Operations Manager - Acquisitions

As a Head of Operations - Acquisitions at HS2 you will direct operations within the Acquisitions team across Phase 1 and 2 to include: managing the acquisition of strategic land and property; managing L&P petitions to Hybrid Bills (and Additional Provisions / Transport and Works Act Orders); and securing the land rights required for new and diverted utility apparatus.

About the role:

• You will be required to direct the implementation, refinement and improvement of the acquisition and systems necessary to acquire and/or possess the land required for the railway
• Manage the efficient delivery of possession of land and co-ordinate, where necessary, the escalation process for forcible possessions
• Establish and oversee a technical Learning and Development programme for all grades of staff within the Acquisition team to ensure continual improvement in capability and compliance with professional CPD requirements
• Establish and manage an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) programme for graduate grade staff to enable the team to qualify for RICS membership first time
• Support and plan the petition management process for land and property including managing the preparation and approval of deliverables (Petition Response Documents, Assurances and Undertakings, Option Sifting appraisals) for the Hybrid Bills (and Additional Provisions)
• Manage Strategic Suppliers to ensure suppliers' behaviours & activities are coordinated and outputs are delivered within agreed quality, cost and time targets
• Ensure the Acquisition Team are compliant with HS2 processes, policies and H&S procedures
• Manage the interface with the Land and Property planning and performance team
• Manage specific short-term business priority projects on behalf of the Head of Acquisition
• Identify and manage the strategic programme risks and issues.

About You:

• We are seeking experience of interacting and working with senior stakeholders (e.g. Chief Executives, MPs)
• Understanding of acquisition and land assembly processes
• Knowledge of the Compensation Code
• Working knowledge of government procedures and processes
• Supplier & Contract Management Skills Ability to lead sensitive negotiations in a tactful way
• Experience working in the property-related environment (preferably in land acquisition)
• Delivery experience in a similar environment (e.g. within judicial style process).

It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

About Us:

High Speed 2 (HS2) will be the UK's new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain's major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

HS2 Ltd is a safety critical organisation with safety being one of our core values. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to the HS2 'Safe at Heart' programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.