Rail - Utility Land Rights Manager - Birmingham

There is a requirement for a Utility Land Rights Manager to come onto the HS2 project on a permanent-basis in Birmingham (or potentially London if that is easier).

Role Brief:

• The Utility Land Rights Manager is responsible for managing the processes established to ensure timely delivery of utility land rights required for the HS2 project. This scope covers non-contestable and contestable utility diversions for the entire HS2 line of route (both Phase 1 and Phase 2)
• A Utility Land Rights Manager is accountable for the transactions that are to be delivered under their direction. The incumbent will ensure appropriate adherence to all current governance policies and processes on behalf of land and property, and be accountable for striking the right balance between delivering value for money to the tax payer and ensuring fairness to the parties. The role will be given delegated authority in accordance with the financial delegations for HS2.
• The incumbent will need to work closely with the Senior Utility Land Rights Manager and colleagues within various teams across HS2, particularly within the Land and Property team to escalate issues that might need special attention and input from other teams.
• Our Land and Property team are responsible for acquiring and managing the land and property to enable timely construction of HS2 in a way that is sympathetic to those affected.
• In the case of utility diversions, either non-contestable or contestable assets, Land and Property are required to agree and obtain or approve suitable land rights for all utility companies. This involves reviewing, advising and managing the process to ensure rights are secured in a controlled and standardised manner, to enable consistency across HS2.
• Responsible for overseeing utility land right cases on the route that includes a highly diverse mix of land and property; spanning cities and large areas of rural land on behalf of the Senior Utility Land Rights Manager
• Ensure all consideration sums are negotiated to settlement within governance, industry guidelines and budget parameters so that land rights are complete at the right time for the project
• Provide relevant technical advice to the delivery function to inform decision making at the early stages of design and construction work

Skills & Experience Required:

Ability to manage communications and negotiations in a tactful way

• Stakeholder management
• Communicating effectively with teams to ensure smooth flow of information
• Skill in developing public facing communications
• Ability to access and maintain information from multiple IT databases and systems.
• A relevant qualification in Surveying or another property related discipline or relevant work-based experience working towards qualification
• An understanding of the compulsory purchase process or other government compensation schemes (training will be provided).
• A detailed understanding of the utility and telecommunications industries
• Experience of working in or with the utilities sector
• Experience of working with suppliers to develop effective working relationships and manage performance to ensure delivery through the supply chain.

For further Rail & Infrastructure updates, please connect with me on LinkedIn 'Rosie Wilkinson': https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-wilkinson/