Head of Rail Programme

Role Profile

To lead the Programme Management and report directly to the Rail Programme Director.

Working with the Sponsor team and Corporate Services to lead the PMO functional heads and their teams. To ensure that project outputs, strategies and contracts are supported by technical, legal and commercial evidence, to achieve the assurance and approvals to keep schemes moving forwards efficiently and cost-effective, to the planned schedule.

To actively champion the programme, embedding within the relevant partner organisations and as required to ensure successful and coordinated delivery through true partnership working. To provide input to the programme and key stakeholders on delivery challenges, opportunities, and lessons learnt that will support the development of the wider rail network.

Accountabilities

• To deliver the client requirements in accordance with the Client Requirement Document and Scheme Business Cases agreed by all programme stakeholders. Reporting to the Rail Programme Director, the Programme Manager is accountable for ensuring the production of the agreed project deliverables (‘products’) in accordance with governance and assurance processes, within approved budgets and schedules.
• To define, lead and coordinate the programme management office including the following key deliverables: Robust scope, risk, cost and programme control through a detailed project controls plan. Procurement strategies, tender documentation, including preconstruction information, construction contractor appointment documentation. Key Performance Indicators for safety, quality and cost performance of the programme. Forecasting and assurance plans for resources and both capital and operational costs. Audit and Assurance activities and reporting.
• Appoint responsibilities detailed in the Project Execution Management Plan
• To design and implement the programme governance, ensuring it is fit for purpose throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Set standards and ensure compliance with safety and assurance requirements including appropriate Railway Industry standards.
• Support the sponsor teams with oversight of agreements (Rail Industry, Land Owners and Funders) to ensure compliance with all relevant statutory requirements.

What you will be doing

• Provide line management and mentoring to team members to establish clear roles and responsibilities and personal growth throughout the team.
• Provide leadership in collaboration, embedding the ‘one team’ approach both for the internal programme team and partner organisations.
• Direct and manage the PMO, including consultants, professional services and contractors, to ensure that works are progressed in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. Procure consultants, professional services suppliers and supporting contractors for the delivery of the project in accordance with the published procurement policies and statutory requirements. Lead and manage tendering and appointment of major contractors. Implement robust Programme Controls ensuring delivery on time and to budget. With support from the Senior Planner establish a detailed schedule for all projects in the programme, regularly updating to reflect planned and actual progress in the delivery of the project, providing monthly reports to the Rail Programme Director and the Rail Programme Board. Risk and opportunities are proactively identified, managed and communicated by 3 means of a risk register. Establish mitigation plans and actions reflecting the client's appetite for risk.

Manage budgets, and ensure that budget and financial administration and reporting is of the highest standard and that appropriate financial scenarios can be tested. Alongside the corporate Legal Team ensure that appropriate legal agreements are in place to enable the development and delivery of the scheme, including agreements to acquire land.

Ensure that Lessons Learnt as part of the post-project review within the gated project lifecycle process are recognised and implemented as appropriate in the development and delivery of the project portfolio going forward.

Ensure Contract Management and Document Control systems are implemented and managed effectively. Support the Programme Director in the collaborative management of overall staff resources in conjunction with other senior managers.

Establish clear governance, quality assurance, project integration and reporting. Chair the monthly Programme Review Meetings and prepare reports, escalation and decisions papers for Rail Delivery Board and Rail Programme Board. Ensure that the project team is aware of and takes account of the client requirements and Rail Industry Partners, planning authorities and other stakeholders in the development of the scheme design as necessary to satisfactorily meet the requirements of each project stage gate.

Produce metrics to measure progress in the implementation of the Programme and achievement of success criteria. Produce clear and effective reporting tools to highlight progress against key milestones and any future challenges and requirements in terms of resource, focus and investment. Support the Programme Director to provide programme assurance as part of the governance is fit for purpose, evolving with the programme lifecycle. Provide assured evidence to secure approvals from funders and governance panels and ensure robust scope, cost and schedule control. Provide working practices and outputs that meet the requirements for Railway Stations and Network change, HSQE, CDM, Quality Management and Information Management.

• Implement and oversee a programme of continuous improvement for project development and delivery, including working with partner organisations (in particular, Network Rail), to simplify and streamline processes and procedures.
• Collaborate with other departments and directorates to identify and realise interface opportunities, including Network Coordination, Network Resilience and other schemes.

General Duties

• To supervise, guide and assist in the learning and development of junior members of the team.
• To participate in any learning and development activity required to effectively carry out the duties of the role, to participate in and assess others in the Performance Development Plan process.
• To manage and direct reports in accordance with the client’s published HR policies and procedures.
• To carry out work with reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others
• To work collaboratively in a co-located team comprising of client, consultants, Network Rail and train operative representatives.
• To participate in any learning and development of colleagues within the wider team.
• Accountable to the Rail Programme Director for the delivery of projects with a funding value of circa £200m.
• Suitable engineering or project management qualification to degree level or equivalent.

Experience and qualifications

• Appropriate professional memberships e.g. APM, ICE, CIHT
• PRINCE2 Practitioner (or equivalent)
• Network Rail PTS
• Experience in NEC3 Form of Contract management
• Extensive experience in the rail sector with the successful delivery of complex projects in the rail environment including station projects, major civil engineering schemes and full integration with all rail system disciplines
• Experience of high profile, high-value projects with hard deadlines with a track record of delivery of schemes, safely, on time and on budget.
• Experience in Early Contractor involvement projects, development of design solutions and understanding of the design process.
• Programme management experience for a portfolio of design and build projects with experience of development works, the interface and move into delivery phase, plus successful delivery of a portfolio of station projects, new build stations and refurbishment of existing stations.
• Successful delivery of stations works within an operational station environment, knowledge of and proven experience of all aspects of Entry into Service requirements and successful hand back to commence operation on completion of works
• CEM/CRE experience would be an advantage
• Understanding and experience of the integration of other modes and disciplines in particular bus, tram and highways works.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership working skills, working with multiple stakeholders within a political environment.
• Experience in working with DfT, and local Planning Authorities, Network Rail and other stakeholder bodies.
• Exhibit a high degree of proactivity and creative thinking when faced with challenges requiring resolution.

All employees have a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work, and co-operate with their employer so far as is necessary to enable it to successfully discharge its own responsibilities in relation to health and safety