Full job descriptionPlease note, while the full salary range is shown, most new starters join at the start of the band. Higher starting salaries may be considered where a candidate brings significant relevant skills, experience, or expertise.
We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.


The Role

This is a senior specialist role providing authoritative, independent appraisal advice across HSCCA’s investment portfolio, with a particular focus on complex transport programmes and business cases developed with the Department for Transport. The Investment Appraisal Manager will work directly with senior responsible owners, programme directors, project sponsors, government departments and partners to ensure proposals are strategically coherent, evidence-based, proportionate and capable of supporting robust investment decisions.


What you’ll be doing?

*Lead HSCCA’s appraisal of major projects, programmes and business cases, providing authoritative advice on strategic fit, options, value for money, affordability, deliverability, benefits, risks, dependencies and evaluation.
*Lead appraisal activity for complex transport programmes, working with the Department for Transport and other partners and applying the Green Book, Five Case Model, Transport Analysis Guidance and relevant departmental requirements.
*Assess programme-level propositions, testing programme logic, strategic coherence, sequencing, interdependencies, cumulative benefits, funding assumptions and delivery arrangements across multiple projects, organisations and funding streams.
*Interrogate complex technical, economic, financial and delivery evidence, testing assumptions, methodologies, data quality, sensitivity analysis, risk and uncertainty, distributional impacts and claimed benefits.
*Commission and act as an intelligent client for specialist appraisal input, setting clear briefs, challenging technical outputs and integrating advice from economists, transport analysts, finance specialists, consultants and other expert disciplines.


What you’ll bring?

*Substantial experience of leading appraisal or business case work for complex public investment programmes, including advising senior decision-makers on significant or high-risk proposals.
*Expert working knowledge of HM Treasury Green Book principles, the Five Case Model and public sector business case requirements, with the ability to apply them proportionately and pragmatically.
*Strong knowledge of programme appraisal, including programme logic, interdependencies, sequencing, cumulative benefits, funding assumptions, risk and uncertainty, monitoring and evaluation.
*Demonstrable experience of providing independent, constructive challenge to senior responsible owners, programme directors, project sponsors, consultants or equivalent senior stakeholders.
*Significant experience of transport appraisal and business cases, including practical application of DfT Transport Analysis Guidance and engagement with DfT on major programmes or funding propositions.
*Experience of appraisal across a wider portfolio such as infrastructure, regeneration, housing, skills, economic development or other place-based investment.
*Experience in local government, a combined authority, central government, a public body or another politically accountable partnership environment.


Why join the HSCCA?

We are building the HSCCA on the basis that how we work is as important as what we deliver. We want people who bring enthusiasm, drive, and authenticity - who are proactive, open to challenge, and motivated by progress rather than process. We value collaborative leadership: the ability to bring people together across organisational boundaries, respect the expertise of others, and create shared direction without needing to own everything.
This is a complex, fast-moving environment. We need people who are energised by that.


What the HSCCA will offer in return?

Our reward package includes:
*Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), with a current employer contribution rate of 18.1%, life cover and family benefits, flexible retirement options, and the opportunity to make Additional Voluntary Contributions.
*A competitive salary and generous annual leave allowance, in addition to public holidays:
*Grades T/A–E: 30 days, increasing to 32 days after five years’ service
*Grades F–K: 32 days, increasing to 34 days after five years’ service
*Flexible and hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week in the office
*Health and wellbeing support from November 2026, including online GP access seven days a week, an Employee Assistance Programme, confidential counselling and wellbeing resources.
*Investment in your professional development and leadership growth
The HSCCA is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, particularly those currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes people from ethnic minority communities, disabled and neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ people, parents and carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know so that we can support you.


Further information

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we run a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. If you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description for this position and would like to be considered under this scheme, please state this in your application.
We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. As part of this, we use anonymous shortlisting to ensure candidates are assessed solely on their skills, experience, and suitability for the role.