Head of Franchise Management/Contracts Delivery Manager – Rail

Salary £65,000 - £84,000pa plus excellent benefits including 6K car allowance and bonus etc

Based in London

Our client is a well established national rail company whose professionalism and well respected name have been instrumental in their success. They provide an exceptional service to their customers and are focused on continually improving this.

You will need:

Essential

• Must have rail industry background and knowledge - preferably TOC and FOC experience
• Significant experience in senior management role in a commercial environment and customer focused business
• Commercially astute, numerate, persuasive, and customer focused
• Proven ability to negotiate in a complex commercial environment
• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communications skills
• Customer relationship management skills and expertise
• Proven influencing and negotiation skills
• In depth knowledge of relevant contracts and substantial experience of managing contractual relationships
• Comprehensive knowledge of Managed Station Operations, Processes and Procedures
• Wide understanding of industry structure and DfT Strategy
• Significant knowledge / understanding of the railway industry, with an understanding of delivering customer satisfaction.
• Member of relevant professional body or equivalent experience
  

The Role:

Provide leadership and direction to the Route’s Franchise commercial team to drive tangible improvements to the commercial interface including the effective management of contractual relationships with the TOC/FOC, to drive scorecard improvement, including financial outcomes, whilst maintaining the customer relationship.

1. Lead the proactive management of the delivery of all franchise contractual requirements and develop and document a detailed understanding of the franchise business drivers, philosophy and long term plans. Build sustainable relationships with key people in their organisation.
2. Lead the commercial and contractual negotiations with TOCs/FOCs including Access Contracts where necessary and act as arbitrator to resolve commercial and other disputes that maintains customer relationships, manage compliance from both parties and protect the companies interests whilst promoting best practice in this area.
3. Lead and facilitate the proactive resolution of key contractual issues with TOC’s/FOC’s, facilitating the interaction with the relevant functions and roles. Act as the single point of contact / accountability for all issues that require cross-functional coordination.
4. Manage teams to improve customer service, champion the customer’s cause within the company to derive and maintain customer satisfaction
5. Lead the route in the management and proper consideration of the interests of non-lead passenger operators. Work in conjunction with and in support of the MD FNPO so that interests of freight, open access and charter operators are properly considered and managed by the route.
6. Lead the Route’s involvement in refranchising and franchising change, working with stakeholders to deliver satisfactory outcomes that meet the needs of both the company and customers.
7. Lead the regulatory reporting relationship with the ORR regarding commercial and franchise outcomes.
8. Lead, develop and implement cost efficiencies and manage commercial input into the route business plan. Drive a value for money approach across the route in all income and cost lines and identify new opportunities for increasing industry value through revenue generation or efficiency savings.
9. Lead the proactive management of a regulatory access contracts (including incentive regimes) and franchised estate income to meet budgets and minimise risk and take accountability for governance of all claims and liabilities made.
10. Provide leadership to all aspects of refranchising providing a programme management approach to the mobilisation of any refranchise.
11. Lead the route’s engagement with ORR regarding route regulation in CP6
12. Develop joint efficiency plans with franchises

Contact us now – <phone number removed> To apply for this position contact Linda Davison by emailing your C.V to linda .davison @vital .uk .com

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