Policy adviser - New Towns, Cambridge and Oxford

We are MHCLG

This is an exciting opportunity to join MHCLG, working in either the Cambridge Strategy Unit, Oxford Strategy Unit or the New Towns Unit. These teams sit within the New Towns, Infrastructure and Housing Delivery directorate.

These roles will play a critical part in delivering the Governments ambitions for the New Towns programme and the OxfordCambridge Growth Corridor, including supporting the development of a world‑leading innovation corridor and enabling the delivery of a new generation of new towns.

This is a rare chance to contribute to the delivery of new homes, high‑quality place‑making and economic growth, working at pace in a high‑profile national programme with real social purpose. You will work closely with delivery partners and experienced operational colleagues to ensure effective and consistent programme delivery.

A range of roles are available, spanning funding and strategy, infrastructure policy, and engagement with local partners. Candidates will be considered across these areas, and preferences will be taken into account.

These are stretching roles suited to motivated self‑starters who enjoy taking initiative, working independently and delivering high‑quality work across complex and technical policy areas.

Infrastructure Policy Advisers

We are recruiting Policy Advisers to work across government and with local partners to drive delivery of the Governments ambitious plans for inclusive growth across the OxfordCambridge Corridor and New Towns.

The roles will focus on infrastructure policy, particularly transport, energy and water. Role‑holders may work across these areas or specialise, depending on experience and business need. This includes engaging with local partners on future transport requirements, leading work on power capacity and demand, and supporting analysis of digital infrastructure needs. These areas are critical to shaping and delivering the Governments plans for the region.

You will work closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to build consensus, support decision‑making and secure delivery outcomes.

Across these roles, there is significant scope for stretch and professional development, including the opportunity to develop new policy interventions, undertake analysis, engage externally, and contribute to delivery and strategic planning. There may also be opportunities to provide policy support to teams working in other locations.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop strong relationships across government departments, with local authorities, and with private sector partners to build consensus and secure delivery. 
• Support key transport, energy and water policy workstreams.
• Act as the go to on your policy area, working closely with colleagues to align infrastructure planning with the wider strategic vision. 
• Prepare high quality briefings, advice, and updates for senior stakeholders, ensuring decisions are informed by robust analysis, and develop and maintain core communication lines for transport, power and digital. 
• Identify emerging challenges in power, digital, transport, and water ensuring that our programme is well positioned to meet future demands. 

Finance Policy Advisers

These roles are critical to delivering the Governments ambitions for the OxfordCambridge Corridor and the New Towns programme. Role‑holders will provide support across a range of areas, including key programme deliverables such as business cases and funding strategies.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on innovative policy solutions to unlock housing and infrastructure delivery at priority sites. The roles will collectively support the design and delivery of the Governments ambitions, working closely with colleagues across MHCLG and delivery partners.

Role‑holders will be expected to develop an understanding of funding models for housing and infrastructure delivery and/or Government financial processes, including business case development. You will work closely with finance colleagues to support robust decision‑making and effective delivery.

Contribute to the development of funding approaches and business cases to support programme delivery, including:

• Supporting the development of funding models and strategic options
• Contributing to the analysis, evidence and narrative required for robust business cases
• Working with policy, delivery and finance colleagues to support assurance and decision‑making

Support the development and delivery of core programme outputs by:

• Developing an understanding of the overall objectives and strategic direction of the programme
• Working with policy leads to stay up to date on delivery priorities, risks and dependencies
• Supporting internal governance, assurance and approvals processes

Provide programme and coordination support by:

• Working with colleagues across MHCLG and wider government to support joined‑up delivery
• Helping to track progress across key workstreams and ensure information is up to date
• Collating updates from policy leads to support transparency, decision‑making and reporting
• Contributing to briefings, updates and materials for senior audiences and regular meetings

Delivery Policy Advisors

Housing Delivery Policy Advisers play a key role in supporting the development and delivery of policies and programmes to accelerate housing and place‑based delivery. Working across policy, delivery and analytical teams, advisers help shape solutions that unlock housing delivery, support sustainable development and enable economic growth.

The role combines policy development, programme support and engagement with partners to help ensure housing priorities are deliverable, evidence‑based and aligned with wider government objectives.

Key responsibilities:

• Work with arms‑length bodies or delivery organisations to support organisational transition and effective set‑up arrangements where required.
• Research, develop and support the implementation of appropriate governance, sponsorship and accountability frameworks.
• Help establish and operate proportionate oversight arrangements, ensuring delivery bodies have appropriate independence while maintaining effective assurance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and delivery partners to support a constructive and effective sponsor relationship, including coordinating reporting, facilitating communications and supporting regular engagement.
• Lead on reporting progress, identifying risks and issues, and escalating as appropriate to senior colleagues to support timely decision‑making.

Essential criteria:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to take into account peoples individual needs 
• Able to build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders 
• Highly motivated self-starter who takes ownership of their work 
• Able to see the bigger picture and to align work to contribute to wider priorities 
• Comfortable with working across a number of different workstreams