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Job summary

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways and monitor of performance on England’s strategic road network. ORR is responsible for regulating the performance and efficiency of National Highways to maintain, renew, operate and improve the motorways and main 'A' roads in England. We also advise government on the appropriate level of funding and performance requirements for the future. This role includes assessing National Highways’ delivery of the outcomes and commitments set out in the Road Investment Strategy, and providing independent, evidence‑based advice to government on performance, efficiency and value for money.

This is an exciting time to join ORR, we are delivering a significant transformation programme to create a consistently agile and enabling organisation, with the right capability and a strong, inclusive culture that reflects our talented people. This will ensure we continue to operate as an independent, expert regulator, fit for the future contributing to the government’s broader agenda on regulatory reform and economic growth. Further detail on our future role is set outhere.

Job description

We oversee how National Highways manages and upgrades England's motorways and major A-roads, ensuring it delivers better outcomes for road users through its asset management and capital investment projects. The strategic road network (SRN) in England (the motorways and A roads) are critical connectors of growth, commerce and leisure. The SRN is managed, operated and enhanced by National Highways, a government-owned company. ORR’s Highways Team ensures that the company efficiently delivers better, smoother and safer roads on behalf of road users, taxpayers and communities.

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is a new crossing of the Thames east of London and will alleviate pressure on the Dartford Crossing. The circa £10.6 billion project will be privately funded, built and run by a new company called LTC Co. It will also include the transfer of the existing Dartford Crossing to the private organisation. Charges for both will be set through a Regulated Asset Base (‘RAB’) model. We expect to take on a new and significant regulatory role for the Lower Thames Crossing and are looking to expand our Highways Team to accommodate this new role.

The Head of Engineering, Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) will be responsible for ORR’s role in monitoring the construction of the new Lower Thames Crossing, as well as the operation, maintenance and renewal of the road upon completion. The role will also provide support to monitoring the operation, maintenance and renewal of the existing Dartford Crossings and interface with the wider road network.

The role will play a critical part in influencing the design of the economic and performance regime and in holding the private sector organisation to account for delivering its obligations and commitments as set out in legislation. The position is within ORR’s Highways Team but will be required to work across the organisation within a matrix management structure with our Economics, Finance and Market’s Directorate.

The successful candidate will be expected to travel frequently throughout London and the South East of England.

Person specification

For key responsibilities please see the attached job description.

Additional Information

At ORR, our hybrid working means that we currently work from our workplace location a minimum of 40% of our working week, although requirements to attend other offsite locations for official business, also count towards this level of attendance. Working arrangements are subject to continuous review.

Qualifications

Good understanding of UK design standards for roads and asset management best practice.

Memberships

Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers or equivalent

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Provide independent engineering assurance, regulatory oversight, review technical submissions, assess compliance with legislation and standards, evaluate risk and performance, form robust judgments to hold delivery organisations to account.
• Good understanding of UK design standards for roads and asset management best practice.

Benefits

A Civil Service Pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Details of our employee benefits can be found in the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Find out what our colleagues have to say about their ORR careers Our people Office of Rail and Road (orr.gov.uk).

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, Experience and Technical skills.For information on the selection process, please see the attached Candidate Information Pack and Job Description.

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.

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.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 : Rachel Gittens
• Email : Rachel.gittens@orr.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : peopleservices@orr.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact ORR via email: peopleservices@orr.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitme…

Attachments

Job Description Head of Engineering LTC Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)ORR Job Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1954kB)