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- Tasks: Lead major decarbonisation projects in the UK's CCUS programme from feasibility to operation.
- Company: Join a pivotal role in a dynamic Major Decarbonisation Group.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for impactful work.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence key stakeholders and drive government goals.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in climate change initiatives while leading innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in major project delivery, commercial negotiation, and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This is a pivotal role within the Major Decarbonisation Group providing strategic leadership and delivery accountability for projects within the UK’s Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) programme. The role requires decisive leadership and demands experience in major project delivery and commercial negotiation. The role exists to lead major projects through lifecycle, beginning with feasibility and extending through to appraisal, delivery and operation. In practice, this means ensuring that each project has a clear scope, a robust business case, the right commercial and technical arrangements in place, and the governance and controls required to reach Final Investment Decision and their Commercial Operation Date.
The SRO provides the central leadership presence across the CCUS programme to ensure decisive progress at all stages. The postholder will have responsibility for the following clusters: East Coast Cluster (Teesside and Humber), Acorn and Viking. This is a delivery role, and the postholder must demonstrate experience in major project delivery and commercial negotiation.
The post-holder’s responsibilities are broad and critical: they set the strategic direction and expectations for the teams and ensure strong delivery capability. During periods of intense negotiation and delivery, the SRO will guide their team through challenges and maintain momentum. A central part of this role is dedicated to building skills, enhancing capability, and fostering resilience within the teams, as well as motivating and supporting staff who are often working in high-pressure delivery environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Programme Leadership & Delivery: Lead the delivery of CCUS projects to Commercial Operation Date (COD), ensuring alignment with portfolio priorities and strategic direction.
- Cluster Management: Direct the delivery and negotiation of CCUS projects managing sequencing, readiness, infrastructure dependencies and commercial model development.
- Business Case Assurance: Secure Final Investment Decision (FID) through robust business cases (SOBC, OBC, FBC), ensuring compliance with governance expectations and value for money assessments. Provide assurance for Portfolio Board, InvestCo, and Cabinet Office approvals.
- Risk & Controls Management: Oversee programme risks, controls, assurance, and delivery confidence across CCUS clusters, ensuring time, cost, and quality parameters are met. Escalate key decisions and risks to senior governance bodies.
- Resource & Capability Deployment: Direct multidisciplinary teams comprising commercial specialists, engineers, delivery professionals, and policy colleagues, deployed from hubs and functions. Align capability with delivery stage and foster resilience and skills development.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with cluster developers, industry partners, and cross-Whitehall colleagues. Represent MDPG at senior forums, influence major private sector partners and government departments, and secure agreement on delivery and commercial approaches.
- Reporting & Recommendations: Report to the DG, Portfolio Board, and Ministers, providing recommendations and escalating risks. Exercise delegated programme authority, including approval or rejection of project progress at key control points.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams, building an inclusive, high-performing culture, and supporting capability development across delivery hubs.
- Deep knowledge of major project delivery, ideally in infrastructure, energy, or regulated markets.
- Skilled in programme controls, assurance, and risk management, with familiarity with business case processes in large multi-stakeholder organisations.
- Strong competence in commercial negotiation and managing complex commercial structures.
- Ability to balance cost, investor confidence, value for money, and deliverability.
- Excellent judgement in assessing commercial viability, sequencing clusters, and managing risks in uncertain environments.
- Experience advising senior stakeholders such as ministers or board members and navigating novel scenarios where policy, market conditions, and technical solutions are evolving.
- Authority and credibility to influence major private sector developers, investors, government departments, and industry partners.
- Collaborative approach to securing alignment of objectives and driving forward wider government goals.
- Must have or be willing to work towards achieving an MPLA.
Major Decarbonisation Projects Group – CCUS Delivery Director employer: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Contact Detail:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Major Decarbonisation Projects Group – CCUS Delivery Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals, attend events, and join relevant online forums. The more people you know in the CCUS space, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and driving projects to success. They want to see that you can motivate and guide others under pressure.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready for those tricky questions! Prepare to discuss your experience with commercial negotiation and risk management. Employers will want to know how you've tackled challenges in past projects, so have some solid examples up your sleeve.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find roles that match your skills and aspirations. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of our team and contributing to major decarbonisation projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Major Decarbonisation Projects Group – CCUS Delivery Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the CCUS Delivery Director role. Highlight your experience in major project delivery and commercial negotiation, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Leadership Experience: This role is all about strategic leadership, so don’t hold back on sharing examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams in the past. We’re looking for evidence of building high-performing cultures and supporting capability development, so let us know how you’ve done this!
Demonstrate Your Commercial Savvy: Since commercial negotiation is a big part of this role, make sure to include specific instances where you've successfully navigated complex commercial structures. We want to see your ability to balance cost, investor confidence, and deliverability in your application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of the CCUS projects you’ll be leading. Understand their scopes, business cases, and any recent developments. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your approach to leading multidisciplinary teams. Share examples of how you've built high-performing cultures and supported capability development in previous roles. This is crucial for a position that demands strong leadership.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since commercial negotiation is key, come armed with examples of past negotiations you've successfully navigated. Highlight your strategies for balancing cost, investor confidence, and deliverability, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about your experience engaging with various stakeholders, including government departments and private sector partners. Discuss how you’ve influenced decisions and secured alignment on objectives, as this is vital for driving forward the CCUS programme.