This is your opportunity to help shape Old Oak and Park Royal, the only place where High Speed Two, the Elizabeth Line and Great Western will all connect into one of the largest and best-connected regeneration projects in the UK. Working closely with other public sector partners, the 90 acres of development land in Old Oak West brings tremendous opportunities to see a renewed and truly exemplary urban district emerge – one that showcases environmental, social, and economic innovation and best practice and which delivers genuinely inclusive growth for existing and future communities alike.

As Senior Infrastructure Project Officer in the Infrastructure team you deliver a range of engineering, sustainability, transport and infrastructure projects within the OPDC area, working with our external stakeholders, including our Boroughs, Network Rail, Canals and Rivers Trust, Statutory Utilities companies and our consultancy teams. This work will feed into the Delivery Directorate’s wider strategic workstreams including funding and financing strategies; developer procurement; strategy development; infrastructure investment; land and property acquisition; and the formulation and delivery of major development opportunities.

You will need to demonstrate a good technical knowledge in your area of experience in either engineering, transport, sustainability or infrastructure to be able to guide work planning and decision making within the organisation, and have experience of project managing projects including budget, programme, and stakeholders. Previous experience either working with a public sector client or in the public sector on a major regeneration project or programme is preferred but not essential. The role may cover a broad range of projects from highway improvement schemes and utilities planning to developing low carbon energy projects in Park Royal. A willingness to be adaptable and develop new skills is required.

You will report to the Principal Project Manager in the Infrastructure team.

Principal accountabilities

1. Support the Head of Infrastructure, Principal Project Manager and Principal Sustainability Manager to deliver infrastructure and sustainability projects in line with current best practice and GLA/OPDC policy to meet the Corporation’s stated objectives.
2. Assist in coordinating various project activities, milestones, and timelines to meet deadlines and keep the Development Programme on track.
3. Establish, build, and maintain relationships with stakeholders e.g., utilities companies, consultants, borough officers, and other key stakeholders to ensure good project progress, while identifying possible challenges and risks.
4. Manage and monitor external consultants, reviewing technical reports and drawings, sharing knowledge with other OPDC teams (design, development etc) and produce status reports to update on progress and address key issues.
5. Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including project plans, key correspondence and risks registers.
6. Organise and manage project files to facilitate easy access to information for team members and stakeholders.
7. Support and maintain a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, contributing to corporate vision and mission and the organisation’s overall delivery aims, acting as an ambassador for the OPDC.
8. Establish, develop and maintain good working relationships within and outside OPDC in order to ensure that the Mayor’s priorities are met and opportunities for integration and inter-disciplinary working are realised.
9. Assist in the establishment and maintenance of communications on technical and policy matters with international organisations, Government departments, the London Boroughs, and other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
10. Undertake duties commensurate with the grade and level of this post.

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

1. A relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification or ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skills gained through experience.
2. Experience of working with, or alongside, the public and private sector and a good understanding of the differences in their perspectives and values.
3. Experience of project and / or programme management and reporting.
4. Good understanding of one or more of the following: infrastructure, transport, engineering, sustainability, utilities or the ability to develop this knowledge quickly. 

Behavioural competencies

Building and Managing Relationships 

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Develops new professional relationships
• Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement
• Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action
• Fosters an environment where others feel respected
• Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals

Planning and Organising

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Responding to Pressure & Change

… is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure
• Anticipates and adapts flexibly to changing requirements
• Uses challenges as an opportunity to learn and improve
• Participates fully and encourages others to engage in change initiatives
• Manages team’s well-being, supporting them to cope with pressure and change

Problem Solving

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches toproblem solving

Communicating and influencing

…is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

The OPDC Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: OPDC/GLA competency framework.

This role is based at Brent Civic Centre (32 Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ)  

OPDC staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

Application Process & Additional Information

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role.

Please upload a Cover Letter with a maximum of 1500 words to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the following technical requirements and competencies in your Cover Letter. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Cover Letter are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345).

Applications submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

At OPDC we are dedicated to empowering team members through ongoing learning opportunities and professional development initiatives. Our commitment to learning and development means that we will provide you with the resources and support to expand your skills and grow your career.

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of OPDC’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.

Application closing date: Friday 10^th May 2024 at 23:59

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Philippa Illingworth at Philippa.illingworth@opdc.london.gov.uk  to arrange a call. 

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.