Head of Strategic Planning, Business Case and Benefits

Job Expired

459114 Head of Strategic Planning, Business Case and Benefits

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th May 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham, Leeds (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

💷 Salary: £69,501 – A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕘️ Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

🏆️ Available Positions: 1

We are looking for a strong enthusiastic leader; motivated, resilient and adaptable, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills and able to communicate complex ideas clearly to colleagues at all levels. You will need to be able to balance and prioritise your workload, shifting between activities to support wider team and Group priorities. You will be confident working independently and leading teams through uncertainty, to ensure the timely delivery of priorities and products, including the HS2 Business case.

Top Responsibilities

Leading strategic planning across MRPG to ensure delivery of programme benefits, including providing oversight and integration across the Reset programme, Phase 1 delivery, Euston, future infrastructure and NPR.
Leading work to maximise the benefits of HS2, including developing and delivering a collaborative cross-government engagement strategy, leading relationships with key departments including MHCLG, HMT and NISTA. Promote activities which will help drive delivery of benefits, making sure these are prioritised within the Department and HS2 Ltd.
Sponsoring benefits management within HS2 Ltd, producing an updated benefits strategy to align benefits with the HS2 reset, as well as ensuring processes are in place to track benefits data, and develop an approach to measuring the impact of the programme’s wider benefits, such as on economic growth. Being a champion for good benefits realisation across Major Rail Projects Group and sharing lessons across the department and wider Government.
Leading the planning, coordination and delivery of an update of the business case for HS2, following the 5 cases model. Manage the delivery of the finance, economic, management and commercial cases, working through others to ensure delivery of a high-quality product. Guide the business case through cross- government and internal approvals, ensuring accurate and assurance.
Leading the development and delivery of the strategic narrative and strategic case for HS2, making sure there is a compelling narrative for the scheme within the update to the business case. Working with stakeholders across DfT and Government to align with wider government priorities, such as the Plan for Change and Government Missions and identifying how cross Government policies can help support the aims and objectives of HS2.
Leading other ad hoc, cross-cutting strategic projects as required.
Be part of the Senior Leadership Team of Policy and Benefits Directorate, contributing to people leadership in areas such as performance and talent management.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
Access to the staff discount portal.
Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

We are looking for an individual with strong policy skills first and foremost. In addition to this, broader experiences covering business cases, project delivery and analysis would be helpful, as your initial priority will be to deliver an updated business case aligned to the outcome of the HS2 programme reset. This role will also require adaptability to shift focus to new strategic priorities as they emerge.

You will be proactive and resilient with strong policy and communication skills, enabling you to get up to speed quickly on the work across the HS2 programme, work collaboratively with teams across the group and Department and deliver high quality policy within a short space of time. You’ll be effective at working with and through others and will frequently work directly with the Directors-General, Directors and Deputy Directors across MRPG and Ministers.

You will have experience of leading the development and delivery of complex policy, in an often highly political and fast-paced environment.

You will also have proven experience of leading the development of written strategies or plans, working with analysts, policy and project delivery professionals.

How to Apply

👉 Read the full description and apply here: https://bit.ly/3Pbo7yq

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 17^th May 2026