Ford & Stanley Executive a division of Ford and Stanley Group have partnered up with a renowned railway operator in Central London as they look to successfully recruit a Group Head of Operations for their UK business. This person will provide Operational support to the development of Rail Strategy for our client’s future, whilst also maximising the success of upcoming UK rail franchise bids. A key element of the role will be to lead the various Operational work streams associated with a digital rail signalling transition project in the South of England.

During the early phase of the project emphasis will be on the creation (with key Suppliers and Stakeholders) of Outcome Based Specifications, the ensuing Delivery phase will involve a high degree of Business Change Management.

Responsibilities

Rail Strategy

• Provide support as required to your line manager, including assisting in the development and delivery of our clients strategic and future planning with specific focus on Digital Rail.
• Support as required your line manager in maintaining a pipeline of expansion opportunities for our client and developing associated Operational Strategies for each.
• As required by the nature of each bid, provide leadership to one or more work streams, such as Performance/Planning and Traincrew modelling, NR Alliancing and Stakeholder Management.
• Lead (and support where applicable) strategic projects as required for any future subsidiary companies, for example the development of alternative Route Operating Models, Traincrew Terms and Conditions negotiations.
• Deputise for the Rail Strategy Director as required.

Digital Rail Operations Lead

• Creation Outcome Based Specifications – (co-created with ETCS Suppliers and other Stakeholders) will form the baseline for the development and delivery of the Programme.
• DR enabled Timetable(s) development - Including Diagramming, rostering plus manpower planning
• Engineering Access Strategy – Undertake a comprehensive review of the EAS
• TOC/NR Control Management definition and implementation of the various iterations of the DR enabled Concept of Operations and Route Operating Models, plus changes to wider Control Literature.
• Performance Management – Including day to day service delivery plus Performance modeling and analysis.
• Operational Safety - Impact of DR on Operational Standards including the need to revise and create new Standards and supporting Competency and Training criteria.
• Industrial Relations – Lead discussions regarding DR impacting Terms and Condition negotiations across all affected Trade Unions
• Wider (external) Stakeholder Management - Including local Authorities, Business Institutions and local MPs
• Supply Chain - Build relationships with key DR Suppliers
• Programme Management responsibilities - Including paper writing, presentations, creation Output Specifications and Business Change Management process.

Qualifications & Experience

We are looking to engage with candidates who have a railway background ideally from an operations and strategic environment. Please apply if you have experience working for a train operating company or have experience working in a consultancy working with franchises in transition periods. This role has a digital rail focus so someone who has a keen understanding of this field would be prioritised but understand this skill set may be short in the UK.

Possible job titles

Operations Manager, Head of Operations, Head of Strategy, Head of Digital Rail Projects