Job Description

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Location

Swindon, GB#

Department Name

EB Principal Programme Sponsor (East), indirect (112615) G5#

About Network Rail

At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.


Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter.When you're part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions.

Watch our video to find out more!

The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.

Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

About our people and the recruitment process

- We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members. A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.

GWR ticket alliance - Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (20 passes per year)

Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.

A range of Pension schemes to choose from

5 days paid volunteering leave.

2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.














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Brief Description

Direct and manage the development and implementation of major renewal and enhancement projects, funded by government, customer, stakeholder, or multiple funders, where Network Rail assumes a sponsorship role. Deliver the project benefit realisation to agreed scope, time and cost.


This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of major DfT and third party funded projects within the Thames Valley and Oxford areas.


The team are currently engaged in enhancements including Old Oak Common, Oxford and potential Heathrow Airport expansion related schemes.













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About the role (External)

Key Accountabilities

1. Build effective relationships, (internally & externally) to balance the requirements of the client, Network Rail and the industry as a whole. Champion the interests of clients, customers and stakeholders acting as the focal point for escalation within Network Rail.


2. Review and interrogate client remits to confirm their viability. Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish a scope which optimises client requirements, value for money, network availability and capacity for future development and whole life cost.


3. Be responsible for the conversion of the client remit into an agreed project requirements specification. Be accountable for the development of the initial project plan and budget; working with the project manager to specify how the project is going to be delivered, expected milestones and associated timescales, resource requirements, risks & issues and funding needs/sources.


4. Produce business cases and investment papers for projects.


5. Devise solutions which maintain the 'business as usual' accessibility for our customers, take consideration of the 7 day railway principles and therefore minimise disruption to end rail users. Take a national/route wide view across portfolios to generate additional benefits, identify and resolve conflicting work and drive efficiencies.


6. Lead the process of quantifying risk associated with the project. Devise mitigating actions and periodically review recovery progress.


7. Interrogate and challenge plans to assess the deliverability of agreed scope within stated timescales and cost parameters, presenting any required scope changes to the client for approval.


8. Hold the Project Manager accountable for programme delivery to cost, time and scope parameters. Hold periodic reviews to understand and challenge delivery progress against the client remit. Communicate progress status against defined milestones and expectations to stakeholders putting contingency measures in place if required.


9. Negotiate with customers and stakeholders on the project's commercial and contractual terms in accordance with relevant corporate policy and strategy. Act as the focal point for negotiations and resolution of external scheme interface requirements, including any Parliamentary or Statutory processes, external consents issues to optimise the value of the scheme to Network Rail and funder(s).


10. Comply with the requirements of investment regulations, other corporate governance and the Guide to Railway Investment Projects. Adhere to corporate processes, including those related to safety, finance, legal and corporate affairs.


Facilitate the discharge of the duties assigned by the Client as detailed within the Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations for the programme of projects allocated to you.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential


Qualified to degree level or equivalent Experience of dealing with client portfolios and liaising with people at all levels

Ability to articulate complex business problems into manageable work packages and produce synthesised logical solutions

Proven ability to write coherently, conveying report / investment information in a concise manner

Commercially astute, persuasive, and customer focused Proven influencing and negotiating skills

Experience of leading a successful team

Desirable


Experience in management roles in a commercial environment

MBA or other related postgraduate qualification

Experience in negotiating contracts to finalisation and ability to demonstrate commercial success#

How to apply (External)

Salary:

46,701 - 55,411 per annum.

Please note this is for a 12 month Maternity cover opportunity

This role can be based in Swindon / Reading / London Paddington

Closing date:

4th December 2025


Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.




Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words for us. We're constantly striving to make sure we provide a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within our team and we're working closely with our regional diversity and inclusion networks to make sure we support these groups as best as we can.
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visitEvenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.




Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.


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 demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.