Strategic Advisor

If you are looking for a unique opportunity, dealing with Britain’s largest infrastructure project, this may be the role for you.

Our HS2 and Strategic Partnerships team is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic individual to join the team as a Strategic Advisor for the HS2 Growth Programme. In this role, you will be responsible for driving strategic partnerships, fostering client relationships, and providing expert advice and guidance to optimise project delivery outcomes across the region, related to the HS2 Growth Programme. Your role will involve overseeing the entire lifecycle of strategic projects within the programme, from initiation to completion and you will be responsible for communicating project scopes, objectives, deliverables and collaborating with stakeholders to support the development of detailed project plans, timelines, and resource requirements.

This role requires an in-depth understanding of HS2 and the impacts it will bring to the region, strong political acumen, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to think strategically and foster long-term strategic relationships, whilst being able to provide strategic project/programme management support.

What you will be doing.

• Lead on strategic collaboration and advise key stakeholders to assess HS2 related project and programme opportunities.
• Lead in the facilitation of strategic programme decision-making.
• Lead on the resolution of key strategic projects/activities which if not delivered will impacts on the benefits delivered by HS2
• Represent the WMCA at monthly stakeholder briefings, providing advice and direction to peers at local authorities.
• Lead in presenting proposals to senior management, elected members and the public through a variety of media.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key strategic HS2 stakeholders.
• Identify, analyse and solve problems and barriers to delivery.

What’s essential.

• Proven appreciation of HS2 and what it will deliver to this region
• Proven experience in strategic project/programme management across multiple stakeholder organisations.
• Proven experience of having worked in a senior political position with direct engagement with the public & private sectors.
• Proven experience in undertaking strategic project and programme negotiations.
• A proven track record of managing successful strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• In-depth knowledge of tools used to develop strategic projects and programmes at both regional and national levels.
• Proven ability and experience of innovation and exploring new ways of working.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions to help solve complex problems.

How to apply.

On clicking ‘apply for this job’, you will be prompted to register for an account, which you can do using your name and email address. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV when registering. Uploading your CV will auto-populate the employment and education sections of your profile. Please note, we do not see your CV once you have submitted your application. Our shortlisting decisions are based on what you tell us in your profile - and so it is important to check the information is correct and format your profile so that it really stands out.

You will be asked to provide a supporting statement which should evidence (using examples) how your skills and experience match the essential criteria of the role that you are applying for. You will be asked to type your statement into the portal directly. If you have already prepared a supporting statement, then you can simply copy and paste this directly into the application form. For more information on how to apply, please visit the FAQ page on our career site.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Put the effort into your application - focus on ensuring it matches the criteria required for the job, and is tailored carefully to match your skills, experience, and motivation.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Recruitment Team. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

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We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK), 28 days paid annual leave (in addition to bank holidays and an option to purchase more leave!), ethical saving options and healthcare plans, paid volunteering days, interest free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology through your payroll, discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Hybrid working and location.

We believe hybrid working is the best way for our organisation to fulfil our commitment to a modern, agile workplace while continuing to provide a great service to our customers. Hybrid working means having flexibility between working in the office and at home on agreed days, where a role allows.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, with site visits included. It is expected that you can split your time between the office and working remotely, with at least 2 days a week spent in the office. Please note, this is the minimum expectation.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace that reflects the communities of the West Midlands region. We believe that building a team with varied backgrounds and experiences will benefit us as an employer and enhance our work.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying. If your values align with ours and you are dedicated to working towards a future that we can all be proud of, we would love to hear from you.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Thank you for considering joining our team at WMCA. We look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to work together towards our shared goals.