Head of Inland Border Facilities Operations

Salary: £85,200 – £89,400 per year

The Programme, Data and Infrastructure Directorate was established in February 2021 as a directorate within Borders & Trade Group. It provides a central Programme Management capability across the Group with an immediate priority to focus on achieving the right outcomes for the next phase of UK Transition, and leads the delivery and operational delivery of the Border Infrastructure and Data projects.

The lasting vision of the directorate is to develop and maintain a leading Programme Management capability that continues beyond this phase to own the effective definition and management of change to achieve the future strategic ambitions of Borders and Trade Group. We work in close partnership with policy, design and delivery teams responsible for UK Transition across the Department and more widely with other government departments such as Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG), Home Office and HM Treasury.

The Border Infrastructure Programme is a GMPP programme of work which sits within the Borders and Trade Group of HMRC. On 31 December 2020, HMRC opened 5 new Inland Border Facility sites (Warrington, Birmingham, North Weald, Ebbsfleet and Ashford) to provide the capacity and capability for hauliers moving goods across the border under specific procedures following the end of the EU Transition period. These sites are currently complemented by smaller operations at Dover Western Docks, Stop 24 Hythe and Holyhead.

The service will be further augmented in 2022 at the end of Staged Customs Controls by an enhanced operation at Ashford and Holyhead and a new operation which is planned near Dover. Whilst we will continue to run the operation as part of the Border Infrastructure Programme there is now a requirement for an SCS1 to run the live service, develop its operations (people and process) and work in partnership with wider commercial providers and across government to maximise the operation for the customer whilst ensuring they offer best value for money to the tax-payer.

Job description
This role provides an excellent career opportunity to lead a high-profile operation, in a volume driven and complex operating environment. You will lead the Operational Delivery team in partnership with Border Force, site operators, HMRC partners (particularly estates and commercial), cross-government (local and national), and labour providers.

You will also work closely with the wider programme team on a day-to-day basis to ensure a coherent and integrated plan is in place to bring the new sites into operation at full readiness.

In addition to accountability for the operational delivery of these sites, the post holder also has overall accountability for a complex set of high value commercial contracts, working with key Government delivery partners and a broad set of senior stakeholders across industry and beyond. The post holder will also be key in defining and negotiating the future commercial strategy for IBF’s (circa £500m) and developing the HMG exit strategy for 2025 and beyond.

Responsibilities
Include but are not limited to:

Leading a team of approximately 50, with direct line management responsibility for 2 senior managers and a small Private Office and Business Manager. The team is split across a number of disparate locations. Your overall reach and leadership is much greater though, as it is through all partners and all people at all sites

Driving and overseeing the delivery of a number of service and commercial Key Performance Indicators as well as working closely with partners to mitigate the risks attached to the service delivery and taking forward a revised commercial approach, driving efficiencies in operations.

Working closely with all stakeholders you will enhance the operational processes including digital and design and implement a new approach to resourcing part of the site operations.

You will play a key role in wider programme and project governance, working with stakeholders, to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefits and service to be realised.

You will be expected to work at a fast pace whilst reacting to real time events through acting as part of a wider on-call structure, representing HMRC within a number of strategic response forums.

You will also be required to contribute as a senior member of the Border Infrastructure Leadership team and will regularly find yourself briefing Ministers.

Person Specification

This is a unique role, and we are looking for a highly driven individual who has a proven track record in leading teams, developing operating capability, managing complex commercial and partner relationships and results delivery in a highly visible, busy, fast paced and developing arena.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their experience and capability in the following areas:

Essential Criteria:

Proven track record of leading large and geographically dispersed teams, driving engagement and managing performance, efficiency and capability.

Proven track record of operational and change delivery in a complex, volume/demand-driven and visible public facing operating environment

Proven track record of managing a strategic partner and commercial relationship

Proven track record of working across boundaries and delivering through building strong stakeholder relationships

Experience of managing commercial and financial processes