Programme Manager - Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy

Do you have the knowledge or professional background in the planning and delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure?

Do you have the ability and desire to learn new technical areas? Do you have a good knowledge of local, regional and national transport strategy and policy?

Are you ready to step up to help the whole Midlands deliver on this electric vehicle revolution?

If you are a dynamic experienced project leader, with a keen interest in helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets, then we will be keen to speak with you.

You will be working as part of the ‘Technical Team’ within Midlands Connect. This team is charged with the delivery of the commitments set out in our Strategic Transport Plan. Our team seeks ways to accelerate the major transport infrastructure requirements of the region, as well as providing a pan-regional policy position on a number of technical areas, of which accelerating the take-up of electric vehicles is one. The team is multi-modal and multi-disciplinary, comprised of experts in their own specialist areas. This role will report to the Technology and Innovation Lead and will work closely with other members of the team, particularly those involved in rural mobility, alternative fuels/decarbonisation, technology, freight and highways to achieve success.

What will you be doing?

* Lead the development and delivery of Midlands Connects electric vehicle strategy. The strategy would set out the delivery strategy for the forecast of 46,000 electric vehicle charge points across the region needed by 2030 and supporting households who are reliant on on-street parking

* Develop consultants’ briefs and commissioning external support through internal procurement processes to support further strategic transport plan and the technology and innovation program

* Work with local and district authority officers to ensure that the Department for Transport's guidance and standards for electric vehicle infrastructure are well understood and deliverable locally

* Provide input and expert advice on the continual improvement of our electric vehicle infrastructure planning tool development

* Promotional activities for the region to raise awareness and myth busting to promote electric vehicle uptake

* Carry out continual market research and data collection to ascertain the qualitative and quantitative impacts of the wider programme, including policy impacts, promotional work, and infrastructure usage statistics

Midlands Connect is the transport partner of the Midlands Engine, a coalition of Councils, Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Universities, and businesses across the region, actively working with Government to add value for the whole of the Midlands and its communities. The team research, develop and recommend long-term transport projects which will provide the biggest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.

WMCA acts as the accountable body for the Midlands Connect partnership and is a core pillar of the Midlands Engine ‘Vision for Growth’.

About you

We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of EV charging infrastructure, technologies, standards and the related challenges/opportunities and demonstrating strengths in programme management, stakeholder management and the ability and desire to learn new technical areas.

You will lead the development of a region wide electric vehicle infrastructure strategy, working with stakeholders and partners to find ways to help local authorities deliver infrastructure faster and to ensure a fairer distribution. The ultimate aim is to see a network of charging infrastructure grow in the Midlands to such an extent that it helps to encourage a faster take up of electric vehicles; ultimately accelerating transport decarbonisation.

You should have a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities of delivering charging infrastructure, particularly on-street. You will be required to give advice to local authorities with lower levels of capacity and capability on how to develop both their broad strategies and their approach to specific deployments with charge point operators (CPOs).

You will need extensive and sensitive stakeholder engagement experience to take our partners on this journey with us, establishing and selling the areas where Midlands Connect can add value to this aspect of the transport network.

Ownership of the programme will require excellent programme management skills, including managing an allocated budget and an expectation of delivering to cost, time and quality. This will involve identifying and managing suitable resources, either from within the Midlands Connect technical team, or seeking consultancy support.

About us

WMCA is committed to a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier region. This is our vision. We will achieve our vision through living our values which are central to how we work and interact with our wider partners and stakeholders.

We’re a partnership organisation. Our people feel valued and respected, have a can-do attitude and are innovators. We try new ways of doing things, we aren’t afraid to fail, learn from what went wrong and try again. Our people are empowered to be creative and explore and innovate.

We are a “Leaders in Diversity” accredited organisation, are in the Inclusive Top 50 Employers List and are one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have made a positive commitment to interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the essential role criteria. We are committed to building a team of people with varied backgrounds and experiences as we recognise that this will only benefit us as an employer, the more inclusive we are the better our work will be.

As an organisation, we will continue to adapt and develop to the opportunities and challenges ahead. We will continue to transform ourselves and our organisation into the best we can be, underpinned by our values and behaviours and everyone contributes towards achieving our vision.

Furthermore, wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance. We are very happy to discuss a flexible working pattern that suits your needs, so please do not let that be a barrier to applying. If your values align with ours and you’re committed to working towards creating a future we can all be proud of, we want to hear from you.

Location

156 Great Charles Street, Queensway, Birmingham, B3 3HN. Hybrid working conditions are currently in place which means working remotely and coming to the office when required