LTC Highways Asset and Operations Advisor

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. Further detail on our future role is set out here.

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 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 Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) Highways Operations Advisor will provide expert advice and high‑quality insight into the performance of the private sector organisation responsible for the delivery and operation of the Lower Thames Crossing and Dartford Crossing, focusing on outcomes for road users.

You will lead the day-to-day monitoring of the operational performance of Dartford Crossing. This includes the organisational performance against legislative requirements, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Performance Indicators (PIs), across areas such as asset management, environmental impact and network delay. The role will be responsible for producing robust, regular performance reports for stakeholders, culminating in the annual performance assessment.

The post will play a critical role in shaping the design of the performance regime and associated monitoring requirements, ensuring the private sector organisation is held to account for delivering its statutory obligations and agreed commitments for operation and construction. You will also work closely with the existing Highways team, maintaining oversight of National Highways and assessing how performance and operational interactions between the two organisations are managed and optimised.

The position is within ORR’s Highways Team reporting to the Head of Engineering LTC but will be required to work across the organisation within a matrix management structure with our Economics, Finance and Market’s Team.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

For information on the selection process, please see the attached Candidate Information Pack and Job Description.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.