Director, HS2 Delivery (Major Rail Projects Group)

Department for Transport

Birmingham, London or Leeds

  • Location Birmingham, London or Leeds
  • Sector Central Government
  • Client Department for Transport
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration Circa £125,000 (SCS Pay Band 2)
  • Reference GSe119422
  • Closing Date 23:55 on Friday 4th July 2025

At the Department for Transport (DfT) we’re working to improve every kind of journey.  We’re harnessing new technology to create safer, more sustainable transport and, by creating better connections between people and places, we’re enabling greater growth opportunities for communities UK-wide. 

Our Major Rail Projects Group is responsible for the development and delivery of benefits from long term investment in strategic rail infrastructure. That encompasses HS2 between Birmingham and London, the Euston Project, and Northern Powerhouse Rail linking our northern cities. Once delivered these will join up our biggest cities fostering connectivity and faster growth.

The role:

The Director of HS2 Delivery is responsible for sponsoring HS2 Ltd in the construction, systems integration, testing and handover of HS2 between Euston and the West Midlands.

Leading a talented team of 30 you will:

  • work with HS2 Ltd to reset of HS2 by developing and agreeing revised cost and schedule ranges;
  • sponsor completion of the remaining civil works between London and Birmingham by HS2 Ltd and its suppliers including the stations at Curzon Street, Old Oak Common and Solihull Interchange;
  • sponsor mobilisation and delivery of the set of heavy and light systems contracts and rolling stock;
  • foster early commercial and residential development around our stations working with local government partners and investors.

You will need to work closely with HS2 Ltd to provide both support and independent, constructive challenge and will also need to engage effectively across government to secure approval for the reset schedule and cost ranges and an updated business case.  

About you:

We are open to a range of backgrounds for this role but the successful candidate will need to bring proven experience of sponsoring – as distinct from direct delivery - very large-scale projects including securing and sustaining support; defining scope; obtaining funding, setting delivery targets on cost and schedule; and monitoring, challenging and supporting delivery. This need not be in a rail or public sector context.

You will need to be commercially savvy, able to drive results from third parties, with the personal impact, credibility, and sensitivity to deliver results across organisational boundaries using soft power, influencing and contractual obligations where necessary, whilst always keeping the need for delivery to be collective endeavour front of mind.

The scrutiny and challenges attached to this programme means we also need an excellent leader of people who can inspire, develop and motivate their own team, whilst also contributing to a wider senior leadership team, providing support and challenge to colleagues in a complex operating environment.

DfT is fast paced, innovative and unique in the breadth of work we lead, making DfT a truly exciting and rewarding place to work and progress your career. Our work has a direct impact on communities, connects people and places and contributes to driving prosperity.

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Documents

  1. CIP Director HS2 Delivery FINAL 2 (1).pdf

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