Project Engineer, Strategic Road Network (Revised Advert)

at  Welsh Assembly Government Communication Centre Home

ID 1711
The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

VACANCY DETAILS

Vacancy title
Project Engineer, Strategic Road Network (Revised Advert)
Closing date
25/11/2024, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
A starting salary between £43,785 and £51,839 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience, and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable. The pay scale of this role has a salary band between £43,785 and £51,839 in 4 annual increments. Pay progression is based on annual incremental advance to the next point on the scale (awarded subject to satisfactory performance) until the employee reaches the target rate.
Salary range or pay band
SEO £43,785 to £51,839
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Economy, Energy and Transport
Directorate
Transport and Digital Connectivity
Branch
Infrastructure Delivery
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is one of the largest single assets on the Welsh Government balance sheet, with a depreciated replacement cost of around £18bn. Whilst only around 5% of the total road length in Wales, covering 75 miles of motorway and 1000 miles of trunk road, the network carries a third of all traffic and supports the delivery of many of the Welsh Government’s strategic objectives. It is vital to the economy, connecting people and communities. It enables access to vital services and has an important role to play in sustaining and enhancing our environmental assets and supporting active travel and modal shift.
You will be joining a team of dedicated professionals to help ensure the integrity and sustainability of the trunk road network in line with current Welsh Government policies.
Our programme of projects across Wales include some that address the country’s most critical challenges; from complex infrastructure projects, increasing multi modal transport needs, to addressing the climate change emergency. This work includes developing and delivering a programme of capital projects valued at between £130m to £185m annually. Your work will help contribute to supporting and maintaining this vital asset and delivering a lasting impact on Wales and the local communities.
You will be responsible for the delivery of a programme of major transport projects on the SRN. You will be required to provide leadership and direction to your team of consultants, contractors, and trunk road agents, to deliver projects to programme and in a cost effective and efficient manner.
The work will require analytical skills including programme, commercial and risk management as well as budget forecasting and financial governance. You’ll also need to have an understanding on the NEC form of contracts and public procurement regulations.
You’ll have the ability to manage competing priorities and build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders to successfully deliver major transport projects. Many aspects of the role will require decisions based on sound judgement, evidence and analysis. The post holder will also need to have the ability to identify key issues that need further consideration, develop and appraise different options for addressing those issues, seeking advice where appropriate.
The post entails engagement with Ministers, Members of the Senedd, Councillors, Senior Transport Management Team, the supply chain and a diverse range of stakeholders. You’ll also support the Project Director on the day-to-day maintenance, safety and operation of the SRN across Wales discharging Welsh Minister’s statutory duties for this function.
Key tasks

GRADE DESCRIPTION

What the organisation will expect

• You will be responsible for managing defined areas of work using your specialist knowledge or experience to exercise sound judgement when interpreting complex or conflicting information weighing up all evidence to produce innovative solutions to problems.
• You will be adaptable, flexible, open to, and accepting of change affecting you and your area of work and deal with that change efficiently and professionally.
• You will show political awareness and an understanding of the political landscape when considering the impact of your decision and work on the wider business area and when formulating proposals for Senior Managers and Ministers.

What your team will expect

• You may be required to manage a team setting clear direction on achieving their objectives. You will support team members in their work such as complex areas of work; work allocation and prioritisation; performance management; training and development; mentoring and coaching.
• You will value diversity and inclusion, creating an environment where individuals feel safe to challenge, share ideas and express concerns adopting an inclusive leadership style.
• You will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining systems or processes ensuring excellence or value for money.

What key stakeholders will expect

• You will take the lead in creating, building and maintaining constructive relationships at all levels.
• You will be able to tailor and adapt your communication style (written and oral) to advise, guide, influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure that the interests of the Welsh Government as Highway Authority for trunk roads and motorways of Wales are safeguarded.
• To manage large multi-disciplinary teams of Consulting Engineers, Agent Authorities and Contractors employed by the Welsh Government to develop and deliver transport infrastructure projects.
• To ensure projects are delivered in line with Welsh Government policies including Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy and commitments towards Net Zero with focus on delivering modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport, reducing carbon, providing a net benefit for biodiversity.
• To manage large budgets for a portfolio of major transport projects and ensure actual and forecast expenditure is accurate and reported monthly. To review, scrutinise and authorise applications for payment from consultants and contractors.
• Implement appropriate financial procedures and contractual governance throughout all project development, construction, and maintenance period.
• Ensure that all risks have been identified, assessed and management strategies proposed and implemented.
• To seek professional advice as and when required to resolve technical or contractual issues or disputes.
• To provide professional advice as required to Ministers, Assembly Members, Senior Management, and other divisions on matters related to projects.
• To represent the Welsh Government at Public Consultation Exercises, draft Statutory Orders Exhibitions, Public Local Inquiries, other meetings with the public or organisations and on Technical Project boards, developing UK standards in conjunction with UK and other devolved administrations.
• To ensure project proposals are designed to appropriate standards considering any environmental constraints and value engineering principles whilst constructively using experience to challenge them at various stages of development.
• Transport project development will include preliminary investigations, public consultations, statutory procedures, procurement, construction, maintenance, and evaluation of completed projects.

Development opportunities
Experience of working in a dynamic environment pan Wales. Opportunity for dealing and engaging with Ministers, Senior Civil Servants, Local Authorities, Supply Chain and other external stakeholders across the UK e.g. National Highways, Department for Transport and other Westminster departments.
The post also offers the opportunity to be involved and influence the improvement and operation of the Strategic Road Network
You will work on a regular basis with the senior team both within the Strategic Road Network Division and the wider Department of Transport and Digital Connectivity. The post also offers opportunities to engage closely with the senior representatives of the supply chain to effectively procure and deliver a programme of capital works.
Other vacancy related information
Applicants must be a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer, or hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology and commit to achieving Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status in the next two years.
There will be a requirement to travel all over Wales to undertake site meetings. Given the locations of sites it will not be possible to necessarily reach them by public transport so the ability to drive is required and overnight stays may be required on occasions.
At sift stage, you will only be assessed on the technical and experience criteria.
At interview, you will be tested on the Behaviours, Experience and Technical criteria listed.
This advert is for a maximum of 2 posts. A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
In the case of more than one candidate scoring the same, the panel has agreed the following criteria will determine merit order:
Experience criteria, technical criteria, making effective decisions, delivering at pace, managing a quality service and leadership
A webinar will take place on 19/11/2024 11:00 – 11:45 providing information about the role and the opportunity to ask questions. There will also be an explanation given about the application process and what to expect.
Webinars will be held in English and in Welsh. Candidates are to confirm if they wish to attend a webinar by emailing EST-NMDMailbox@gov.wales by 15/11/2024 and stating their preferred language.
For detailed information about Employee Benefits and Schemes within Welsh Government, please visit:
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2024-06/welsh-government-jobs-employee-benefits-pack.pdf
Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
2
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Peris Jones EST-NMDMailbox@gov.wales

• To ensure that the interests of the Welsh Government as Highway Authority for trunk roads and motorways of Wales are safeguarded.
• To manage large multi-disciplinary teams of Consulting Engineers, Agent Authorities and Contractors employed by the Welsh Government to develop and deliver transport infrastructure projects.
• To ensure projects are delivered in line with Welsh Government policies including Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy and commitments towards Net Zero with focus on delivering modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport, reducing carbon, providing a net benefit for biodiversity.
• To manage large budgets for a portfolio of major transport projects and ensure actual and forecast expenditure is accurate and reported monthly. To review, scrutinise and authorise applications for payment from consultants and contractors.
• Implement appropriate financial procedures and contractual governance throughout all project development, construction, and maintenance period.
• Ensure that all risks have been identified, assessed and management strategies proposed and implemented.
• To seek professional advice as and when required to resolve technical or contractual issues or disputes.
• To provide professional advice as required to Ministers, Assembly Members, Senior Management, and other divisions on matters related to projects.
• To represent the Welsh Government at Public Consultation Exercises, draft Statutory Orders Exhibitions, Public Local Inquiries, other meetings with the public or organisations and on Technical Project boards, developing UK standards in conjunction with UK and other devolved administrations.
• To ensure project proposals are designed to appropriate standards considering any environmental constraints and value engineering principles whilst constructively using experience to challenge them at various stages of development.
• Transport project development will include preliminary investigations, public consultations, statutory procedures, procurement, construction, maintenance, and evaluation of completed projects