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Chair of the Board

Employer
Department for Transport
Location
South East England
Salary
£75k, 2 days per week
Closing date
19 Oct 2020

View more

Sector
Rail jobs
Function
Management
Contract Type
Contract
Hours
Part Time

East West Railway Company Ltd

Looking for a new and exhilarating challenge leading a visionary UK based infrastructure delivery organisation? Excited by the thought of positively challenging industry norms and inspiring a team to surpass customer expectations?  Then look no further than the opportunity to chair the Board of the East West Railway Company – a company at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering a multi-billion pound rail link with services connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and places in between.

The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was set up as a company in 2017, and constituted as an arms-length body of the Department for Transport in September 2018. It was created to drive forward the delivery of the East West Rail project – a new direct line, providing much-needed East West connectivity to unlock the economic potential of the Oxford Cambridge Arc – supporting new jobs and communities, as well as reducing journey times, congestion and travel costs for residents and commuters.

More than that, EWR Co has a vision to be a force for positive change – both for the industry in which it operates and the communities it serves.

East West Rail is a complex project, with multiple phases, sections and delivery partners, and complex interfaces with the existing transport network. The Secretary of State for Transport is EWR Co’s only shareholder. Importantly, the company also benefits greatly from the input and insights of the East West Rail Consortium – a longstanding group of local authorities and businesses with an interest in improving access to and from East Anglia and the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area.

The Secretary of State is now recruiting a permanent Chair. It is critical that candidates share the company’s high-level strategic commitments not only to the vision of the organisation, but to ensuring that the long-term economic benefits for the region are maximised.

Candidates will have extensive senior and board experience, as well as a record of exceptional achievement in their field. This must include experience of major infrastructure projects (though not necessarily transport related) and a good understanding of complex programme management.

Strong candidates will understand how to operate effectively in organisations which are highly scrutinised or regulated, and where transparent accountability for the expenditure of public monies is non-negotiable. You will also be adept at managing the interface between a highly experienced executive team and an expert board, in a way which optimises the contributions of each.

This appointment is being made in accordance with the Government’s Principles of Public Appointments and Governance Code, and the Department for Transport is being supported throughout the process by Cadence Partners. To request the candidate briefing (PDF document) or for an informal discussion, please contact their principal consultant, Shani Newbold at Cadence Partners on +44 20 7947 4960 or email ewrco@cadencepartners.co.uk

If you require the candidate materials in an alternative format, please request it in your initial contact.

Closing date: 19 October 2020.

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