Network Rail
Lead Portfolio Manager
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Who We Are
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.
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.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About The Role
Network Rail's Capital Programmes Eastern (Renewals & Minor Enhancements) organisation are offering an opportunity for a driven, conscientious, and ambitious individual to join the Electrification & Plant (E&P) Renewals team based in York. It is an exciting time to join the E&P Renewals team as we enter a busy period of delivery, with £160m allocated for the renewal of E&P assets over the remaining 3 years of Control Period 7 and start the development of Control Period 8 work banks in conjunction with our wider route teams.
The successful candidate will be accountable for the development and delivery of E&P asset renewal projects across the North East, East Coast, and East Midlands Routes.
Role
The role will role model and embed Eastern Region's culture principles - Show We Care, Listen Learn Improve, Better Together and Keep It Simple - by:
- Creating an environment of psychological safety and accountability where people can challenge and improve working practices
- Driving collaboration across teams and partners to deliver whole-system outcomes
- Promoting continuous improvement and learning from performance output
- Ensuring clear, simple and focused governance and decision-making
In the Lead Portfolio Manager role, you will lead the development and management of the output specification, procurement and assurance reviews for the assigned projects within the Portfolio in a safe and environmentally responsible manner to cost, time and quality in line with Legislation, Company Standards, procedures, corporate governance and the Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) Framework.
You will develop and manage the output specification, procurement and assurance for the assigned projects in a safe and environmentally responsible manner to cost, time and quality in line with Legislation, Company Standards, procedures, corporate governance and the Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) Framework.
Assurance is a big part of the role - you will be responsible for maintaining compliance with Legislation, Company Standards, procedures, corporate governance, and the Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) Framework across your portfolio. You will be working with key internal and external stakeholders to monitor progress of key activities, taking decisive action where required to facilitate smooth delivery of projects to time, cost, and quality constraints. You will be gathering, preparing, and disseminating information on project commercial information, critical milestones, and issues for escalation. You will be agreeing and managing the performance of supplier contracts, with a focus on Value for Money for the taxpayer, whilst balancing sustainability needs to achieve Minimum Viable Product (MVP) solutions.
This role will be primarily based in York George Stephenson House, with additional scope for flexible/home working in line with Network Rail policies. This role also has a requirement for site-based activities such as inspections and audits.
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The role involves direct line management of up to 2no. Portfolio Managers along with indirect management, to facilitate project delivery, of Engineering and Commercial resource.
Key Accountabilities
- Control and lead and control the development of robust Development/Approval in Principle for assigned projects, focussing on specific and measurable outcomes, benefits and requirements, to achieve an unambiguous procurement exercise and efficient contract award.
- Identify and secure optimum options for clients and funders considering programme/schedule and cost options, contribute to the strategic planning, alignment and delivery of the business case for the assigned projects.
- Develop access strategies for assigned projects in Collaboration with Regional colleagues to achieve optimum balance between affordable, deliverable and of minimal impact to passenger and freight colleagues in alignment with Putting Passenger First Principles.
- Develop funding strategies for assigned projects to secure optimum incremental funding, embodying and promoting project SPEED and PACE Principles in the approach to investment proposals and decisions.
- Develop the specification and early stage embedment of appropriate, specific and measurable KPI / KRA into the pre-contract documentation for assigned projects to provide a foundation for active monitoring and measurement throughout the contract phase.
- Develop and implement contracting and procurement strategies for assigned projects within Legislative, Corporate Governance and procurement guidelines, adopting Agile Client Principles to transfer delivery and integration responsibility to the supply chain wherever appropriate.
- Conduct evaluation of supplier proposals to achieve timely contract award for assigned projects, in alignment with the overall programme objectives and strategic objectives of the Portfolio.
- Contribute to establishing the strategy for the contracting and financial authorisation processes of assigned projects to achieve a timely, risk managed approach to contract award, embodying Agile Client and PACE principles.
- Develop the facilitation and management of a progressive programme of Level 1 assurance reviews within assigned projects and undertake Level 2 assurance activities within the wider capital delivery portfolio as directed. Implement the measurement and monitoring of discharged and delegated responsibilities for assigned projects, generally for core systems and processes compliance, with particular focus on responsibilities under the Construction Design Management (CDM) 2015 regulations.
- Establish, implement and monitor the assurance framework appropriate to the stages of assigned projects within the Portfolio / PACE project lifecycle, implement an assurance regime that monitors the supply chain compliance with standard requirements and those identified in the specification stage and also the core requirements of delivering safely to time / cost / quality.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience.
- Membership (or working towards membership) of the Association for Project Management.
- Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.
- Demonstrable project safety management practice and knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice.
- Knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.
- Knowledge of procurement principles and processes.
- Knowledge and demonstrable previous application of assurance principles and processes.
- Demonstrable experience of the application of Construction Design Management (CDM) and the Common Safety Method (CSM).
- Knowledge and application of the Three Lines of Defence Assurance Model.
- Demonstrable experience of bringing different people together; promoting working as one team.
- Demonstrable experience of challenging self and others to improve services and approaches.
- Demonstrable experience of supporting the physical and mental well-being and safety of themselves and colleagues and of challenging business and safety related risks.
- Demonstrable ability to work proactively through complex issues.
- Demonstrable experience of thinking through the cost, business priorities and customer implications of their decisions.
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Desirable Criteria
- Detailed Knowledge of Investment, Commercial and Procurement regulations and practices.
- Demonstrable experience of the application of PACE
- Knowledge of structuring safety cases in support of projects.
- Formal qualifications in risk identification and assessment.
- Knowledge of Network Rail's assets and how they are managed.
- Knowledge of Electrification & Plant railway systems (including but not limited to Contact systems, AC/DC Power Distribution and Signalling Power).
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External How To Apply
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave
Salary: £55
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