OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

Location: London initially, then based in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor

Basis: Permanent

Role Summary: Unique opportunity to support the development of a nationally significant infrastructure project currently in its initial stages through developing and managing the operations strategies and capabilities in this new organization and working closely with the Head of Operations.

ABOUT EAST WEST RAILWAY COMPANY

East West Railway Company is a new and exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.

East West Rail is a proposed new rail link between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Cambridge and potentially beyond. As part of the wider plans for this strategically important corridor, it is one of the most high profile infrastructure projects in the UK today. The new railway will improve local connectivity and serve as a catalyst for economic development and the creation of new housing, as well as significantly reducing existing journey times.

In the 2017 Budget, it was announced that the East West Railway Company would be established to bring new drive and focus to the project. The Secretary of State for Transport recently launched the company, highlighting its role to bring innovation, to deliver more quickly and cost-effectively than existing models, and to develop competition with Network Rail. The company is now scaling up significantly as it prepares to take on obligations relating to the delivery of the Western Section and Central Sections of the scheme, which will provide both innovative upgrades to existing track and to design then construct new infrastructure.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

As Operations Executive for the East West Rail scheme you will:

• Understand and evaluate the infrastructure designs, ensuring operational readiness is considered, specifically around level crossing designs, possession planning timescales and impacts.
• Support the Head of Operations in planning the maintenance and asset management activities.
• Support the Head of Operations in providing operational input into design decisions within the Alliance working on the Western Section, ensuring that full lifecycle impacts are considered.
• Assist in the evaluation of operational options evaluations on the Western Section by undertaking activities to create operational staffing assumptions, train configurations and rolling stock procurement options.
• Work closely with Network Rail to ensure an understanding of their operation and maintenance strategy regarding the Western Section.
• Contribute to the train operations strategy, and support franchising and timetabling activities
• Work with the Head of Operations to manage the network and asset operational readiness, including:

• Asset commissioning and acceptance process and assurance.
• Develop and implement operational readiness strategies and processes.
• Plan and deliver operational readiness activities throughout the project lifecycle, identifying and resolving operational risks as they are identified.
• Coordinate regular reporting on operational readiness status and risks for the Scheme.
• Upon operational ability, own the performance of the Western Section part of the railway – pulling together the outputs of the timetable, driver strategy and Network Rail operational and maintenance strategy.
• Commence the development of train unit diagrams and the train driver strategy (including depot locations and driver diagrams).
• Assist in the operational review for route selection and operation, at a strategic level, for the Central Section.
• Critique and input into infrastructure designs considering operational readiness ability, including input into track layout, signaling, control, level crossings and possession planning for the Central Section.

Further responsibilities:

• Proactively look to drive cost, time and wasted effort out of the programme
• Support the EWR Co. commitment to customer service and the customer journey
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety and of those who may be affected in the day-to-day delivery of this role by adopting and working to the EWR Co. Health and Safety principles
• Co-operate with EWR Co. in all matters relating to health and safety, including following safe working procedures at all times
• Act as a role model for EWR Co.’s vision and values, behaving in ways that are in alignment with EWR Co.’s Ways of Working, encouraging and supporting others to do so in addition
• Promote diversity in the workplace and adopt appropriate behaviour when interacting with colleagues

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

As Operations Executive for the East West Rail scheme, you will ideally have 5 years operational experience, in a safety critical environment.

Your skills and experience will include:

• Relevant experience in a front-line railway operations role
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport engineering with specific rail experience
• Working knowledge of rail industry legal rules and guidelines
• Knowledge of and experience applying practical operational readiness regimes
• The proven ability to understand operational solutions within a complex technical environment
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyse complex data (quantitative and qualitative), draw conclusions, and produce solutions and decisions
• Experience of providing operational support for large, technically complex, safety focussed and regulated projects, where there are multiple, complex interfaces
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, standards and HSSE regulations
• Experience of facilitating and driving innovation in an engineering and technical environment
• Strong communication, presentation and people management skills
• Strong ability to engage and manage a variety of stakeholders
• Confidence in dealing with high levels of uncertainty and ambiguity in a constantly changing and challenging environment

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business management and / or engineering or similar discipline or equivalent business experience and training

You will need to have the right to work in the UK.

APPLICATIONS

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