AECOM is delighted to have recently been awarded the Rail Systems Alliance (South) contract by Network Rail. This is a 10-year collaborative arrangement between Network Rail, AECOM and Colas Rail to deliver all Track and associated works on the Rail infrastructure. The contract covers the Network Rail Regions of Wales and Western, Southern and the Anglia Route within the Eastern Region. We are currently seeking to appoint a Head of Engineering and Design dedicated to the Rail Systems Alliance. This is an Engineering leadership role and is accountable for the delivery of all Design (GRIP 4 onwards), Engineering Management associated with the Network Rail Assurance process and Compliance for all aspects of the contract. It is a unique role in that the post holder will lead Engineering and Design activity across the three organisations which make up the Alliance team. The successful candidate will also represent AECOM on the Rail Systems Alliance Management Team. The role is responsible for:

• Developing and leading the ambition of the Rail Systems Alliance for technical excellence and continuous improvement across the organisation. Central to this is the embedment of “Safe by Design” principles to ensure safe construction, operation and maintenance of the railway system.
• Leadership of the design delivery organisation, ensuring timeliness, quality and cost-effective delivery.
• Leadership of the Network Rail Project Engineering team working across all relevant Network Rail Regions.
• Working with the Professional Heads and Senior Engineers of the parent organisations to ensure existing competency arrangements for members of staff are maintained and embedded within the Rail Systems Alliance.
• Leading audit and compliance activity across the Rail Systems Alliance as a mechanism to understand areas of strength and weakness, maintain consistency and disseminate best practice and lessons learned.
• Organising job rotation within the Rail Systems Alliance where appropriate to assist in the development of fully rounded Railway professionals.
• Leadership and development of discipline specific best practice design tools, process and policies.
• Leading the technical briefing cascade for the Rail Systems Alliance.
• Maintaining an understanding of the key challenges facing the Network Rail Regional Clients and how Engineering leadership coupled with the capabilities within the Rail Systems Alliance can help unlock them.

AECOM is committed to the development of staff through both formal and informal training combined with professional development activities, broad work experience and its relationship with all Professional Engineering Institutions.