Network Rail
Senior Procurement Manager [Programmes]
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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
The Eastern Region is made up of four routes:
- Anglia
- East Coast
- East Midlands
- North & East
The region stretches from the Scottish borders along the entire east coast of England, covering the North East, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the East Midlands, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk as well as parts of Greater London.
In total the Eastern Region covers 6,042 miles of track that sees 7,500 passenger services every day, as well as 1,057,462 tonnes of freight moved each week.
Across the Eastern Region, we strive to strengthen our commercial function, improve how we engage with suppliers, embed commercial thinking across the business and deliver greater value for passengers and customers.
We lead the sourcing activity for the region, ensuring effective frameworks and contracts are in place for key regional categories of spend; site and non-site based activities supporting Routes (and maintenance teams), Asset Management, Renewals and Enhancements works and major projects and programmes (including Works Delivery and Capital Programmes teams), management consultancy, professional services, contingent labour, design services and property support. We also work closely with Route Services team who are responsible for sourcing IT and property requirements nationally.
We aim to be an engaged, expert and responsive team working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to deliver best-value routes to market for the region and our customers.
Across the team we have a breadth of experience delivering services, maintenance, operations, design, signalling and major enhancements contracts and commercial models, as well as framework design and delivery.
The role can be based in York, Manchester, Derby or Stratford with some travel required between. It is predominantly to look after Northern Powerhouse Rail & its Development & Design Partnership Framework, however, depending on capacity within the team there will be the opportunity to work on other Capital Programme schemes & Enhancements.
Activities That This Team Is Responsible For
- Application of procurement regulations
- Sourcing and Cabinet Office pipeline
- Interfacing with Route Services/ cross-Regions for national procurements and external frameworks
- C&P and DfT assurance processes
- Commercial and procurement strategies
- Strategic procurement activities (e.g. sourcing that is complex, above threshold or outside of existing FWs)
- Contract drafting
- Framework management, guidance and handbooks
- Supply chain risk assessments and mapping
- Supplier performance framework
- Supply chain engagements (directorates, regional, SME, industry body focuses)
- Peer reviews
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Job Purpose
Procurement for Major renewals and, enhancements including works funded by third parties primarily supporting Capital Programmes, East West Rail & Northern Powerhouse Rail
Northern Powerhouse Rail is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe and represents a complex programme with multiple stakeholders, delivery partners and interactions with other major programmes. The programme sits within Eastern Region Capital Delivery.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of the procurement team working on a multi-billion-pound package of improvements, which will transform the routes and deliver infrastructure that creates a faster, safer and more reliable railway across the North of England.
New and upgraded rail network in the north aimed at increasing capacity, improve journey times and increase number of trains per hour.
Aims to make it easier to move between the region's towns and cities.
Improve connection of East to West lines.
Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) has been produced by the DfT.
It aims to deliver and sequence major rail investment in the North and the Midlands.
It combines NPR, HS2 and Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
To develop, implement and maintain contracting and commercial arrangements covering a specific portfolio and medium value contracts maintaining optimum value for money.
So come be part of a team who strive to deliver complex projects safely, on time and cost effectively which will improve the railway. We will support you to learn and develop in your career and give you the recognition you would expect from the Industry Leader.
Develop and continually enhance programme & project specific procurement strategies ensuring value for money (VFM), knowledge of the minimum viable product (MVP), and SPEED and PACE principles.
Provide procurement advice relating to specific portfolio issues
Support pre-contract procurement of main contractors and encourage the procurement of sub-contracting activity (SME's) by the main contractors.
Exercise delegated authority to procure in accordance with established policies & governance.
Maintain a forward pipeline of upcoming procurement activities
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) spans a large geographical area, and the existing rail infrastructure is vital for the people of the North, who rely on it for business, leisure, and essential trips.
NPR aims, by 2043, to enable the transformation of rail journeys between the six main Northern Powerhouse cities - Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle and Manchester Airport. Transformational change is defined by significant reductions in journey time, coupled with increases in frequency and capacity.
Key Accountabilities
- Develop, and continually enhance, project specific procurement strategies that compliment the National Programme Strategy and maintain security of supply and value for money and HSQE performance for a range of contracts.
- Perform the full range of procurement and contracting activities including pre-qualification, tender management, negotiation and preparation of contracts.
- Provide procurement advice on an asset wide basis relating to specific portfolio issues.
- Support pre-contract procurement of main contractors and where appropriate actively influence the procurement of sub-contracting activity by the main contractors.
- Exercise compliance with Network Rail policies, procedures and governance and legal (including EU Directives) and regulatory requirements.
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Essential Criteria
- Sound commercial aptitude and sound knowledge of relevant Supplier Market.
- Varied and successful procurement and contracts background with experience of negotiation and developing and implementing procurement and contract strategies.
- Ability to communicate strategies and concepts simply and effectively and to persuade and influence stakeholders.
- Knowledge of EU Procurement Directives
- Awareness of contract requirements safety and contract requirements environment.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of e-procurement.
- Membership of relevant professional institute.
- Knowledge of the rail industry.
- Educated to degree level.
- Knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023
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.
Closing date: 12th August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's In It For You
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Your Experience And Skills
- Skills in contractual and commercial matters, with credibility and experience to act as advisor to other staff.
- Successful procurement background with practical level experience.
- Contributed towards maintaining successful relationships with suppliers.
- Knowledge of relevant contract terms.
- Contribute to procurement strategies
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