major external projects.

Video interviews are scheduled for early October 2022.

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)

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 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.

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