Integration Planner

DfT Operator; London Borough of Lambeth; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Job summary

DFTO invites applications for an Integration Planner to coordinate functional integration planning across DFTO, Network Rail, RDG and rail reform stakeholders. You will translate complex programme requirements into structured delivery plans, logging dependencies, risks and milestones to ensure continuity of operations.

Based in London or other DFTO offices, the role supports governance forums, uses planning tools, and works with PMO and delivery teams to align with broader reform objectives and

Qualifications

• Experience in programme planning, project controls, PMO, or programme delivery environments.
• Strong planning and scheduling skills with dependencies, milestones and critical paths.
• Experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Ability to analyse large volumes of information and translate them into coherent, actionable plans.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience maintaining project documentation and governance records.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
• Proficiency in planning and project management tools and techniques.
• Desirable: rail, transport or public sector exposure.
• Understanding of rail reform and GBR transition.
• PMO related knowledge (PRINCE2/MSP or equivalent).
• Experience supporting large-scale organisational change or transformation programmes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate functional integration planning across DFTO and relevant bodies.
• Define and manage the pathway for functional integration with milestones and dependencies.
• Establish delivery schedules and monitor progress with corrective actions.
• Collaborate with integration teams and stakeholders to ensure plans are realistic and supported.
• Communicate risks and interdependencies clearly to ensure governance readiness.
• Contribute to governance and reporting activities as required.
• Develop and maintain planning documentation and knowledge libraries.
• Support assurance and decision-making with planning insights.

Skills

Experience in programme planning, PMO,

Job description

About DFT Operator

Join Our Team at DFTO

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 11,000 services a day and delivers over 930 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeast, Southern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia, WM Trains, GTR. and Chiltern.

We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.

Primary Purpose of Job:

Develop, maintain and coordinate the functional integration plans that support the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). Working across DFTO, Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and wider rail reform stakeholders, the role will undertake planning activity so that integration activities are effectively planned, sequenced and aligned to broader reform objectives.

The postholder will act as the central coordination point for functional integration planning, translating complex programme requirements into structured, deliverable plans and communicating and logging dependencies, risks and milestones so they are clearly understood and managed. Through close collaboration with programme management offices, delivery teams and functional stakeholders, the Integration Planner will support the successful implementation of rail reform whilst maintaining focus on business continuity and operational delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Integration Planning

• Develop, maintain and own the functional integration plan that supports the transition to Great British Railways for DFTO.
• Define and manage the pathway for functional integration, so that activities are logically sequenced and aligned with programme objectives.
• Establish clear milestones, dependencies, critical paths and delivery schedules to support successful implementation.
• Monitor progress against plans and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Work closely with functional leads, integration teams and project delivery professionals to create plans that are realistic, achievable and fully supported.
• Collaborate across multiple organisations and stakeholder groups involved in rail reform.
• Communicate planning assumptions, risks and interdependencies so they are understood and managed effectively.

Cross-Industry Alignment

• Build and input into integration plans that appropriately reflects the needs, priorities and constraints of DFTO, Network Rail, RDG and wider rail reform stakeholders.
• Identify areas of alignment, overlap or conflict and support the development of coordinated solutions.
• Promote a consistent planning approach across organisations involved in the delivery of rail reform.

Programme and Project Integration

• Work closely with DFTO programme management teams, the DFTO PMO, the GBR Design and Implementation Programme PMO and the Rail Reform Portfolio Office so that integration plans are aligned with broader programme and portfolio plans.
• Support the management of interfaces, dependencies and delivery risks across multiple programmes and workstreams.
• Contribute to programme governance and reporting activities as required.

Documentation and Knowledge Management

• Develop, maintain and organise libraries of planning, governance and integration documentation.
• Accurately capture key programme information, assumptions, decisions and lessons learned and create correct access so the appropriate information is available to relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain version control and document management standards across integration planning activities.
• Support the preparation of presentations, reports and planning materials for governance forums and senior leadership teams.

Risk, Dependency and Assurance Management

• Identify and track risks, issues and dependencies that could impact functional integration delivery.
• Support the development of mitigation plans and contingency arrangements.
• Provide planning insight and analysis to support assurance and decision-making processes.
• Escalate significant risks or planning concerns through appropriate governance channels.

Analysis and Continuous Improvement

• Apply project planning, project management and analytical techniques to improve planning quality and delivery outcomes.
• Evaluate planning processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development of planning standards, templates and tools that enhance consistency and effectiveness across programmes.
• Contribute to lessons learned activities and the continuous improvement of integration planning capability.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

Essential criteria

• Experience in programme planning, project controls, PMO, project coordination or programme delivery environments.
• Strong planning and scheduling skills, including the management of dependencies, milestones and critical paths.
• Experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Ability to analyse large volumes of information and translate them into coherent and actionable plans.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience maintaining project documentation and governance records.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation communication skills.
• Proficiency in planning and project management tools and techniques.

Desirable criteria

• Experience within the rail, transport or public sector sectors.
• Understanding of rail reform and the transition to Great British Railways.
• Experience working within programme management office (PMO) functions.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies such as PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent.
• Experience supporting large-scale organisational change or transformation programmes.

Vacancy Details:

Duration: Fixed Term up to 31st March 2028 contract/secondmentLocation: We currently have officesin London Waterloo, Leeds, BirminghamSalary Banding : £44,744 to £49,717
Closing date: 16th November 2026

DFTO Locations:

DFTO currently have office locations in London, Birmingham and Leeds and individuals can be based from any of the three locations. Whilst we do offer hybrid working there are sometimes demands to travel to the other office locations.

DFTO Benefits:

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

Additional Information…

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact [e-mail]