At LNER, we're more than just a train company. We're on a journey to create a railway that delivers for our customers, our people, and the communities we serve every single day. Right now, we're looking for passionate and experienced operational professionals to help us do just that.
We're hiring three Operational Project Managers, each bringing focus, structure and energy to the Operational Programmes Team supporting our key areas: Planning, Performance, Service Delivery, and Drivers.
Whether you're already leading change or have the knowledge and ideas to step into a project role for the first time, we're interested in people who know how the railway works and how to make it work better. This is about turning insight into impact. It's about improving the way we operate through practical, people-focused change.
You don't need to be a trained project manager. We can teach you that. What we're looking for is subject matter expertise, a strong grasp of how things fit together operationally, and a genuine interest in building something better. You will bring the credibility to work alongside specialists, the curiosity to keep improving, and the confidence to help others do the same.
What you'll be doing
As one of our Operational Project Managers, you will lead and support the delivery of projects that drive improvement across Safety and Operations. You will be working closely with colleagues across LNER and external partners like Network Rail and other train operators to deliver lasting, practical change.
Your core responsibilities will include:
* Leading and supporting a portfolio of change and improvement initiatives aligned to business priorities
* Embedding best practice project governance and reporting across the Safety and Operations directorate
* Working with internal teams to ensure operational readiness for new projects and initiatives
* Building strong relationships across LNER and with external stakeholders to support collaboration and joint delivery
* Prioritising and sequencing workstreams to reflect risk, impact, and strategic goals
* Supporting the delivery of operational enhancements across areas such as timetable planning, digital railway, organisational design and performance
* Identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring resource and financial planning are in place
* Helping shape and deliver LNER's apprenticeship and graduate programme within the Safety and Operations directorate
* Managing operational contracts, including those linked to rail replacement and partner delivery
You will have access to development support in project and portfolio management, but your real value will lie in your operational insight and your ability to get things done.
What's needed for success
We're looking for people who understand how operations work and are ready to use that knowledge to lead change. You'll need:
* Experience working within the rail industry, ideally within Safety, Operations, Planning, Control, or another relevant area
* Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels
* A practical understanding of what it takes to deliver complex change in a fast-paced operational environment
* Experience supporting or leading business change initiatives, even if your previous roles weren't formally project-based
* Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to bring people on the journey
* Good judgement and decision-making under pressure
* Confidence working with data, reports, and business cases
* A team player mindset with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on delivery
Desirable
* Project or programme management experience in any setting
* Experience supporting or managing a PMO or delivery function
* Knowledge of project and portfolio governance frameworks
* Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. Association for Project Management)
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