About Network Rail
At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.
Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. When you're part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions. Watch our video to find out more!
The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.
Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance - Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (20 passes per year)
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working and enhanced family friendly support .
• 5 days paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.
To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here .
We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here
Brief Description
This role sits in the heart of the Route strategy team supporting the business provide delivery assurance and progress on our significant enhancement and renewals portfolio. The successful candidate will lead a dedicated team who manage a range of senior external government stakeholders as well as support the end to end progress and assurance processes for our funded schemes. The role will partner closely with the client / sponsorship team. The role includes ensuring periodic reporting is concluded on time and to stakeholder satisfaction and ensures the DFT change control governance is followed. The role requires you to be a good people person, customer focused, able to be comfortable using multiple tools such as power of BI and MS project. It is a fast paced and dynamic environment and guaranteed to be lots of fun.
Some specific areas of focus include:
• Leadership and management of the Investment Governance, Assurance & Reporting Team (4 roles) to support both Wales and Western Sponsorship teams.
• Provide governance focused on formal change control and business 'decision to' process with the DfT (Investment Decision Framework).
• Co-ordinate and support investment functional Level 2 assurance requirements and directly manage investment Level 1 assurance activities for the portfolio.
• Co-ordinate and support Periodic Reviews / Management reporting at portfolio level (both internally and externally, e.g. DfT / GWR).
• Provide specific assurance focused on Construction Design Management (CDM) and Common Safety Method (CSM) and support necessary training needs identified.
• Key contact point for Investment team at portfolio level working with working other stakeholders (e.g. Capital Delivery / DEAM) on governance / assurance & reporting requirements / improvements.
• Escalation of key issues linked to governance, assurance, reporting to the Route Strategy Director.
About the role (External)
Key Accountabilities
1. Build effective relationships, (internally & externally) to balance the requirements of the client, Network Rail, and the industry as a whole. Champion the interests of clients, customers and stakeholders acting as the focal point for escalation within Network Rail.
2. Review and interrogate client remits to confirm their viability. Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish a scope which optimises client requirements, value for money, network availability and capacity for future development and whole life cost.
3. Be responsible for the conversion of the client remit into an agreed project requirement specification. Be accountable for development of the initial project plan and budget; working with the project manager to specify how the project portfolio is going to be delivered, expected milestones and associated timescales, resource requirements, risks & issues and funding needs/sources.
4. Progress cost efficiencies and process improvements across the project portfolio to meet control period targets.
5. Own and manage business cases and investment papers for a portfolio of projects.
6. Devise solutions which maintain the 'business as usual' accessibility for our customers, take consideration of the 7-day railway principles and therefore minimise disruption to end rail users. Take a national/route wide view across portfolios to generate additional benefits, identify and resolve conflicting work and drive efficiencies.
7. Lead the process of quantifying risk associated with the project portfolio. Devise mitigating actions and periodically review recovery progress.
8. Interrogate and challenge plans to assess the deliverability of agreed scope within stated timescales and cost parameters, presenting any required scope changes to the client for approval.
9. Hold the Project Manager accountable for programme delivery to cost, time and scope parameters. Hold periodic reviews to understand and challenge delivery progress against the client remit.
10. Communicate progress status against defined milestones and expectations to stakeholders putting contingency measures in place if required.
11. Lead negotiations with customers and stakeholders on the project portfolio's commercial and contractual terms in accordance with relevant corporate policy and strategy. Act as the focal point for negotiations and resolution of external scheme interface requirements, including any Parliamentary or Statutory processes, external consents issues to optimise the value of the scheme to Network Rail and funder(s).
12. Comply with the requirements of investment regulations, other corporate governance and the Guide to Railway Investment Projects. Adhere to corporate processes, including those related to safety, finance, legal and corporate affairs.
Facilitate the discharge of the duties assigned by the Client as detailed within the Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations for the programme of projects allocated.
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential
• Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Experience of dealing with client portfolios and liaising with people at all levels
• Ability to articulate complex business problems into manageable work packages and produce synthesised logical solutions.
• Proven ability to write coherently, conveying report / investment information in a concise manner.
• Commercially astute, persuasive, and customer focused.
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills
• Experience of leading a successful team
Desirable
• Experience in significant management roles in a commercial environment
• MBA or other related postgraduate qualification
Experience of negotiating contracts to finalisation and able to demonstrate significant commercial success
How to apply (External)
Salary: £71,163 - £81,661 per annum.
Closing date: 8th May 2025
Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.
Click 'apply now' to apply.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. Click here for more information.
Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words for us. We're constantly striving to make sure we provide a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within our team and we're working closely with our regional diversity and inclusion networks to make sure we support these groups as best as we can.
We are working in conjunction with the Cultural Fusion team. If you would like support with your application or interview please contact Wales&WesternCulturalFusion@networkrail.co.uk or visit the connect page: Wales and Western Cultural Fusion (sharepoint.com). For all other support please contact your HR Business Partner.
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.
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