director project manager London, England
Job description
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About the job
Job summary
The IPA is the government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects. We sit at the heart of government, reporting to the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. Our core teams include experts in infrastructure, project delivery and project finance who work with government departments and industry. We support the successful delivery of all types of infrastructure and major projects, ranging from nuclear power stations, CCUS infrastructure, railways, schools, hospitals and housing, to defence, IT and major transformation programmes. We lead the project delivery and project finance professions across government.
Our purpose is to continuously improve the way infrastructure and major projects are delivered in order to support government priorities and improve people’s lives. We aspire to create the best performing project system of any country in the world.
The IPA works with government and industry to ensure projects are delivered efficiently and effectively, and to improve performance over time. We work on the overall project delivery system, which includes the projects, people and processes that together create the right environment for successful delivery. We measure how well the system is performing, so we can learn important lessons and continuously improve project performance over time.
The Cabinet Office is the centre of government. Creating a great place to work is one of the four pillars of our Civil Service vision. Being at the centre of government brings with it huge responsibility for setting the right tone across government and this starts with everyone understanding what we need to deliver, and how our behaviour and the way in which we work together, can have a significant impact on this. Our values are: Respect, Trust, Collaboration.
The Financial Advisory Team (Team) is a source of deep knowledge and expertise which is deployed through the matrix structure of the IPA. The Team supports the delivery of infrastructure and major projects by helping to unlock private sector investment and advise government on the availability and policy implications of private finance to the UK infrastructure market. The Team engages with investors to build a mutual understanding of financing requirements and investor appetite.
With extensive experience in one or more areas, Financial Advisors deploy their knowledge and expertise in line with government priorities. The focus of advice is on improving the performance of project delivery in both Infrastructure, Enterprise & Growth and Public & Security Services.
Job description
The Team contributes to the overall work of the IPA in four service areas:
- Expert financial and commercial advice to departments: directly deploying finance/commercial specialists alongside the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and project/programme teams to strengthen the intelligent client capability. Project SROs can access highly experienced finance and commercial specialists from project initiation to project close and beyond. Ministers can use specialists to intervene on specific issues identified as blocking delivery.
- Policy into delivery: providing Ministers with a commercial and delivery perspective on policy formulation. Policy officials can access financial and commercial advice to test and develop proposals that are deliverable by the market.
- Bespoke advice to HM Treasury: Providing HM Treasury spending teams with financial and commercial advice to support decision-making on policy and on the business cases for specific projects and programmes.
- Ensuring that advice to Ministers includes appropriate commercial considerations. Policy officials can also access commercial knowledge and experience to support HM Treasury approvals.
- External market engagement: communicating with industry, promoting mutual understanding between public and private sectors (including contractors and investors) in the context of government policy. Providing easy access to understand private sector market issues and feedback to government and market testing government initiatives (public/private sector brokerage).
The Financial Adviser (Project Director) will have the following responsibilities:
- Provide financial and commercial advice to HM Treasury officials and Ministers on financial and commercial issues in support of policy development and the delivery of finance and funding models for infrastructure projects.
- Work closely with colleagues across the IPA, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, departments, Local Authorities, and agencies developing and implementing projects and programmes, advising on financing and commercial issues.
- Provide financial and commercial advice in relation to the government’s priority projects and programmes; this will be across a range of sectors where the postholder’s expertise can add value.
- On projects, support on the structuring and negotiation, and on the due diligence process, including assessment of due diligence provided by technical, legal and other advisors.
- Actively lead external market engagement with investors, developers, banks and industry players.
- Manage and develop strong relationships with senior stakeholders in relevant departments, from Permanent Secretaries, policy sponsors, to SROs and Programme Directors to facilitate understanding and resolution of issues to expedite the effective delivery of projects.
- Operate within the IPA’s matrix management structure. This means that the postholder will work in collaboration with colleagues across the IPA when providing advice.
- Where required the postholder will be responsible for making appropriate contributions to the achievement of IPA’s wider objectives.
- Provide insight to broader IPA work within the sector of expertise including: Quarterly Packs; policy work for future Spending Reviews; implementation of programmes such as Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) and Government Construction Strategy (GCS); projects presented to the Major Project Portfolio Board; other IPA products such as the National Infrastructure Construction Pipeline (NICP).
- Undertake and/or contribute to assurance reviews, including in areas outside their specific areas of technical knowledge.
- Interface with the Deputy Director (DD) in the IPA responsible for the relevant department, and work with the DD to agree the extent and nature of the expert advice required, including the terms of reference for any commissions, timescales and key stakeholder interfaces. Behave in an open, constructive and collaborative manner in line with the IPA and wider Cabinet Office values and make a positive contribution to the operation, performance and reputation of the IPA and Cabinet Office.
Person specification
The post holder will be accountable to the Head of the Financial Advisory Team and to the CEO of the IPA for the advice they give. The relevant IPA DDs for the departments with which the postholder is working will feed into the postholder’s performance reviews as appropriate.
Experience:
- Substantial financial and commercial experience of leading on a wide range of financial, commercial and legal issues involved in the closure of complex infrastructure transactions.
- In a Net Zero/Climate Change context - energy transition & security projects are currently a key focus, and thus we are particularly looking for candidates with regulated asset base and renewables financing experience.
- An in depth understanding of financial markets, technical issues and credit criteria that apply in economic and/or social infrastructure.
- Direct market knowledge of the infrastructure sector generally with experience in dealing at board level with investors, contractors, legal and financial advisers in the delivery of complex projects.
- Understanding of the public sector and extensive experience working in or directly with central Government or other public sector bodies.
- Track record of deal origination and deal execution.
- Experience will have been gained in organisations such as consultancies/professional services firms, development companies, banks, investors or public sector organisations, and through direct experience of advising, negotiating, structuring, lending or principal roles on high profile, complex infrastructure projects and programmes in economic and/or social infrastructure involving public and private sector stakeholders, particularly in an energy sector context.
Skills and Behaviours:
- Demonstrate effective financial, advisory, credit and structuring skills, whether internal or external.
- Evidence of ability to gain credibility quickly, to understand and digest complex and detailed information in order to offer advice and expertise which is well received through strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and personal communication skills.
- Recognise the limits of knowledge, skills and experience.
- Be able to work within a matrix organisation where the allocation of work is based upon the government's priorities.
- Prioritisation of resource allocation is led by the DDs for the departments in collaboration with the Head of the Financial Advisory Team.
- Demonstrate high levels of confidence with a natural presence, strong leadership, maturity and gravitas that are likely to result in successfully influencing outcomes. This should include a strong track record in building good working relationships across diverse business areas and functions.
- Evidence of strong negotiation skills, likely to have been gained from leading the conclusion of large and complex transactions in a multi-stakeholder environment, including transactions between the public and private sectors. Able to demonstrate examples of facilitating agreement across stakeholders.
- Confident and effective personal communications skills both oral and written and with highly developed drafting and presentational skills.
- Ability to deliver presentations at conferences and deliver training to departments and overseas governments.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills and understanding of financial models.
Qualifications:
- Degree level academic qualification or equivalent is required. A professional qualification in the areas of finance, accountancy, law, engineering, property, project management or similar is desirable.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
If you are interested in the role please submit a C.V. (max 3 pages length) and a statement of suitability (max 1250 words) outlining how you match the requirements for the role outlined in this advert.
If you are successful through the sift, you will be advised of the interview format in advance, it may include a presentation on a relevant topic specified by the IPA.
Selection process
At interview you will be assessed on your experience.
Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 UK residency in the past 5. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: [email protected].
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: [email protected].
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
