Professional Head of Infrastructure

Location: London

Salary: Competitive

Overview

About the team

The infrastructure team works to support the rail industry by providing expertise through the development of Railway Group Standards, Rail Industry Standards, Guidance Notes and related documents, technical input to research, technical input to system interface committees, and supporting the development and application of new systems for the railway. Moreover, the infrastructure team acts as a resource for the railway industry by helping companies to deal with their own infrastructure-related issues.

The team usually undertakes work in the form of projects; the Professional Head will usually be the sponsor’s agent for infrastructure-related work activities and will oversee a portfolio of work, agreeing the content in advance with members and ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.

The routes for projects to be initiated can include:

• In response to an external enquiry direct to the team or in response to an internal enquiry or request.
• Internal enquiries/requests include those from projects which are led by another team within RSSB or from research and development projects that are being conducted by an external supplier.

Projects may also be led and undertaken directly by the infrastructure team.

The role

The Professional Head will evaluate new requests for work and support prioritisation of them, ensuring suitable alignment with company strategic objectives and existing work programmes agreed with members.

Each significant piece of work undertaken by the infrastructure team will be scoped, reviewed and signed off by the Professional Head or their delegated representative ensuring the work is carried out according to the plan, ensuring that deliverables are produced, timescales, cost and resources are not exceeded.

1. To lead the RSSBs infrastructure team as the Professional Head, setting the direction for strategic infrastructure priorities, balancing the needs of members and RSSB objectives.
2. Represent RSSB on the Infrastructure Standards Committee (INS SC), and potentially fulfilling the role of INS SC chair if elected by the committee.
3. Oversee the Infrastructure team’s contribution and ensuring it satisfies the expectations of RSSB’s members and stakeholders, whilst achieving the strategic objectives of the business.

In this context ‘Infrastructure’ includes the permanent way, track system and components, draining and formation, structures (bridges, tunnels, etc.) earthworks (embankments, cuttings, etc.) platforms and the station environment.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic infrastructure priorities, balancing these with the needs of RSSB members, RSSB business objectives and team objectives.
• Provide leadership and direction to the team to ensure objectives and deliverables identified in the infrastructure programme are met.
• Communicate progress and difficulties to the Director of Standards and the Director of Projects to facilitate problem solving and forward planning.
• Provide access to support, guidance and advice for all RSSB departments and their decision-making bodies (for example Standards Committees and mirror groups) on infrastructure-related issues.
• Explore needs and requirements in response to industry enquiries and recommend a suitable response or approach to ensure that needs and requirements are met and that infrastructure matters are integrated into the adopted approach as appropriate.
• Identify means of achieving safety and performance improvements through the identification of technical opportunities and by monitoring technical developments and international practice, in those areas where infrastructure systems impact on RSSB outputs.
• Maintain and develop required infrastructure knowledge and other relevant railway expertise and ensure team members are presented with opportunities to develop and maintain their expertise.
• Ensure that the infrastructure team’s contribution to the directorate’s budget is not exceeded and support budget forecasting.
• Act as an informed buyer when external resources are needed in the infrastructure field. Check the quality of the product from bought-in resources.
• Manage and lead the INS team including ensuring effective performance management through regular 1:1s, performance reviews and development, providing coaching and mentoring and the overseeing their work.

Qualifications

• A Chartered Engineer with substantial senior managerial experience in the railway industry and with broad experience in infrastructure engineering.
• A comprehensive understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which RSSB operates, including:
• the Railways Interoperability Regulations;
• Technical Specification for Interoperability/National Technical Specification Notice for Infrastructure
• The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations; and
• The Railway Group Standards Code and Standards Manual.
• A Member of a recognised relevant professional body, such as the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Permanent Way Institute, working towards being a Fellow.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
• A commitment to RSSB’s values and customer service is also essential to the role.

Early applications are encouraged, as we may close this vacancy before the advertised deadline if sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please click the 'Apply' button now to complete your application on the 'RSSB' website.