Senior Contracts Manager (Engineering Heavy Maintenance)

Northern; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Travel

Generous Pension

Family Benefits

Cycle to Work

Exclusive Discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Career Development

Awards

Job summary

Northern is recruiting a Senior Contracts Manager for Heavy Maintenance to lead commercial management and assurance of HM activity across Northern and third‑party providers. You will ensure safety, compliance and value while managing budgets and key suppliers.

Based in York/Leeds/Manchester area, the role requires strong contract leadership, cost control and a proactive drive to improve supplier performance and delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong experience of contract management within engineering/rail environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial management and assurance of HM activity across Northern and third‑party providers.

Skills

People management

Supplier management

Budget management

Heavy maintenance knowledge

Rail vehicles knowledge

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Decision making

Supplier performance improvement

Management qualification (useful)

Job description

BUSINESS FUNCTION: Engineering

GRADE: ML2/SB2

SALARY: £63,263-£66,968 per annum

ROLE TYPE: Onsite

HOURS: Average 37 per week

LOCATION: York, Leeds, Manchester

Heavy Maintenance keeps Northern’s fleet safe, reliable and ready for service. As Senior Contracts Manager, you’ll play a key role in making sure that happens.

You’ll lead and assure the delivery of Heavy Maintenance (HM) carried out by Northern and third‑party providers, making sure work is delivered safely, to specification and with the right materials available. You’ll work closely with Train Control Centre (TCC) management, depots, engineering teams and suppliers to keep HM activity moving and resolve issues quickly when they arise.

There’s a strong commercial focus too. You’ll manage HM contracts and significant budgets, protect Northern’s commercial interests and make sure suppliers deliver what they’ve committed to. You’ll also oversee Additional Arising Work (AAW), assess the value of proposed work and make sure warranty claims and liquidated damages are pursued where appropriate.

It’s a role where good contract management has a direct impact on the reliability and cost of keeping our fleet on the railway.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll lead the commercial management and assurance of HM activity across Northern and our third‑party providers.

You’ll:

• Lead and direct the HM team to make sure contracted workloads are delivered safely, efficiently and to the required standards.
• Manage around £15m of HM materials and £7m of external HM contracts, ensuring spend is controlled, correctly allocated and aligned with agreed budgets.
• Manage HM contracts and suppliers, monitoring safety, quality, performance, cost and contractual compliance.
• Work closely with TCC management, depots, engineering teams and the supply chain to make sure HM work is delivered on time and to specification.
• Oversee additional arising work, making sure requests are properly assessed, challenged where appropriate and delivered using the best‑value solution.
• Identify opportunities to reduce HM material costs, including in‑house component overhauls where these offer a commercial benefit.
• Ensure warranty claims and liquidated damages are pursued where appropriate, protecting Northern’s financial and contractual position.
• Monitor supplier performance and take action where delivery, quality, safety or contractual commitments fall short.
• Build strong working relationships with Depot Production Managers, HM Team Leaders, Depot Planning Managers, Engineering Finance, Production Support and Technical teams.
• Work with external partners including rolling stock operating companies (ROSCOs), Wabtec Rail and Unipart.
• Lead contract review meetings, making sure performance, safety, quality and commercial issues are clearly understood and addressed.
• Provide clear assurance to senior colleagues on contract performance, costs, risks and delivery.
• Deputise for the Fleet Commercial Manager when required.
• Safety remains at the heart of the role. You’ll challenge unsafe or unacceptable delivery and take appropriate action where HM work does not meet the required standard.

About you

You’ll have strong experience of contract management within an engineering, rail or similarly complex operational environment.

You’ll bring:

• People Management experience, including contract management.
• Experience managing suppliers, contracts and significant budgets.
• A good understanding of heavy maintenance and depot working environments.
• Knowledge of rail vehicles and the maintenance activities required to keep them safe and reliable.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the confidence to challenge costs, performance and contractual commitments.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
• The judgement to make sound decisions, manage competing priorities and take action when standards or commitments aren’t being met.
• A proactive approach to improving supplier performance, controlling costs and finding better‑value solutions.
• A management qualification would be useful, but your experience and ability to lead effective contract and supplier management are what really matter.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,650 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob there’s a place for you here in the railway.