Network Rail
Project 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. 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. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!
Vacancy Details
- Duration: Fixed term Contract of 12 months with the potential to extend or go permanent. (Please note, secondments are subject to line manager approval, please discuss this with them before applying).
- Location: This role is based in the Quadrant:MK. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered. For Quadrant:MK, you must live within 90 minutes.
- Band & Salary: Band 3B, salary £46,701 - £55,963
About The Role
About the Team
The Innovation, Delivery and Improvement Team delivers a wide range of projects that enable the organisation and wider industry to deliver change, realise benefits and meet strategic objectives. These fall into three main categories:
- Compliance - programmes aimed at achieving compliance with legislation or policy.
- Strategic - deliver a clearly-defined vision that realises strategic opportunities and may change the operating model.
- Emergent - evolve to respond to situations or events that are often beyond the organisation's immediate control.
We have a friendly and welcoming team environment and put a strong emphasis on learning and continuously improving.
What does the average day look like?
At Network Rail, no two days are ever quite the same-and that's what makes it exciting. As a Project Manager within the Chief Engineer Competence and Deputy Chief Engineer Programme, you will deliver a wide range of high profile projects aimed at delivering significant safety, operational and financial benefits to the railway industry.
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The successful candidate will be a strong collaborator, bringing people together to deliver meaningful change. You'll work closely with engineers, procurement teams, suppliers, and stakeholders to keep projects on track - managing and owning project timelines, budgets, and risks while always prioritising safety and quality.
We're looking for a confident project manager who can hit the ground running, is able to follow and apply business and industry processes, has strong experience in developing and maintaining a project or programme plan, and can adapt those plans to keep projects moving forward where challenges arise.
On Any Given Day, You Might:
- Lead the delivery of a range of projects safely to time, cost and quality, being mindful of any dependencies between them.
- Collaborate and coordinate with teams across disciplines, as well as suppliers, to drive progress and prepare the business for change.
- Monitor and report project performance using Network Rail standards.
- Work alongside commercial colleagues to manage the procurement of critical work-packages.
- Control project change, risks and contingency within the project life cycle.
Your Experience And Skills
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a motivated, reliable and proactive project manager who can confidently manage suppliers and project finances, and bring together multiple teams and workstreams to deliver complex projects.
Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills are essential, as you'll be working closely with senior leaders and external partners. You'll need to be calm under pressure, comfortable challenging constructively, and able to make pragmatic decisions to keep projects on track. A keen eye for detail and a commitment to continuous learning will set you up for success in this role.
You should be comfortable working across different teams, building strong relationships and bringing people together to move projects forward.
If you're proactive, adaptable and excited by projects and programmes that will deliver meaningful change, and you thrive in a role where you can make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
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Contact
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Next Steps
CV shortlisting will take place after the advert closes, with interviews planned from the week commencing 24th August, subject to business needs. Early applications are encouraged, as we may close the advert early due to high application volumes.
We encourage you to review our Safety Vision, as safety is an important part of the culture at Network Rail
All external offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent such as Business Management, Project Management, or have equivalent work-based experience.
- Full Membership (or working towards Full membership) of the Association for Project Management.
- Holds a valid Project Management practitioner qualification
- Experience in systematically identifying, analysing and communicating with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the project are engaged, considering their levels of influence and particular interests.
- Successful relevant experience in a complex project environment including demonstrable experience in team management, planning, contracting and delivery of projects.
- Successful record of project budget management and ability to understand and interpret commercial and financial landscapes (budgets, forecasts, actual status).
- Experience in managing ambiguity in a project environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrable Project safety and sustainability management practice and knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice (including application of Construction Design Management (CDM) and the Common Safety Method (CSM)).
Desirable
- Chartered in a relevant discipline e.g., Chartered Project Professional
- Knowledge of investment, commercial and procurement regulations and practices. Qualifications or demonstrable experience in business change, Agile project management or risk identification and assessment.
- Knowledge of Industry or Rail assets and how they are managed.
- Demonstrable experience in the Rail Industry and knowledge of Rail Industry Readiness Levels (RIRL).
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