Programme Director, North East Rail Programmes

Salary: Up to £100,000 based on skills and experience (SCS PB1)

Location: Birmingham or Leeds

Transport matters to everyone, every single day. It is vital for the environment, the economy, to the country’s prosperity and to our health and wellbeing. The Department of Transport (DfT) is leading investment, innovation and change in delivering a modern, technologically advanced transport system across the UK. This is particularly true for our work in rail, where record investment is being made in upgrading our nation’s infrastructure.

The role:

This role will be integral to delivering a significant element of that investment. As lead client on all aspects of our rail upgrade projects in the North East, you will be key to a £1bn+ and varied portfolio of small, medium and very large programmes. This includes significant works around Leeds, the reopening of a railway from Newcastle to Ashington, and responsibility for integrating programmes across the North East and North West portfolios. It represents a key part of the Government’s “levelling-up” agenda in the North.

You will work with and drive our primary delivery partners, including Network Rail, ensuring that our programmes deliver for passengers and taxpayers. You will also drive significant change and improvement, professionalising our management of major infrastructure programmes and taking a key role in an ambitious efficiency drive. Project delivery roles of this scale or profile do not come along very often.

About you:

We are keen to broaden our reach and would welcome applications from those with a background in delivery or supply chain organisations across the private and public sectors, including those with non-rail backgrounds.

You will need to be an experienced leader, with a proven track record of leading for the client on major projects and with an ability to provide leadership on complex projects and financial issues at scale. You will also need to be confident building constructive, but challenging, working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, and be skilled at delivering complex messages to the most senior stakeholders. The ability to both inspire your team and remain resilient personally whilst under the scrutiny that comes with leading such a high profile portfolio, will also be paramount.

What we offer:

At DfT, we offer our people an excellent benefits package, including attractive annual leave, a Civil Service pension with employer contributions, flexible working options, a range of family friendly policies as well as an employee discount scheme. We also offer a range of networking opportunities as well as strong learning and development programmes.

The projects and programmes you will lead will have a direct impact on communities, achieving our ambition of connecting people and places and in driving prosperity. We are fast paced, innovative and unique in the breadth of work we lead, making DfT a truly exciting and rewarding place to work and progress your career.

To find out more about this exciting role and to apply, please click the 'Apply' button. For a confidential discussion, including about any accessibility needs in relation to disability, please contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson. Their contact details can be found by clicking the ‘Apply’ button below.

Applications must be received by 23:55 on Monday 6 June 2022.