A little bit about us:
East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.
EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.
Role Summary:
This is a key role within the Land & Property Team at EWR Co, reporting to the Head of Land and Property, to ensure the successful delivery of the DCO and to secure all the land required for the EWR project. This role will be accountable for securing investment authority for land acquisitions, effective management of the property cost estimate for the project, co-ordinating and integrating delivery of land acquisition between area teams, and actively managing compensation, governance, risk, suppliers, and programme integration on behalf of EWR as an intelligent client.
The role will be responsible for leading a cohesive team of Land and Property Managers who lead and manage the acquisition, transfer, management, and, where required, disposal of land and property within their area, and requires strategic oversight and assurance of external land and property suppliers, including reviewing negotiation strategies, compensation forecasts, risk assessments, data quality, performance, and consistency of approach across the programme.
On this basis it will be necessary to chair structured claim and compensation review meetings with external advisors to monitor performance, review emerging risks, and ensure alignment with programme objectives and governance requirements. It will also be important to ensure close liaison with other EWR teams and oversight of external relations with landowners, their representatives, and statutory bodies, involving strategic oversight, coordination, and integration assurance to achieve project milestones and objectives.
Function:
The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function is accountable for defining what EWR Co is and the impact it will deliver, securing the approvals required to deliver the scheme, holding the Development Consent Order submission (including statutory consultation), and building a compelling business case. It holds design and delivery to account to create an asset that realises the intended economic benefits.
Within this function, the Land and Property team acts as an intelligent and informed integrated team, using a network of third-party strategic suppliers to bring the capabilities required to deliver the land needed to construct and operate the project.
What you will do:
- Lead and manage a team of Land and Property Managers, providing strategic direction, oversight, and integration assurance for cohesive, compliant project delivery, and facilitating effective communication and coordination with suppliers to ensure cohesive integration of deliverables and milestones.
- Develop and deliver effective land and property strategies and plans to support a successful DCO application and delivery of the project, including preparation for the DCO examination process such as objection resolution, evidence and resourcing plans.
- Review and challenge compensation forecasts, assumptions, negotiation strategies, and risk allowances to ensure the Property Cost Estimate remains robust, evidence-based, and defensible.
- Provide guidance to support Land and Property Managers in designing and delivering a solution aligned to a central approach, to successfully acquire the land and property required to construct, commission, and operate the railway.
- Oversee and co-ordinate delivery of an engagement and consultation plan across all areas with those who have an interest in land and property, facilitating effective and respectful communication with landowners and their representatives to secure temporary and permanent land assembly and manage objections in line with the Company's vision and behaviours. Lead engagement strategies aimed at minimising objection risk and supporting timely acquisition of land and rights.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of acquisition strategies, including the strategic use of compulsory purchase powers, temporary possession, and negotiated acquisition approaches to minimise programme and compensation risk.
- Secure investment authority through the governance process, including development of business cases, and manage the overall property cost estimate, risks, and opportunities to secure fair compensation for those with a land interest affected by the project and deliver value in line with managing public money requirements.
- Monitor project progress and lead the management of compensation risk across the programme, ensuring emerging valuation, acquisition, and stakeholder risks are identified early, quantified appropriately, and actively managed through mitigation strategies, governance controls, and proactive engagement with suppliers and affected parties, facilitating on-time delivery within budget.
- Support the identification and assessment of development and commercial opportunities associated with land acquisition and station development, ensuring opportunities are considered at an appropriate stage in design and delivery.
- Prepare and present programme reports, updates, and performance metrics to the Head of Land and Property and other senior managers.
- Act as Project Lead for the Lot 1 Land and Property Partner Contract, covering negotiation and compensation, coordinating with EWR workstream leads for each area.
- Provide contract management input, including change control, for the administration of the Land and Property Supplier contracts.
- Take responsibility for your own and others' health and safety, working to EWR Co's Health and Safety principles.
- Bring a cost-conscious mindset, keeping taxpayers' money at the forefront of decisions.
- Show a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
- Act as a role model for EWR Co's vision and behaviours, working in ways aligned with EWR Co's Ways of Working, and encourage and support others to do so too.
What you will bring:
Essential
- A background leading land and property workstreams within a client-side organisation.
- A track record of acquiring land by compulsory purchase for linear infrastructure projects, and of managing compensation risk and Property Cost Estimates on major infrastructure programmes.
- Experience acting as an intelligent client, managing external compulsory purchase advisors and valuation suppliers.
- Involvement in the development, approval, and delivery of land and property policy, strategy, and plans for acquisition, management, and disposal of land and property, along with objection management.
- A history of developing governance, assurance, and reporting arrangements for land and compensation programmes.
- Familiarity with using or implementing land, compensation, or case management systems and data-led reporting environments.
- Strong leadership and team management skills, having overseen multi-disciplinary teams and ensured cohesive integration of project outputs.
- A record of developing and managing teams to deliver effective and respectful communication with landowners to secure land assembly.
- Has collaborated with colleagues across disciplines to deliver outcomes required for land assembly, working in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver an overall programme of activities to acquire, transfer, manage, and dispose of land and property.
- Skilled in strategic planning and option analysis, including financial appraisal and forecasting, and the development and management of property cost estimates.
- Has undertaken complex property negotiations and transactions.
- Capable of instructing, managing, and integrating a range of suppliers to deliver an overall programme of activities to acquire, transfer, manage, and dispose of land and property.
- Ability to explain property matters clearly to audiences without a property background, and to present data and reports to stakeholders at all levels.
- Understanding of how to demonstrate compliance with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements.
Desirable
- A background in a government-related organisation.
- Maintaining effective external relationships at senior levels to understand stakeholders' needs and priorities, with appropriate influencing skills to achieve results at pace.
- Degree educated in an appropriate discipline, with membership of a relevant professional body, e.g. Member (or Fellow) of the RICS.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.
East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.
