Principal Delivery Officer

Interview date: W/c 9th and 16th November (may be subject to change)

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in this flagship innovation initiative: establishing the UK’s first environmental services market for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

The SSM holds the potential to dramatically increase SuDS by leveraging planned street works. A cross-organisational partnership – delivered in collaboration with Thames Water – will put forward a market-led approach based on Nobel prize winning economics that will significantly reduce surface flooding risks and positively move the dial on green infrastructure across the city.

Our novel approach sits at the heart of London’s climate resilience agenda, supporting Flood Ready London as one of the London Surface Water Strategy’s key delivery mechanisms. Through the SSM, we are aiming to oversee two initial market rounds, deliver at least 100 projects and ultimately convert 7,000 hectares of impermeable land to SuDS to meet our target number of properties at risk from a 1 in 30 year storm.

As Principal Delivery Officer within the Mayor's Infrastructure Coordination Service, you will lead the technical side of the SSM team. Working at the intersection of environmental markets, surface water management and infrastructure delivery, you will oversee the development of the SSM framework and successful implementation of the SSM market rounds.

You will manage a number of technical and interdependent work streams – SuDS design, market design, trading platform, data, monitoring & evaluation, delivery, among others – to ensure the SSM work programme is delivered successfully and within budget.

This will involve convening ‘buyers’ – lead local flood authorities, Boroughs and Transport for London – together with ‘suppliers’ – utilities and contractors – to develop market and commercial arrangements, technical guidance and best practice, ensuring lessons are learned from each market round and refine the wider SSM processes. The SSM leverages London’s high volume of annual street works and encourages contractors to reinstate SuDS rather than traditional asphalt and concrete into their planned street works, thereby delivering SuDS at scale, lowering costs of delivery and reducing road disruption.

The role offers a unique opportunity to work on a high-profile programme with significant visibility across City Hall, government and industry. You will engage with senior stakeholders across the GLA and the wider sector – including Flood Ready London, Ofwat, lead local flood authorities and the Environment Agency – to help shape how London's infrastructure networks support the city's growth ambitions.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical acumen, a can-do attitude and programme management skills with the ability to understand and communicate complex SuDS / utility issues. Whether your background is in sustainability, environmental markets, utilities, infrastructure or a related field, you will be motivated by solving challenging problems, building effective partnerships and delivering tangible outcomes for Londoners.

• Supporting a multi-disciplinary team environment, ensuring team members feel supported and have the right resources and tools to carry out their work.
• Providing strategic direction across the SSM’s technical work streams, addressing risks and technical barriers…