Head of City Region Infrastructure Delivery
Job description
- Job grade: Grade 6
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: Public Transport and Local Group
- Type of role: Project Delivery, Sponsorship
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 3
Location
About the job
Job summary
Can you make sound judgements and provide clear strategic direction?
Have you successfully managed relationships with senior stakeholders who have differing priorities or perspectives?
Are you a confident and credible senior leader who can represent the organisation with influential external partners?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
DfT is a high-profile department at the heart of UK government. We work with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest to make journeys better.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc Project Delivery
Job description
As Head of City Region Infrastructure Delivery, you will provide strategic leadership and delivery assurance for major transport investment across England’s city regions. Working closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local authorities and senior government partners, you will oversee significant infrastructure programmes, provide constructive challenge and help maximise the benefits of public investment. This is an opportunity to shape DfT’s evolving approach to transport delivery within a fast-paced environment at the heart of the Government's commitment to deeper devolution.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
- Lead DfT's oversight and sponsorship of assigned city region infrastructure projects and programmes
- Build strong, trusting relationships and influence and negotiate effectively with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, delivery partners and colleagues across government
- Lead proportionate oversight of assigned projects, programmes and portfolios
- Develop the Directorate’s delivery capability, ensuring that delivery oversight and sponsorship approaches are complementary, proportionate and aligned
- Lead and develop a high-performing team, providing clear direction, managing performance and supporting colleagues’ development and wellbeing
We are recruiting to three posts to complete our delivery leadership community in the Regions and Cities, Partnership and Delivery Directorate. One of three roles will focus on sponsoring the West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme, working closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and partners as it progresses through business case development, approvals and delivery planning. We would expect the postholder of this role to be based in our Leeds office.
Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills set out in the Civil Service Line Management Standards.
Flexible resourcing
Colleagues are expected to work with a degree of flexibility, meaning responsibilities may change to support priority delivery. The Directorate’s operating model continues to evolve in response to the Government’s devolution agenda and ongoing organisation design work. Successful candidates will be expected to help shape the development of the Directorate’s future approach to delivery assurance and sponsorship. The precise distribution of responsibilities across the three roles will continue to evolve as the organisation design is finalised, and in light of the experience, strengths and interests of the successful candidates.
For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Experience of leading the oversight, sponsorship or assurance of complex infrastructure projects, programmes or portfolios, with the ability to identify and manage delivery risk, provide effective challenge, and support strong governance in complex delivery environments.
- Effective communicating and influencing skills, including experience engaging with Ministers and senior officials, focusing on delivery effectiveness and value for money, and confidence in dealing with competing pressures and demands, acting with sensitivity and tact to reach consensus where challenges emerge.
- Excellent collaboration skills, with a proven background in working across diverse interest groups and engaging constructively with a range of perspectives. You will need to be able to provide robust challenge at times, and to be able to influence senior colleagues in our partner organisations without direct authority.
- Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to make effective decisions in conditions of ambiguity and incomplete evidence, balancing risk, opportunity and value for money.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills, including experience of leading teams through ambiguity and maintaining motivation and momentum across a diverse range of priorities
Additional Information
The successful candidate must either hold or be willing to work towards the Government Project Delivery Accreditation once in role.
Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.
Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.
This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.
The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.
Regular travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.
If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).
Visa Sponsorship
Sponsorship is not offered for this role. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
- DfT prioritises investing in our project delivery professionals, because successful projects begin with skilled people. We offer funding for industry recognised qualifications e.g. APM PMQ, PRINCE2, and MSP, alongside leadership programmes. You will have access to targeted technical training, support for project delivery accreditation, and potential funding toward Chartered Project Professional (ChPP). From day one, mentoring, coaching, and the Government Online Skills Tool (GOST) are available to support your learning and development throughout your career in DfT.
Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
How to apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
The selection process for this role will be:
Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement
Stage 2: Interview
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.
Stage 1: Sift
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
- Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1250-word count). Please provide evidence of your experience of the following:
- Experience of leading the oversight, sponsorship or assurance of complex infrastructure projects, programmes or portfolios, with the ability to identify and manage delivery risk, provide effective challenge, and support strong governance in complex delivery environments.
- Effective communicating and influencing skills, including experience engaging with Ministers and senior officials, focusing on delivery effectiveness and value for money, and confidence in dealing with competing pressures and demands, acting with sensitivity and tact to reach consensus where challenges emerge.
- Excellent collaboration skills, with a proven background in working across diverse interest groups and engaging constructively with a range of perspectives. You will need to be able to provide robust challenge at times, and to be able to influence senior colleagues in our partner organisations without direct authority.
- Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to make effective decisions in conditions of ambiguity and incomplete evidence, balancing risk, opportunity and value for money.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills, including experience of leading teams through ambiguity and maintaining motivation and momentum across a diverse range of priorities.
The sift will take place week during 16/11/2026.
Stage 2: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
- Behaviours – (Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together)
- Strengths
You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.
The interviews will take place week commencing 07/12/2026.
This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).
Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change
Further information on the selection process
We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for.
Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).
If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.
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
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 are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Pre-employment Checking
If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.
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.
All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:
- Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
- Threats or acts of violence
- Illegal activity or substance misuse
- Sexually explicit material
- Extremist views or affiliations
Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle - it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.
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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Dan Lineham
- Email : dan.lineham@dft.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
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
Attachments
| 16613 488382 Role Profile template - G6 Head of City Region Infrastructure Delivery Opens in new window (docx, 93kB) |
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