Programme Manager

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation organization in the UK is seeking a motivated Project Professional to lead the ASCEND Programme. You will guide a team in utilizing remote sensing technologies while ensuring scope, budget, and quality standards are met. The ideal candidate has a degree in a relevant field, exceptional interpersonal skills, and substantial programme management experience. This role offers a collaborative environment where you can mentor and empower others to excel in their projects.

Benefits

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days)

75% subsidy on train tickets

Defined benefit pension scheme

Interest-free travel loan

Qualifications

• Substantial proven experience in programme management.
• Excellent knowledge of programme and project controls processes and systems.
• Proven ability to work with senior industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ASCEND Programme and deliver transformational change.
• Ensure scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards are met.
• Mentor and empower team members to deliver at their best.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Management skills

Communication skills

Programme management experience

Team development

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject

Job description

About the role

An exciting opportunity to lead the ASCEND Programme (Asset knowledge of Slopes using Change detection in Earth observation and Next generation Data analytics) and deliver transformational change through the integration of remote sensing technologies and other observed data sets into our core geotechnical processes and systems. You will lead the programme team to ensure scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards are met while collaborating closely with business stakeholders and their representatives. The Central Projects Team deliver a wide range of projects that enable the organisation and wider industry to deliver change, realise benefits and meet strategic objectives. These fall into three main categories:

Program categories

• Compliance – programmes aimed at achieving compliance with legislation or policy.
• Strategic – deliver a clearly-defined vision that realises strategic opportunities and may change the operating model.
• Emergent – evolve to respond to situations or events that are often beyond the organisation's immediate control.

We have a friendly and welcoming team environment and put a strong emphasis on learning and continuously improving. What does the average day look like? In an average day at Network Rail, you will deliver a range of workstreams targeting an ambitious plan to deliver financial efficiencies by making better use of technology to monitor and examine earthworks. You'll use clear processes, KPIs and programme management standards to keep everything running smoothly and on track. We're looking for a confident leader to provide day‑to‑day line management – someone who can guide, mentor, and empower team members to deliver at their best. Working with suppliers and colleagues to make sure projects meet safety, quality and environmental expectations is a key aspect of this job. The successful candidate will shape investment plans that support the programme's goals. Sharing learning and driving continuous improvement will be an important part of your role. The role will also involve collaborating with a variety of teams across the organisation, bringing people together to deliver meaningful change and supporting the development of those around you. You'll also spend time with customers, understanding their needs and making sure these are reflected in how projects and strategies move forward, all while meeting your responsibilities under Network Rail's CSM processes.

We are looking for a motivated and collaborative project professional who can confidently manage suppliers, oversee finances and lead work from the early stages of the project life cycle all the way through to completion. You'll be someone who can take an idea or vision and turn it into a clear, structured and deliverable project, creating the right frameworks, processes and plans to bring it to life. You'll be able to lead and develop people, helping them work at their best and take a whole system approach. You should be comfortable working across different teams, building strong relationships and bringing people together to move projects forward. If you're proactive, adaptable and excited by programmes that realise strategic opportunities, and you thrive in a role where you can make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject
• Excellent interpersonal, management and communication skills
• Substantial proven experience in programme management
• Excellent knowledge of programme and project controls processes and systems
• Proven experience in managing and developing teams to achieve high performance
• Proven ability to work with senior industry stakeholders to understand their requirements
• Membership of a relevant professional body

Desirable

• Chartered status
• Knowledge of the rail industry and its regulatory framework
• Knowledge of the principles of investment processes and procedures
• Experience of working in a commercial environment in a programme management role

Benefits

• Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision.
• Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
• Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
• Defined benefit pension scheme.
• 75% subsidy on train tickets.
• Interest‑free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.
• Plus more….