Lead Portfolio Manager

Lead Portfolio Manager

Location

London, GB

Department Name

GC IPDR (Programme Director) (382300) G4

About Network Rail

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

About GBRX

At GBRX, we are at the forefront of transforming the railway industry, driving innovation, and delivering complex projects that push the boundaries of transportation. We are seeking a Lead Portfolio Manager to manage the Digital Signalling Portfolio.

At GBRX, we foster a values-driven culture rooted in curiosity, pioneering spirit, and tenacity. By applying a first principles approach, we tackle the most complex challenges in railway modernisation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and driving transformative change. Our mission is to reshape the future of the railway and improve customer experiences within the railway industry.

You’ll work on ground breaking projects that make a real-world impact. This hybrid role offers a balance of regular in-office collaboration with remote work, encouraging flexibility while enabling you to work closely with our diverse team of experts.

Industry Partnership for Digital Railway (IPDR) is a national and cross-industry enterprise within GBRX with the mission of creating the next generation railway, through the deployment of European Train Control System (ETCS) digital train control technology. This represents a migration to a safer, higher-performing, more resilient, more efficient, better skilled, more productive, and greener railway, delivering passenger benefits in the areas of safety, punctuality and resilience, and taxpayer benefits through reduction in capital and whole life costs.

Within IPDR we also operate the Digital Signalling Portfolio to oversee the wider rollout of ETCS across Great Britain and make it easier for Regions and schemes to deploy ETCS. Through the portfolio we will co-ordinate and deliver fleet fitment activities, work to develop robust, repeatable approaches to technical delivery and business change, increase supply chain capability and capacity, and deliver initiatives to build the industry’s capability to efficiently plan, design, deliver, operate and maintain an ETCS railway.

Brief Description

We are recruiting for a Lead Portfolio Manager within the Industry Partnership for Digital Railway (IPDR), supporting the Passenger ETCS Deployment Programme.

About the role (External)

The role will focus on establishing and overseeing the delivery of projects to implement ETCS onboard fitment as part of the National Passenger train fleet programme. This includes implementing the agreed strategy, establishing and overseeing the projects needed to fit or upgrade passenger trains with ETCS.

Operating within a national portfolio environment, the role requires alignment between fleet strategy, operator readiness, deployment triggers and staged governance approvals.

IPDR is a founding and central part of GBRX, leading the national migration to European Train Control System (ETCS) digital train control technology. As the railway transitions toward a Great British Railways operating model, IPDR is helping to shape the standards, operating assumptions and cross-industry approaches that will define how ETCS is deployed and managed at scale.

Working within a wider team of commercial managers, engineers and planners, you will lead and coordinate the development of a programme of passenger fleet enablement and associated business readiness activity within the IPDR portfolio.

You will lead the delivery of technical and commercial development activity to deliver the instructed scope to fit or upgrade ETCS onboard equipment on existing rolling stock, working closely with the wider portfolio team, rolling stock owning companies (ROSCO’s), train operators (TOC’s) and the Department for Transport. You will also ensure that train operator business readiness plans are in place and integrated into the delivery plan.

This is a strategically significant role at the forefront of digital railway migration, contributing to the development of industry norms and governance approaches that will underpin passenger ETCS deployment in CP7, CP8 (Funding Period 1) and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and oversee the delivery, within agree time and cost parameters, of projects to implement ETCS onboard fitment as part of the National Passenger train fleet programme.
• Ensure that operator business readiness plans are in place and integrated into the delivery plan.
• Deliver agreed deliverables within the PACE framework.
• Oversee contracting and procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with legal, corporate, and governance standards, while fostering collaboration with the supply chain.
• Deliver to scope and programme reflecting project SPEED and PACE principles.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Proven leadership, interpersonal, collaborative and influencing skills.
• Understanding of key stakeholders and experience of cooperative working with stakeholders such as TOCs, ROSCOs, DfT, ORR.
• Onboard train fitment Project Management experience.
• Communication skills, both written and verbal, to ensure constructive dialogues with projects and the programme, and reporting to stakeholders.
• Competency in, planning, monitoring, and controlling projects of similar size and complexity
• Role modelling collaborative behaviours.
• Strong experience in procurement, assurance processes, and project governance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex issues proactively and think strategically about costs, business priorities, and customer impacts.
• Degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Professional qualification in project or programme management (e.g. APM PMQ or equivalent experience).
• In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice.
• Understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015).
• Practical experience applying CDM and Common Safety Method (CSM) regulations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience of delivery of onboard ETCS (“digital”) technology or rolling stock modification programmes.
• Project engineering experience.
• Understanding of UK Interoperability Regulations and vehicle authorisation processes.
• Knowledge of portfolio management approaches (e.g. MoP) or programme methodologies (e.g. MSP).
• Knowledge of investment, commercial, and procurement regulations.
• Experience working within the PACE framework.
• Familiarity with Network Rail’s asset management practices.

Ready to drive the future of railway systems? Bring your expertise to GBRX and make a lasting impact.

Apply today to join our team and shape the future of rail travel!

How to apply (External)

Salary: £55,596-£65,966

Closing date: 07/05/26. - Late applications will not be accepted.

Click apply now to apply.

This role is based in London and will require working at least 3 days per week in our London office.

What does our recruitment process look like?

1. Once you have applied, our Hiring Manager will look at your CV.

2. If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be invited to an interview

You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

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***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****