Head of Engineering LTC in Manchester

We're looking for a Head of Engineering LTC to join our Planning and Performance directorate. This role can be based at any of our office locations: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Glasgow but the successful candidate will be expected to travel frequently throughout London and the South East of England.

At ORR we have adopted hybrid working and are currently expected to work from a workplace location for a minimum of two days per week or 40%.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways and monitor of performance on England’s strategic road network. ORR is responsible for regulating the performance and efficiency of National Highways to maintain, renew, operate and improve the motorways and main 'A' roads in England. We also advise government on the appropriate level of funding and performance requirements for the future.

This role includes assessing National Highways’ delivery of the outcomes and commitments set out in the Road Investment Strategy, and providing independent, evidence‑based advice to government on performance, efficiency and value for money.

This is an exciting time to join ORR, we are delivering a significant transformation programme to create a consistently agile and enabling organisation, with the right capability and a strong, inclusive culture that reflects our talented people. This will ensure we continue to operate as an independent, expert regulator, fit for the future contributing to the government’s broader agenda on regulatory reform and economic growth.

We oversee how National Highways manages and upgrades England's motorways and major A-roads, ensuring it delivers better outcomes for road users through its asset management and capital investment projects. The strategic road network (SRN) in England (the motorways and A roads) are critical connectors of growth, commerce and leisure. The SRN is managed, operated and enhanced by National Highways, a government-owned company. ORR’s Highways Team ensures that the company efficiently delivers better, smoother and safer roads on behalf of road users, taxpayers and communities.

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is a new crossing of the Thames east of London and will alleviate pressure on the Dartford Crossing. The circa £10.6 billion project will be privately funded, built and run by a new company called LTC Co. It will also include the transfer of the existing Dartford Crossing to the private organisation. Charges for both will be set through a Regulated Asset Base (‘RAB’) model. We expect to take on a new and significant regulatory role for the Lower Thames Crossing and are looking to expand our Highways Team to accommodate this new role.

The Head of Engineering, Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) will be responsible for ORR’s role in monitoring the construction of the new Lower Thames Crossing, as well as the operation, maintenance and renewal of the road upon completion. The role will also provide support to monitoring the operation, maintenance and renewal of the existing Dartford Crossings and interface with the wider road network.

The role will play a critical part in influencing the design of the economic and performance regime and in holding the private sector organisation to account for delivering its obligations and commitments as set out in legislation. The position is within ORR’s Highways Team but will be required to work across the organisation within a matrix management structure with our Economics, Finance and Market’s Directorate.