Senior Project Sponsor

Key Information

Job title: Senior Project Sponsor (known internally as Principal Sponsor)

Salary: Circa £58,000     Grade: Band 3

Contract type: TfL     Reference: 3196 

Team: IP - Renewals     Directorate: Investment Planning (IP)

Contract details: Full-time     Location: Southwark, London SE1 with hybrid working
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements

Application closing date: 17 December 2025

Overview of project/role

Investment Planning (Renewals) at TfL is at the heart of keeping London moving. Our team ensures that critical infrastructure—stations, tunnels, track, and staff facilities—remains safe, reliable, and fit for the future. We prioritise investment in assets to deliver maximum value for customers and colleagues, supporting the long-term sustainability of the transport network.

As a Principal Sponsor, you’ll shape and oversee a diverse portfolio of renewal projects, for our transport infrastructure, from rail signalling and communications or road structural improvements to drainage upgrades and staff welfare facilities. You’ll work across TfL and with external partners to make sure every project delivers the right outcomes, offers value for money, and aligns with TfL’s strategic goals. This is a fast-paced, collaborative role where your decisions will directly influence the future of London’s transport system.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where wellbeing and flexibility are a priority. Many of our colleagues already benefit from part-time and job-share arrangements, and we welcome applications from those who work flexibly or would like to explore these options.

Key Accountabilities

Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Lead and inspire teams role-modelling TfL’s Vision and Values
• Translate strategic objectives into prioritised investment options and early-stage project activities
• Ensure projects align with strategic outcomes and deliver value for money
• Develop business cases and supporting documentation to secure funding and approvals
• Provide first-line assurance and hold delivery teams accountable for outcomes
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to maintain financial and political support
• Oversee transparent reporting and respond to external information requests
• Monitor benefits realisation and share lessons learned to improve future investment

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Skills

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a complex organisation to achieve business outcomes (Essential)
• Ability to present recommendations to senior colleagues and facilitate and negotiate with groups and individuals to achieve desired outputs (Essential)
• Ability to work in cross business teams, resolving conflict as it arises and motivating and managing direct reports (Essential)
• Good written and verbal communication skills with an ability to work in an innovative but structured manner (Essential)
• Highly numerate, good IT skills, detail conscious and well organised with an ability to work under minimal guidance (Essential)

Knowledge

• Degree level education or equivalent professional experience (Essential)
• In depth knowledge of project technical skills aligned to the sponsor role e.g. governance, commercial and stakeholder management techniques (Essential)

Experience

• Experience of delivering or sponsoring transport projects in large complex, regulated organisations where there are multiple interfaces, and delivering to time and budget (Essential)
• Experience of one of more of the following: financial management and budget setting, governance, early-stage project definition and initiation, requirements setting, business case development and benefit management and realisation, major project consents e.g. Transport and Works Act Orders (Essential)
• Experience of negotiating and communicating with challenging stakeholders (Essential)
• Experience of leading, developing, and motivating colleagues / teams in a matrix environment (Essential)

Application Process

• Please apply using your CV and a one-page covering letter
• Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter
• PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.