Contract Term: 6 months

Contracting Authority: Department for Transport

Location: London

We are currently searching for experienced Specification Leads with experience in the Rail industry that we are recruiting on behalf of the Department for Transport on a 6-month initial contract based in London.

The post holder will lead franchise specification work within the West Coast Partnership (WCP) Direct Award (DA) project team, identifying what the government wishes the train operator to deliver which is affordable, within government policy, takes account of stakeholder aspirations and is possible to take to market. They will ensure that these requirements are clearly stated, and fully incorporated into the ultimate contract with a clear handover guide to the in-life team.

Imagine having a talent that could benefit someone you’ve never met and solve problems you didn’t even know existed. Well, you do, and you can. And we’re here to help you do just that. At PSR we are the go-to place for talented contractors and temps for a rich variety of public sector roles.

As a Specification Lead, your main responsibilities would be:

• Understanding the unique WCP franchise itself including:
  • Key operational and financial characteristics of the franchise business;
  • Drivers of demand or growth;
  • The links between specification and subsidy/premium;
  • Key stakeholder requirements for the franchise;
  • The links and dependencies to delivery of the HS2 Business Case; and
  • The unique relationship with delivery partners including both HS2 Ltd and Network Rail.
• Proactively managing external technical advisers who are engaged to provide operational, commercial and economic advice;
• Developing and maintaining the business case for the franchise;
• Driving the overall delivery proposition, based on evidence and within existing government policy;
• Clearly articulating, internally and externally, what it is that government wants the franchise to deliver;
• Producing the specification and priced options sections of the Request for Business Plan (RfBP);
• Working with the in-life teams (both Passengers Services and High Speed Rail) to maintain relationships and ensure the that the DA is manageable and deliverable.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate significant experience in the following areas:

• Financial, commercial and operational characteristics of the UK rail industry and in particular of passenger rail franchises;
• Procurement of complex service delivery through contractual relationships;
• Economic and financial appraisal;
• Managing external expert advisers;
• Engaging and working constructively with a range of external stakeholders;
• Management and Leadership of others

If this Specification Lead role sounds like something that you would be interested in, please click the link to apply and speak to one of our PSR team now.

"In applying for this role you acknowledge the following; this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment, and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different."

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.