At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Value for Money strategy for a groundbreaking energy project.
- Company: Join the Civil Works Alliance, shaping the UK's energy future.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace that values creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable energy while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and significant experience in infrastructure or regulated sectors.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Help Shape the UK’s Energy Future
Value for Money Director Opportunity with the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), Supporting Sizewell C
As part of the CWA (Civil Works Alliance), you will support the building of Sizewell C.
Sizewell C will be a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes and will play a key role in our energy future, supplying reliable, clean electricity for at least 60 years.
This role will be within the CWA Wide Section.
What will you do?
Value for Money Director
The CWA is seeking an experienced Value for Money Lead/Director to join as an embedded specialist within the Civil Works Alliance.
This is a central control role designed to institutionalise the Alliance's core proposition for Target Outturn Cost (TOC) development, risk and opportunity ownership, Project Alliance Agreement (PAA) obligation delivery, and RAB-compliant Value for Money (Vf M) evidence.
The successful candidate will ensure the CWA protects the Sizewell C Integrated Works Schedule baseline cost and programme performance through a disciplined, auditable and continuously improving operating system.
What You Will Do
- Embed and institutionalise the CWA core proposition, ensuring TOC development and gate-by-gate progress of risk ownership, PAA obligation delivery and RAB-compliant Vf M evidence are readily available and demonstrable.
- Own the system, process, method, evidence standard and continuous improvement framework within the CWA for PAA, RAB, Vf M, risk and opportunity integration.
- Establish a disciplined and auditable process that enables consistent challenge, evidence sufficiency and delivery accountability.
- Drive continual improvement in the maturity, traceability and defensibility of TOC development and approval processes.
- Challenge TOC assumptions and require evidence, maturity, named ownership and traceability for material assumptions.
- Ensure that no material risk enters the TOC unless it is traceable to cost, schedule, owner, treatment and supporting evidence.
- Escalate weak Vf M positions and evidence gaps that threaten NTS/NTP acceptance or RAB defensibility.
- Recommend that gate progression is held where evidence is insufficient, double-counted, weakly owned or not delivery-ready.
- Ensure that residual risk is formally accepted by Delivery Directors at each relevant gate.
- Work closely with the CWA Alliance Director, TOC Director, Bid Director, TOC Team and Delivery Directors to ensure clear accountability.
- Support Delivery Directors in taking ownership of delivery assumptions, risk acceptance, logistics readiness and workface readiness.
- Promote the integrated ownership of planning, logistics and industrialisation across CWP, SD and CWA.
- Ensure that value is protected after NTP through leakage identification, reporting and action tracking.
- Implement post-NTP controls to monitor Vf M leakage, risk crystallisation, opportunity realisation and TOC drift.
- Establish learning loops, root cause analysis and improvement actions to enhance subsequent TOC development and delivery performance.
- Define and maintain evidence standards required to pass LOD-0, LOD-1, LOD-2 and LOD-3 scrutiny.
- Support delivery teams in evidencing workface readiness, methodology, constraints, logistics demand, risk treatment and PAA/RAB/Vf M compliance.
- Support the progressive assurance model by strengthening the quality of CWA self-evidence at LOD-0
What are we looking for?
Degree qualification in a relevant discipline such as Engineering, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Risk Management, Economics or Programme Management
- Significant experience in nuclear, major infrastructure, regulated utilities, transport or other highly regulated sectors.
- Significant experience in major commercial programme, risk, assurance, delivery or TOC leadership roles gained across alliance networks, regulated infrastructure operators, major capital programmes or specialist commercial/risk consultancies.
- Senior delivery leadership experience in high-value, high-complexity infrastructure programmes with proven influencing skills, including the ability to challenge senior leaders and Delivery Directors constructively with evidence.
- Proven track record of implementing or strengthening governance, evidence and assurance disciplines across live delivery packages.
- Experience in risk and opportunity quantification and in establishing traceability between risks, assumptions and programme outcomes.
- Strong understanding of TOC development, target cost processes, PAA compliance, RAB principles and Value for Money requirements and ability to integrate cost, schedule, risk, opportunity and commercial evidence into a single decision-making framework.
- Ability to establish and operate auditable, evidence-led governance and assurance processes in complex programme environments.
- Strong analytical capability in relation to delivery readiness, evidence sufficiency, post-NTP value protection and performance assurance.
- Demonstrated capability in risk and opportunity integration, including traceability to cost, schedule, ownership and treatment.
- Strong ability to challenge assumptions, detect weak evidence, identify double counting and escalate material concerns appropriately.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and reporting skills with strong commercial judgement and committed to Best-for-Project outcomes and ability to translate compliance and governance requirements into practical embedded delivery controls.
- Experience in alliance contracting, target outturn cost (TOC) environments or comparable collaborative delivery models (desirable).
- Working experience in regulated infrastructure environments with RAB, economic regulation or consumer-defensibility considerations (desirable).
- Familiarity with LOD-based assurance and progressive evidence models (desirable).
- Experience supporting NTS/NTP or equivalent gate approval processes (desirable).
- Experience of post-approval delivery control, leakage tracking and value protection frameworks (desirable)
What we will offer you?
The CWA is a single delivery organisation made of up of the client (Sizewell C) and three parent companies - Balfour Beatty, Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke - which offer industry leading packages including market leading salaries, generous annual leave entitlements, pension scheme and other flexible benefits.
About Us
The CWA celebrates the creativity and innovation that comes from a diverse workforce, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds — especially those from under‑represented communities.
Our project is built on five core values: Humility, Positivity, Respect, Solidarity, and Clarity.
By joining us, you’ll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work, speak up, and share your ideas.
We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
We are committed to protecting your privacy. If you decide to apply, please avoid including sensitive personal data in your CV
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Value for Money Director
✨Get Involved with Industry Events
The energy and utilities sector is always buzzing with events, trade shows, and networking opportunities. We should hit up conferences and exhibitions like Energy UK or Utility Week Live—these are prime spots to mingle with industry professionals and even snag some insider info on job openings!
✨Join Energy-focused Online Communities
Let's tap into online platforms and forums like LinkedIn groups or Reddit communities specifically for energy and utilities. Not only can we showcase our knowledge, but we can also stay updated on company announcements or job leads from people already in the know.
✨Consider Industry Certifications
Pushing ahead with certifications like the NEBOSH National Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (if you’re into safety) can give us a leg up in this competitive field. It not only builds our credibility but also shows employers that we’re serious about our career in energy and utilities.
✨Apply ThroughCWA's Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through CWA's website for the full-time Value for Money Director role. Many companies prioritise candidates who show initiative by going straight to the source. Make sure we tailor our application to highlight our passion for the energy sector!
We think you need these skills to ace Value for Money Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Energy Knowledge:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure you highlight any knowledge or experience related to the energy-utilities sector. Whether it’s coursework, internships, or projects that showcase your understanding of energy management, sustainability, or regulatory frameworks, we want to see that passion and expertise shine through.
Quantify Your Achievements:In our field, numbers speak volumes! Don’t just tell us about your previous roles; quantify your achievements where possible. For instance, mention how you improved energy efficiency by a percentage or contributed to cost savings. This makes your application more compelling and shows us just how impactful you can be.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at CWA. Tailor it to reflect how your values align with our mission in the energy sector. Share why you're excited about this specific role and how you envision contributing to our goals.
Demonstrate Your Team Spirit:Collaboration is key in the energy-utilities industry. In your application, emphasise any team projects or experiences where you worked effectively with others, especially on sustainability initiatives or technical projects. We're looking for someone who can mesh well with our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at CWA
✨Show Your Passion for Renewable Energy
In the energy-utilities sector, it’s vital to demonstrate your enthusiasm for sustainable practices and innovations. Share experiences where you've worked on or studied renewable energy projects, whether that’s through coursework, past internships, or personal initiatives. Let us see how your passion aligns with the ethos of CWA.
✨Brush Up on Industry Regulations
Being familiar with industry standards and regulations is crucial in energy-utilities interviews. Make sure to know the basics of relevant policies and frameworks, like the Energy Act or environmental legislation. This will not only show you’ve done your homework but will also prepare you for potential technical questions about compliance during your interview.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Project Management Skills
Most roles in the energy sector involve collaboration with diverse teams. Be ready to discuss examples where you’ve successfully worked in teams or led projects, especially those involving energy initiatives. This is particularly important for a full-time position, as employers want to see you bring a collaborative spirit to CWA.
✨Prepare for Technical Assessments
Expect some technical questions or even practical assessments during your interview, especially about energy efficiency methodologies or basic engineering principles relevant to the role. It’s a good idea to brush up on key concepts and be prepared to explain them clearly, as this will demonstrate your technical proficiency and readiness to jump into your new role.
