Search for five key staff to oversee iconic £600m Mersey Gateway

A new board has been established to recruit senior staff to steer one of the world’s most innovative and important projects.

The crossings board is advertising for five new senior positions who will be part of a 30-strong team.

Project director Steve Nicholson who has overseen the development of the project for the past six years will work closely with the board and Halton Council.

Council leader Clr Rob Polhill said: “I am pleased that Steve Nicholson will be staying with the project and working with the council’s chief executive, David Parr.

“Both have played a key role in leading the project through negotiations with Government and in delivering the procurement process, which is on track to save tens of millions of pounds on the projected cost of Mersey Gateway.”

The new board will deliver the six-lane tolled crossing across the River Mersey on behalf of Halton Council and oversee maintenance of the existing Silver Jubilee bridge.

Their operational role starts when the council reaches financial close with the preferred bidder, the Merseylink consortium, which will be responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the project.

This is expected to take place early in 2014.

Steve Nicholson said: “The people who join the board will be key players in ensuring we deliver this high profile infrastructure project.”

“Mersey Gateway will be a major catalyst for growth in the north west economy.

“This year it was listed as one of the top 100 infrastructure projects in the world so we’re expecting high levels of interest and looking foward to meeting some exceptional candidates.”

The board is recruiting a construction director (up to £90,000), contracts manager (up to £50,400), technical manager (up to £50,400), performance manager (up to £37,500), and review manager (up to £37,600).

Closing date is December 16 and interviews will be held in January.

For details, visit www.merseygateway.co.uk/work-for-us/