Delivery Manager - Supplier Readiness & Transformation Fund (DRIVE 35)

We have an exciting opportunity for a Delivery Manager – Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund to join the West Midlands Combined Authority.

This is a key role within a high-profile regional programme supporting the transition to vehicle electrification across the West Midlands automotive sector.

The postholder will lead the delivery of the West Midlands DRIVE 35 Pilot, the Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund (SRTF), a £50 million capital grant programme designed to help automotive manufacturers and supply chain businesses adapt, innovate and grow as the industry moves towards electrification.

Working across a complex partnership landscape, you will oversee the end-to-end delivery of the programme, ensuring strong governance, effective stakeholder engagement, robust financial management and successful delivery of outcomes aligned to WMCA priorities.

This role is being offered as a 3-year fixed-term contract.

What you will be doing.

• Lead the mobilisation and delivery of the Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund pilot, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and regional economic objectives
• Ensure programme aims and outcomes are clearly defined, with a focus on SME growth, supply chain development and innovation
• Work proactively with industry and sector groups to develop a pipeline of high-quality opportunities and maximise programme impact
• Develop insight-led proposals, reports, briefings and presentations for a range of audiences
• Shape and maintain effective governance arrangements, ensuring the Programme Board and Appraisal Panel operate transparently and efficiently
• Translate regional and national policy priorities into clear delivery plans which support the automotive sector
• Coordinate cross-functional activity to ensure efficient delivery and compliance with governance and funding requirements
• Manage the full grant lifecycle, including industry engagement, expressions of interest, application, appraisal, award administration, monitoring and evaluation
• Embed continuous improvement and lessons learned into programme delivery and future funding activity
• Monitor and report on key performance measures, including investment leveraged, jobs created and SME participation
• Maintain effective financial oversight, including budget management, forecasting, grant payments and value for money
• Build strong and collaborative relationships across public, private and voluntary sector partners
• Represent WMCA professionally at meetings, events, consultations and strategic boards
• Support a high-performance culture through leadership, mentoring and effective prioritisation

What’s Essential.

• Experience of managing programme delivery from inception through to evaluation
• Experience of writing high-quality, evidence-based delivery plans, board papers and performance or impact reports
• Line management experience
• Experience of budget management and financial planning
• Experience of portfolio management across multiple projects, including risk, issue and change control
• Knowledge of governance, legal and financial requirements in public programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• The ability to manage and prioritise multiple workstreams effectively
• An understanding of regional economic development and industry engagement, with knowledge of the automotive sector or the ability to develop this quickly
• The ability to build trust and work collaboratively with industry partners and sector bodies
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail
• Advanced MS Office skills, including experience of writing and editing reports and presentations, formatting charts and graphs, and coordinating activity
• An understanding of claims processes and programme management, including financial and performance monitoring

Location. 

The location for this role is Summer Lane with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply. 

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
2. Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
3. Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
4. Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs). 
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days. 
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.   
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses. 

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours. 

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation, building trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and customers to create the biggest impact for our region.
  
  
• Driven - Focussed on impact - leading with clarity, care and courage to deliver meaningful results for the West Midlands. 
  
  
• Inclusive - Every voice matters - we create belonging, fairness and psychological safety so everyone can thrive. 
  
  
• Innovative - We think future and act smarter - embracing curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement to shape the future. 

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).