Programme Development Manager

Network Rail; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28-day annual leave

Pension schemes

75% rail travel discount

Gym pass

Retail discounts

Job summary

Network Rail in the Eastern Region is seeking a Programme Development Manager to shape the NPR Leeds programme. You will sponsor development, manage client and stakeholder interfaces, and translate complex requirements into deliverable plans while balancing time, cost and benefits.

This role is York-based, with engagement across national and regional teams in a high-profile portfolio. Join a collaborative team delivering cross-cutting rail enhancements, contributing to safer, more reliable

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• MBA or related postgraduate qualification.
• Experience with client portfolios at all levels.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into deliverable work packages.
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills.
• Experience leading a team.
• Commercially astute and customer-focused.
• Understanding of early stage development (ES2 to ES3).
• Experience building relationships with clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships balancing funder, Network Rail, and industry needs.
• Translate client remits into viable scope and budget.
• Develop initial project plan with milestones, timescales, and risks.
• Produce investment papers and board papers.
• Quantify risk and plan mitigations.
• Challenge plans for deliverability within cost/time.
• Hold delivery partner to contract terms.
• Communicate progress to stakeholders.
• Negotiate commercial terms with customers.
• Comply with governance and safety requirements.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Project development

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Influencing

Team leadership

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Rail network knowledge

Education

Degree or equivalent

MBA or related postgraduate qualification

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. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here . 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 behaviouris a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

About the role

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is the Government's flagship programme to improve connectivity between the North's major cities, at the heart of the Northern Growth Strategy. Its focus is the Northern Growth Corridor - between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and York, with regular services to Newcastle, Hull and Chester also benefitting. NPR aims to ensure passengers in the North will benefit from convenient, consistent services boosting the ability and confidence of commuters to use the railways, helping drive Northern growth.

The Government has committed a £45 billion funding envelope for the delivery of NPR as a long-term programme. In January 2026, the government announced support for NPR and a three-phase approach to delivery:

• Phase 1 focuses on Leeds to Sheffield, Leeds to Bradford and Leeds to York.
• Phase 2 focuses on service improvements between Liverpool and Manchester.
• Phase 3 considers cross-pennine links, building on the government's investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

The three phases of delivery will see major construction work in the 2030s, continuing through to the 2040s.

NPR is a high-profile portfolio with high stakeholder interest from senior National and Regional leadership teams, along with a range of external stakeholders including Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA) and Train Operating Companies (TOCs).

This is an excellent opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you'll collaborate and contribute towards the developing the future of the railway network in the North. It's an exciting time to join the team to help us meet the development milestones and support the outputs agreed with the Department for Transport (DfT).

Job Purpose:

As a Programme Development Manager (PDM) you will act as a project sponsor and guiding mind for the current development stage. You will work closely with the Senior Programme Development Manager to shape and direct the current development stage whilst developing links in a sponsorship role between the client, Region, delivery agent and key stakeholders.

This is a sponsorship role supporting the development of NPR, including developing the project benefits and target project outcomes to agreed scope, time and cost.

We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of the rail network, internal and external stakeholders, and a varied and adaptable skillset including:

• A strategic mindset with an ability to think of the railway as a connected system, whilst also being able to focus on detail of engineering development and programme requirements
• Strong experience and knowledge of project development and understanding of the project lifecycle.
• Knowledge of the Network Rail governance processes including the Investment Regulations, and knowledge and experience of the different Regional panels.
• Collaboratively working with teams and stakeholders, including experience of managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including experience of influencing and negotiation with often senior stakeholders.
• Experience of challenging evidence and opinions, articulating complex problems in a simple manner, and leading project teams in a matrix organisation.
• Excellent time management and working to challenging deadlines
• Pragmatic and creative problem solving, balancing both project detail and programme objectives
• Excellent communication skills to a range of audiences at all levels, both written and verbal

This is a great opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you'll collaborate and contribute towards the NPR portfolio that will develop the future of the railway network in the North.

This specific role is York based and for the Leeds Programmes of NPR. The Leeds Sponsorship team is responsible for developing and designing a solution for the Leeds to Bradford and East of Leeds corridors, as well as the busy Leeds station area, itself impacted by NPR services from Bradford, York and Sheffield. This role will be absolutely crucial to us making a success of NPR and will require a strategic thinker who can take detailed information and explain it in a compelling way. You will be part of a close team and receive support in developing in the role, helping you to be part of shaping the future of the north and its railway.

Key Accountabilities:

• Build effective relationships, (internally & externally) to balance the requirements of the funder, 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.
• Review and interrogate client remits to confirm their viability. Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish a scope which optimises funder requirements, value for money, network availability and capacity for future development and whole life cost.
• Be responsible for the conversion of the remit into an agreed 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.
• Produce investment papers and board papers for projects.
• 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.
• Lead the process of quantifying risk associated with the project. Devise mitigating actions and periodically review recovery progress.
• 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.
• Hold the delivery partner accountable for delivery to cost, time and scope parameters. Hold periodic reviews to understand and challenge delivery progress against the output specification and agreed contract terms. Communicate progress status against defined milestones and expectations to stakeholders.
• 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).
• Comply with the requirements of investment regulations, and other corporate and project governance frameworks. 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.

• 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
• 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
• Understanding of early stage development (ES2 to ES3)
• Experience of building and managing effective relationships with clients, external stakeholders and partners at all organisational levels, including Local Authorities and Mayoral Strategic Authorities
• Ability to analyse complex business challenges, develop logical solutions and translate them into clear, deliverable work packages
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex report and investment information clearly and concisely
• Strategic thinker with an understanding of the railway as an interconnected system and the wider implications of investment decisions
• Commercially aware, customer-focused and able to influence, persuade and negotiate effectively to achieve successful outcomes

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 is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information . Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do,safe behaviouris therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision .

Network Rail can offer you arewarding careerwith 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

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: 16 th November 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.

Someone who is proactive and collaborative with a keen eye for detail. With experience of the railway and ideally some early development experience.

On a personal level we are looking for a positive, flexible and collaborative attitude to work as part of the team to progress the development of NPR.

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

Geographical Area:

Eastern England

Closing Date:

16-NOV-2026

Job Category:

Business, Commercial and Project Management

Function:

Eastern Region

Organisation: