Lead Portfolio Manager

Network Rail; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28-day annual leave

Pension schemes

75% leisure travel discount

Volunteer or carers leave

Rail travel subsidies

Gym access

Benefits platform

Job summary

Network Rail in the Eastern Region seeks an experienced Lead Portfolio Manager to shape and deliver major investment across Leeds Station and related projects. You will lead development, procurement and assurance reviews within the PACE framework, ensuring safety, cost, time and quality.

Applicants should have degree-level education, professional qualifications, and strong stakeholder leadership across organisations.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline.
• Membership (or working towards membership) of the Association for Project Management.
• Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.
• Demonstrable project safety management practice and knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Control and lead the development of robust Development/Approval in Principle for assigned projects, focusing on measurable outcomes and benefits.
• Identify and secure optimum options for clients and funders considering programme, schedule and cost.
• Develop funding strategies to secure optimum incremental funding and promote SPEED and PACE in proposals.
• Develop KPI/KRA in pre-contract documentation to enable active monitoring and measurement.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Procurement knowledge

Risk management

Commercial awareness

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Degree-level education

APM membership or progress

PRINCE2 Practitioner

Job description

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. 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 .

Eastern Routes Capital Programmes sits at the heart of Network Rail's ambition to deliver a simpler, better, greener railway. We are responsible for developing, planning and delivering major investment across the Eastern Region, one of the UK's busiest and most complex rail networks, covering key routes from London across the East and into the most northern areas of England.

We turn strategic investment into tangible outcomes. Modernising infrastructure, improving reliability, and supporting passenger growth and freight capability. Our work directly impacts millions of journeys every year and plays a critical role in supporting economic growth across the region.

We manage and deliver a multi-billion-pound portfolio of investment, spanning renewals and enhancements across track, structures, signalling, electrification and major station programmes. Our teams work closely with route businesses, integrated railways, suppliers, and government to ensure that investment delivers safely, efficiently, and with long-term value for the railway.

Our people are based across the Eastern Region footprint, with offices in London, Derby and York, as well as key delivery locations across the entire patch. We operate in a client model, providing clear governance, financial and delivery oversight while working in partnership with our supply chain.

What makes us unique is the scale, complexity and visibility of the work. You'll be part of a team that:

• Delivers some of the most high-profile and technically challenging projects in the UK rail industry
• Influences how billions of pounds of public investment are spent
• Works at the interface between strategy, policy, and delivery
• Plays a critical role in improving safety, reliability and customer experience across the network

Above all, this is a place where you can see the real-world impact of what you do, from safer infrastructure to improving performance. As we transition into Great British Railways, we play a key part in supporting the integrated railway across the region, being a more joined up system led team for passengers and freight.

The Leeds Existing Station Programme (LESP) sits within Network Rail's Eastern Region Capital Delivery portfolio and is one of the most strategically important rail enhancement programmes currently being developed in the North of England.

The team is responsible for developing and delivering transformational improvements to Leeds Station, one of the busiest and most operationally complex stations on the UK rail network. Working closely with the Department for Transport, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Train Operating Companies, freight operators and industry partners, the team is shaping how Leeds Station supports passenger growth, economic development and rail connectivity for the next 20 years.

The programme manages significant public investment and operates at the centre of wider rail industry initiatives, requiring integration across multiple stakeholders, funding sources and delivery partners. Team members have the opportunity to influence nationally significant investment decisions whilst helping to deliver tangible improvements for passengers and communities across Yorkshire and the North.

Job Purpose:

The role will role model and embed Eastern Region's culture principles - Show We Care, Listen Learn Improve, Better Together and Keep It Simple - by:

• Creating an environment of psychological safety and accountability where people can challenge and improve working practices
• Driving collaboration across teams and partners to deliver whole-system outcomes
• Promoting continuous improvement and learning from performance output
• Ensuring clear, simple and focused governance and decision‑making

In the Lead Portfolio Manager role, you will lead the development and management of the output specification, procurement and assurance reviews for the assigned projects within the Portfolio in a safe and environmentally responsible manner to cost, time and quality in line with Legislation, Company Standards, procedures, corporate governance and the Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) Framework.

Key Accountabilities:

• Control and lead and control the development of robust Development/Approval in Principle for assigned projects, focussing on specific and measurable outcomes, benefits and requirements, to achieve an unambiguous procurement exercise and efficient contract award.
• Identify and secure optimum options for clients and funders considering programme/schedule and cost options, contribute to the strategic planning, alignment and delivery of the business case for the assigned projects.
• Develop access strategies for assigned projects in Collaboration with Regional colleagues to achieve optimum balance between affordable, deliverable and of minimal impact to passenger and freight colleagues in alignment with Putting Passenger First Principles.
• Develop funding strategies for assigned projects to secure optimum incremental funding, embodying and promoting project SPEED and PACE Principles in the approach to investment proposals and decisions.
• Develop the specification and early stage embedment of appropriate, specific and measurable KPI / KRA into the pre-contract documentation for assigned projects to provide a foundation for active monitoring and measurement throughout the contract phase.
• Develop and implement contracting and procurement strategies for assigned projects within Legislative, Corporate Governance and procurement guidelines, adopting Agile Client Principles to transfer delivery and integration responsibility to the supply chain wherever appropriate.
• Conduct evaluation of supplier proposals to achieve timely contract award for assigned projects, in alignment with the overall programme objectives and strategic objectives of the Portfolio.
• Contribute to establishing the strategy for the contracting and financial authorisation processes of assigned projects to achieve a timely, risk managed approach to contract award, embodying Agile Client and PACE principles.
• Develop the facilitation and management of a progressive programme of Level 1 assurance reviews within assigned projects and undertake Level 2 assurance activities within the wider capital delivery portfolio as directed. Implement the measurement and monitoring of discharged and delegated responsibilities for assigned projects, generally for core systems and processes compliance, with particular focus on responsibilities under the Construction Design Management (CDM) 2015 regulations.

Establish, implement and monitor the assurance framework appropriate to the stages of assigned projects within the Portfolio / PACE project lifecycle, implement an assurance regime that monitors the supply chain compliance with standard requirements and those identified in the specification stage and also the core requirements of delivering safely to time / cost / quality.

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Membership (or working towards membership) of the Association for Project Management.
• Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.
• Demonstrable project safety management practice and knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice.
• Knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.
• Knowledge of procurement principles and processes.
• Knowledge and demonstrable previous application of assurance principles and processes.
• Demonstrable experience of the application of Construction Design Management (CDM) and the Common Safety Method (CSM).
• Knowledge and application of the Three Lines of Defence Assurance Model.
• Demonstrable experience of bringing different people together; promoting working as one team.
• Demonstrable experience of challenging self and others to improve services and approaches.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting the physical and mental well‑being and safety of themselves and colleagues and of challenging business and safety related risks.
• Demonstrable ability to work proactively through complex issues.
• Demonstrable experience of thinking through the cost, business priorities and customer implications of their decisions.
• Detailed Knowledge of Investment, Commercial and Procurement regulations and practices.
• Demonstrable experience of the application of PACE
• Knowledge of structuring safety cases in support of projects.
• Formal qualifications in risk identification and assessment.
• Knowledge of Network Rail's assets and how they are managed.

Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.

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 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 [e-mail]. 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.

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:£55,596 to £67,813 per annum.

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

***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****

Closing date: 6 th October 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
• 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.

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

The ideal candidate will be an experienced portfolio, programme or project leader who has a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure or capital investment programmes through development and delivery phases, comfortable operating in a high-profile environment with significant levels of complexity, ambiguity and stakeholder interest.

You will:

• Have a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure or capital investment programmes through development and delivery phases.
• Be able to lead across organisational boundaries, bringing together clients, suppliers, designers, contractors and operational stakeholders to achieve common outcomes.
• Have experience of managing supplier and consultant performance, holding delivery partners accountable and creating high-performance cultures focused on outcomes rather than activity.
• Be commercially astute, with a strong understanding of cost management, risk management, procurement and value for money.
• Be capable of making informed decisions in uncertain environments, balancing competing priorities whilst maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
• Have excellent stakeholder management skills and be comfortable engaging with senior executives, external funders, local authorities and industry partners.
• Be able to identify emerging risks and opportunities early, driving interventions before issues impact delivery.
• Demonstrate strong leadership behaviours, creating an environment where people are empowered to take ownership, challenge constructively and continuously improve performance.
• Have experience of developing business cases, securing investment approvals and navigating complex governance and assurance processes.
• Be motivated by delivering lasting improvements through major infrastructure investment and achieving measurable outcomes for passengers, customers and stakeholders.

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

York Cinder Building, York

Geographical Area:

Eastern England

Closing Date:

06-OCT-2026

Job Category:

Business, Commercial and Project Management