Project Operations Interface Specialist

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

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: £46,701 to 56,963 per annum. 

*Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*

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

Following the UK Government's policy announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), Network Rail is growing its team to develop this multi-billion-pound rail investment, which will improve rail connectivity in the North of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail spans from Liverpool, through Manchester and on to Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, and builds on the benefits planned from the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.

This job is one of several exciting opportunities to join the growing NPR team in this early stage of development.¿ You will be part of the challenge and innovation¿required¿to drive efficiency and value for money for the UK taxpayer. It is important that our product is an affordable and sustainable railway that brings our passengers and freight users more frequent, faster, greener trains, running on a better, cleaner and more reliable railway.

We recognise that flexibility is necessary for helping our people excel, both professionally and personally. At Network Rail we have a flexible working policy which allows up to 40% of our working hours, to be completed from home.¿ Alongside this, most of our team benefit from some form of individual working arrangement including reduced or compressed hours, to balance business and individual needs.

We recognise the importance of flexibility in attracting and retaining great people to work on NPR and are very happy to consider proposals to meet individual needs.¿¿ 

This role can be based from Manchester or York. 

• Confirming that each phase of a major project or programme of works is operationally feasible on behalf of the Route throughout the PACE lifecycle. 
• Chairing stakeholder meetings on operational matters related to the project or programme. 
• Providing expert input and representing the Route at meetings relating to the project or programme. 
• Agreeing the operational requirements for project development and design, including the review and acceptance of key project deliverables at ES3 such as the Programme Operations and Maintenance Readiness Plan 
• Leading on behalf of the Route in the production of Major Project Notices, or similar, for disruptive possessions and project activities, in conjunction with the project team, and securing the necessary agreement from key stakeholders. 
• Leading on behalf of the Route in managing the ergonomic and efficiency requirements of major projects and programmes of work in relation to all operational matters. 
• Managing and coordinating operational risk assessments to inform commissioning plans and staging strategies for major projects or programmes associated with the Route, including any special working arrangements required for engineering or other works, to successfully deliver project objectives. 
• Managing operational project liaison activities associated with the Route or other designated bodies. 
• Reviewing and accepting documentation on behalf of the Route to verify that all necessary operational requirements have been accommodated. Undertaking and reviewing risk assessments to ensure that relevant operational principles are complied with and that all necessary operational and maintenance requirements can be met. 
• Preparing expert technical submissions in connection with the project or programme to support applications for derogation from, or temporary non-compliance with, normal operating or maintenance standards, supported by suitable and sufficient risk assessments, and arranging the preparation of any necessary instructions for approval. 
• Participating in project and programme-related committees dealing with operational recommendations arising from projects and programmes. 

To provide strategic operational leadership and independent operational assurance across a multi-£bn portfolio of complex railway infrastructure, enhancement and transformational change programmes. The role ensures that Route operational requirements, safety considerations, passenger and freight needs, and business objectives are fully integrated into programme development and delivery, enabling the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the future railway, whilst ensuring the delivery of the minimum viable product required to realise business benefits and operational outcomes. 

As the nominated operational expert, the post holder will lead engagement with operational stakeholders, represent Route operational interests, and play a key role in influencing programme and investment decisions, including option selection, scope development and project delivery strategies. They will assess operational feasibility, identify and manage operational risks, support operational readiness and commissioning activities, and provide advice and assurance to senior leaders and governance forums. 

Working collaboratively across engineering, programme management, operations, maintenance, project delivery teams and industry partners, the post holder will ensure the successful introduction of new infrastructure, systems and operational changes, delivering sustainable outcomes that enhance railway performance, improve safety and support customer and freight service requirements. 

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.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing.  We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

We are seeking an experienced and influential railway operations professional to provide operational leadership across complex infrastructure and transformational change programmes. The successful candidate will combine deep operational knowledge with outstanding stakeholder management skills, ensuring that operational requirements, safety considerations and business objectives are effectively integrated throughout the project lifecycle. 

They will be a confident and credible leader, capable of assessing operational feasibility, identifying and mitigating risk, constructively challenging assumptions, and providing clear, evidence-based recommendations that support the safe, efficient and reliable operation of the railway. 

Equally effective working independently or as part of multidisciplinary teams, they will build strong relationships across operations, engineering, maintenance, project delivery and external stakeholders, influencing decision-making and driving collaboration to achieve successful project outcomes and long-term operational benefits. 

• Significant experience within railway operations, operational integration, infrastructure projects or a related operational environment. 
• Expert knowledge of railway operations, signalling principles, Rules and Regulations, Railway Group Standards and operational procedures. 
• Experience in assessing operational feasibility and assuring the safe introduction of new infrastructure, systems or operational changes. 
• Strong operational risk management capability, including hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation development. 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use operational data, modelling outputs and performance information to support evidence-based decision-making. 
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to present complex operational issues clearly and credibly to senior stakeholders, project teams and governance forums. 
• Proven stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across multiple disciplines, organisations and industry partners. 
• Experience of commissioning, operational readiness, possessions planning, disruptive works, testing and major project implementation within a live operational railway environment. 
• Demonstrable experience of leading operational assurance activities and providing strategic operational advice across major programmes and investment portfolios. 
• A proactive, resilient and solutions-focused approach, with the confidence to challenge constructively, influence outcomes and drive continuous improvement. 
• Membership of a relevant professional institution and qualifications in railway operations, safety, engineering or a related discipline. NEBOSH or an equivalent health and safety qualification would be advantageous. 

The successful candidate will be passionate about delivering safe, efficient and reliable railway operations. They will be capable of balancing operational performance, safety, passenger and freight requirements, and project objectives, while maintaining credibility as a trusted operational expert and influencing decision-making across a diverse range of stakeholders.