Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification) and looking for an exciting and high-profile senior role?
Transport Scotland is looking for a highly experienced individual, with an exemplar track record of delivering high value/high risk infrastructure works and leading multi-disciplinary teams, to lead on the delivery of the A9 Dualling.
The A9 Dualling delivery team, which sits in the Major Projects Directorate within Transport Scotland, are looking for a Head of A9 Dualling to lead them on the delivery of the dualling programme by 2035, in line with the Scottish Government’s published programme. You will be responsible for leading and managing a team of around 20 which will vary commensurate with the delivery programme and includes engineers, advisors, governance and communications staff.
The Major Projects Directorate is responsible for the design, assessment, promotion, procurement and construction of major transport infrastructure projects. These include the current Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme (including the A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness, A83 Rest and Be Thankful and A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass)). We also have new projects emerging from the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). The Directorate also leads and advises on procurement and contract management matters for Transport Scotland.
Whilst the post is for a role within the A9 Dualling team, flexibility may be required to work across the Directorate as priorities and projects dictate.
Transport Professional Pay Supplement
This post attracts a £1,500 pay supplement (pro rata). Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review.
Responsibilities
• Lead on the efficient procurement of works, services and supplies contracts with overall responsibility for overseeing the various stages of the procurement process from the development of the procurement strategy (including consideration of the use of innovative infrastructure investment approaches to delivery, including private finance) to contract award, alongside contract implementation and management in line with Scottish Public Procurement Legislation.
• Develop the programme management, commercial and contractual capability and capacity within your team to deliver the dualling programme. Actively seek ways of delivering efficiencies and to develop your team, embedding a culture of innovation, and learning and development. Be open to adopting new practices in light of feedback learned from post contractual evaluations.
• Ensure the effective monitoring of the conduct of contracts and that contract control procedures are maintained and developed.
• Lead your staff and technical advisors to ensure that they effectively administer, monitor, report and advise on the procurement and construction elements of the programme, ensuring that robust governance procedures are in place. This will also include preparation of Business Cases, participation in Gateway Reviews or equivalent and progressing projects through Transport Scotland’s internal approvals process. You will oversee monthly project progress meetings, quarterly progress reviews as well as attending Directors’ meetings and ad-hoc meetings.
• Lead on the communications aspects of the programme, responding to the consequences of critical or major issues and ensuring that appropriate action is taken as soon as possible, briefing Directors, Ministers and, if deemed appropriate, the media, at the earliest opportunity.
• Be the ‘public face’ of the dualling programme, particularly from a communications and relationship management perspective. Engage pro-actively with those affected by Major Projects, including elected representatives, community councils, local communities and business groups across Scotland, as well as representing TS in media bids including radio and TV.
• Promote a positive attitude across the project teams including technical advisors and works contractors, taking ownership of any problems across the programme and preventing them from becoming issues. The role works across boundaries with internal and external stakeholders to deliver joined up approaches and efficient contract management.
• Lead on the financial management of the dualling programme to ensure capital spend is delivered to allocated budgets and represents best value.
• Lead on the resolution of commercial and contractual issues arising on projects, including undertaking robust commercial analysis, consideration of respective parties contractual positions, preparing briefings for Directors and Ministers on commercial issues, engaging constructively with contractual counterparts to resolve commercial issues amicably where possible, and engaging with legal advisors as necessary in the preparation and running of formal dispute resolution procedures.