Associate (Rail Advisory)

SYSTRA UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate for the Rail Advisory team to win and deliver projects safely, on time and within margin targets. The role combines strategic bid support with robust project delivery across rail advisory services.

You will apply expertise in demand/revenue forecasting and economic appraisal, mentor others, and collaborate across teams to shape rail mobility solutions in a hybrid working environment in the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering analytic or modelling projects using rail data (demand and revenue forecasting, performance modelling, economic appraisal).
• Strong teamwork, effective communication, and credible stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage time and support others.
• Ability to deliver robust analytical outputs for rail clients and regulators.
• Degree qualification (required).

Responsibilities

• Support bid and revenue delivery targets for Rail Advisory projects.
• Develop and maintain relationships with client contacts.
• Ensure opportunities are explored early and solutions meet evaluation criteria.
• Manage cash profiles of invoicing milestones.
• Lead project delivery to time, cost and quality targets.
• Provide direction on contractual and financial matters.
• Mentor less experienced project and proposal managers.
• Share expertise and present to clients and colleagues.

Skills

Demand forecasting

Revenue forecasting

Economic appraisal

Rail data analysis

Analytical modelling

MOIRA

MOIRA2

PDFH

Green Book

DfT TAG

Presentation skills

Written skills

Numerical skills

Team player

Education

Degree qualification

Tools

MOIRA

MOIRA2

Job description

Around the world, SYSTRA's specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

The primary role of the Associate is to utilise substantial experience to win and deliver projects safely and in accordance with the divisional controls for bidding and revenue and margin delivery on projects, primarily for the Rail Advisory team/sector, but working collaboratively across teams and projects as required.

We are looking for a candidate with experience of demand and revenue forecasting, and economic appraisal who has the experience and confidence to manage and deliver projects.

Missions/Main Duties

Demonstrate behaviours aligned with SYSTRA's behavioural framework by actively fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, respect, and empowerment, contributing to an environment where all colleagues can thrive, achieve, and grow together.

Business Development

• Provide support in achieving the targets for work winning and delivery
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with main client contacts
• Achieve quality client discussions and share the insights with colleagues
• Initiate new sales opportunities with new clients

As Proposal Manager

• Ensure that opportunities are explored early
• Ensure the effectiveness of our solution in meeting the client's evaluation criteria
• Ensure that the acceptance criteria in the proposal are crystal clear
• Ensure the cash profile of the invoicing milestones are appropriate
• Leverage our scale to bring the best of SYSTRA to bear

As Project Manager

• Ensure successful project delivery to time, cost, quality and other contractual requirements
• Work with clients to understand ultimate objectives and desired outcomes for each project
• Provide direction on project contractual and financial matters
• Ensure that cash collection targets are metEnsure overall client satisfaction targets are met

Technical Leadership

• Support/mentor less experienced project/proposal managers
• Support projects in your areas of technical expertise
• Be recognised as an authority on a subject both internally and externally
• Make presentations to clients, third parties and colleagues as appropriate
• Raise the profile of SYSTRA by writing articles or delivering papers at conferences
• Encourage interaction and cross-fertilisation of knowledge between technical staff

Profile/Skills

• You should have experience delivering analytical or modelling projects using rail data, typically related to a combination of demand and revenue forecasting, performance modelling, economic appraisal, and rail commercial / financial analysis.
• We are looking for candidates who are strong team players, confident communicators and capable of building credibility with both clients and colleagues. You will bring excellent presentation, written and numerical skills, along with the ability to manage your own time effectively and support others in doing the same.
• You will have the ability to confidently manage the delivery of projects and oversee the work of junior colleagues
• You should have a strong understanding of rail demand forecasting methodologies, particularly PDFH, and expertise using MOIRA and/or MOIRA2 and experience
• You should have experience in business case development following Green Book/DfT TAG guidance, ideally you would have experience across all five business case dimensions, but experience of the economic dimension is most important
• You will have a track record in delivering robust analytical outputs to inform decision making for clients such as rail operators, DfT, Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road or local government such as combined authorities or sub national transport bodies
• Knowledge and interest in the rail industry is expected, including in relation passenger services and/or freight. An understanding of operator strategy, rail enhancement business cases, and the current agenda for rail reform within the UK would be an advantage.
• Experience of rail demand forecasting research techniques would be an advantage.
• A degree qualification.

Workplace Type

Hybrid