About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Can you effectively build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders?

Do you want to help deliver some of Europe’s largest and most transformational infrastructure projects?

Would you want the opportunity to unlock transformational economic benefits for the country?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

As an Infrastructure Cost Manager you will influence the Department’s ambitious portfolio of transport projects, working as an integral part of the Directorate and with wider project teams to ensure that major projects are delivered efficiently and effectively. You will have a central role in the successful delivery of some of Europe’s largest transport infrastructure schemes that present a once-in-generation opportunity to unlock transformational economic benefits for the country.

You will be responsible for developing cross-cutting evidence for major project policy and sponsor teams on cost related themes (e.g. benchmarking, risk etc.), ensuring crucial evidence is embedded into the Department’s investment decision process. It will require senior-level engagement with multiple internal and external stakeholders in various government functions and Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs), including HS2 Ltd., East West Railway Co., National Highways, Network Rail and others.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include taking a leading role in:

• Examining ALB evidence for advice to Government and leading on the drafting of briefings and papers to Ministers, Boards (including the DfT Investment, Portfolio and Delivery Committee) and senior leaders.
• Working alongside technical, sponsor and analytical colleagues to scrutinise emerging cost estimates to advise major project sponsors teams on their robustness and efficiency position (e.g. by challenging design assumptions/specifications, developing cost benchmarking analysis in accordance with IPA Best Practice etc).
• Embedding processes for continuously monitoring and improving the cost and schedule efficiency position of major projects at various life-cycle stages.
• Actively building IEE’s and DfT’s wider capability in better understanding the cost implications of project options early in the project lifecycle (including ‘should’ or ‘could’ costs).

For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will be organised and will be able to adapt quickly to your environment. You keep in mind the bigger picture and look beyond the status quo to see how things could be improved. You are confident overseeing a range of schemes in line with best practice principles of good project and programme management including interacting with finance and project delivery data.

You can adapt your communication style to deliver your message to various stakeholders and have the confidence to challenge and influence ensuring the best outcomes are delivered.

Additional Information 

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.  

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Experience working on major projects (particularly client side), with an emphasis on cost/schedule control, robust evidence gathering and cross-disciplinary working.
• Close involvement in the development of innovative and technically complex projects.
• Generating evidence-based reports and presentations and communicating their findings to technical and non-technical audiences at a senior level.
• Knowledge of and experience with tools and techniques used to assess cost efficiency and quantify risk (e.g. cost benchmarking/ quantitative risk assessments).

The sift is due to take place from w/c 22nd April 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 6th May 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An interview.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile and the Government Science and Engineering Framework, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Government Science and Engineering Framework 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.