Director of Strategy and System Change

Job summary

A welcome from Becky Wood

Thank you for your interest in joining NISTA.

As we drive forward the government’s ambition for a more active, faster moving state, we are growing into a powerful centre of infrastructure excellence — and we’re looking for someone who can help shape that future. As our Director for Strategy and System Change you will support me and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in delivering the government’s agenda while developing a new directorate that becomes the authoritative voice on longer-term infrastructure needs and strategy across Whitehall.

We’re looking for someone who brings visible, strategic leadership and can foster a positive, inclusive and high performing culture. Someone who can place decisions in their wider strategic context, stay resilient in a fastmoving and uncertain environment, and lead expert teams in line with our coherent, confident, committed and collaborative ways of working. You’ll work closely with Ministers, senior officials and industry leaders, influencing, persuading and building trusted partnerships across complex boundaries.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you.

Becky Wood

Chief Executive Officer and Head of Government Project Delivery Function, NISTA

Job description

About NISTA

The Prime Minister called for reform of the British state, seeking to go further and faster on renewal, and to ensure a more active government. To support these aims, the government established the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) as its centre of infrastructure expertise, harnessing the policy and strategy insight of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and the delivery specialism of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and bringing them together to create a new, stronger and more powerful organisation within HM Treasury capable of delivering these goals. NISTA has six objectives:

• Overseeing the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy
• Identifying and coordinating infrastructure needs
• Unblocking barriers and streamlining delivery of the government’s major projects
• Setting standards and improving the government’s project delivery capabilities
• Providing effective assurance for the government’s priority projects
• Leading expertise on private finance

About the Role

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) is recruiting a new Director of Strategy and Systems Change to drive the government’s plans for infrastructure and growth.

Infrastructure and other major projects are fundamental to our nation’s prosperity and wellbeing. They underpin economic growth, enable communities to thrive, and help us rise to the challenges of the future—whether military, economic, social, or environmental.

NISTA is at the centre of the government’s plans for infrastructure and growth. It directly shapes government policy and drives delivery of the government’s major projects worth hundreds of billions of pounds that will transform the country and improve the lives of British people.

NISTA’s mission is to bring together expertise, insight and partners from across the infrastructure and transformation landscape to support major projects from early policy ambition through to real-world outcomes. Key priorities include overseeing the government’s new 10-year infrastructure strategy; identifying and coordinating infrastructure needs, unblocking barriers to the delivery of government’s major projects; setting standards and improving the government’s project delivery capabilities; and leading expertise in project finance.

NISTA is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and engaged organisational culture, where all staff can thrive. We value diversity and actively encourage the development of our people, providing opportunities for professional growth and career progression.

The Strategy and System Change Director will support NISTA’s CEO and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to deliver the Government’s infrastructure reform agenda and play a critical role as NISTA goes through a period of transformation. They will have the opportunity to develop the new Strategy and System Change directorate so that it is the voice of authority on long-term infrastructure needs and strategy across government.

They will build trust and credibility with Ministers, as well as senior leaders across government and industry, and lead expert teams in line with NISTA’s ways of working—coherent, confident, committed and collaborative—creating an inclusive culture where people are supported to thrive and deliver at pace.

The Strategy and System Change Director will lead NISTA’s role in driving forward overall reform and improvement at a whole of system level for the UK’s infrastructure portfolio by:

• Providing visible, strategic leadership that champions NISTA, setting a clear direction for transformation and embedding a culture of openness, innovation, and accountability within their teams and throughout the organisation, working closely with fellow Directors and corporate teams across NISTA and HM Treasury to ensure a coherent, joined-up approach.
• Providing long-term vision and direction for UK Infrastructure by working with Ministers, departments and key stakeholders to implement and update the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy and deliver cross-cutting long term strategic projects, working closely with NISTA’s Delivery and Portfolio and Market and Sector Engagement teams to do so.
• Providing authoritative advice to Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and senior stakeholders including the PAC to influence departmental and government wide decisions on infrastructure and investment working across NISTA and wider Treasury to develop coherent views.
• Developing organisational data capability, including a hub for data scientists, to support pipeline quality, market intelligence and benchmarking, in collaboration with Delivery and Portfolio teams and the Market and Sector Engagement directorate.
• Developing NISTA’s spatial planning function to coordinate infrastructure needs, contribute to the development of sectoral/ local plans and inform spending decisions.
• Delivering the Social Infrastructure Roadmap and undertake social infrastructure needs assessment by partnering with departments and the Office of Government Property.

The postholder will be a member of NISTA’s Senior Leadership Team and HMT’s senior leaders’ group, contributing to corporate leadership and organisational transformation and will need to operate flexibly in a dynamic environment. The role will evolve over time in response to ministerial and organisational priorities and the postholder will be expected to adapt their focus and ways of working accordingly, taking on additional responsibilities across NISTA/HM Treasury as required.

Candidate Drop-In Session

We will be holding a drop-in session to give you the opportunity to learn more about the role and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join, please use the link below to access the call at the right time.

Join the drop-in session on Monday 30 March – 15:00 to 16:00

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion with Becky Wood, please email paul.webb@NISTA.gov.uk

To note, visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Person specification

While in post, the successful candidate will be expected to perform well across the full range of Senior Civil Service behaviours set out in the Success Profile framework and demonstrate commitment to Civil Service values.

The essential criteria for the purpose of selection are:

• Extensive experience of operating and influencing at C-Suite/ Ministerial/ Cabinet level in both the private and public sectors with track record of securing confidence of senior colleagues and stakeholders across a wide network.
• Experience of policy development, delivery and operational experience alongside strategic leadership in multiple government departments and/or local authorities at a senior level, with a proven ability to work with academia and use large and complex sets of data and evidence to draw broad and innovative strategic and policy insights and adapt strategy to changing contexts.
• Experience of building trusted, effective working relationships with Ministers, providing clear, impartial advice and supporting informed decision-making.
• Experience of leading and developing high performing, multi-disciplinary teams and providing direction and structure in an uncertain, fast paced and complex environment.
• Experience of building effective internal and external partnerships across organisational boundaries including with the private sector in a complex and large organisation to deliver through and with others to achieve the right outcomes.

The following experience is desirable:

• Experience and knowledge of social infrastructure strategy and/ or policy.

In their assessment of these experience requirements the panel will be looking for evidence of:

• Evidence of exceptional leadership skills including the ability to provide visible, strategic leadership that champions NISTA and fosters a positive, inclusive and engaged culture seen through excellent staff engagement, high retention rates and effective performance management.
• Ability to provide strong intellectual leadership by putting individual decisions in the context of wider government priorities, objectives and an understanding of external market forces.
• Resilience under pressure withthe ability to work effectively in a complex and fast-moving and uncertain environment and take people with you.
• Strong stakeholder and communication skills, able to work with, influence, persuade, collaborate, deliver difficult messages to Ministers and senior officials across HMT and with SROs and CPDOs across government and with the private sector.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, HM Treasury contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave package.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity

Flexible Working Arrangements

HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application Stage

Applications should consist of a CV (of no more than 2 sides) and a 1000-word personal statement demonstrating evidence of how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the person specification.

Applications will be reviewed by the panel to select those which demonstrate the best fit with the post against the essential criteria.

Leadership Assessment - Staff Engagement Exercise

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a staff engagement panel exercise. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Further details on this assessment will be provided to shortlisted candidates in due course.

Interview Stage

Candidates will be invited to an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of previous experience and professional competence.

The interview will include a presentation.

The criteria that will be assessed at interview are:

• Experience
• Behaviours: Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace

Recruitment Timeline

• Closing date: Monday 13 April
• Shortlisting: 20-21 April
• Leadership assessment: w/c 4 May
• Interviews: w/c 18 May

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Reserve Lists

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.

Eligibility Statement

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Security Check (SC)

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting. If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Paul Webb
• Email : Paul.Webb@nista.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Attachments

453120 - Director of Strategy and System Change - NISTA Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 146kB)