Senior Regulatory Analysis Manager

Office of Rail and Road (ORR); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in the UK is seeking a Senior Regulatory Analysis Manager to lead evidence-based funding reviews across GB rail and the Lower Thames Crossing. The role sits in the Economics, Finance & Markets Directorate and supports a shift to Great British Railways.

Based in London or other ORR offices, the role operates in a hybrid model with collaboration across Government departments, Network Rail and industry bodies to shape funding objectives over CP7 and beyond.

Qualifications

• Experience in economic regulation or public sector policy.
• Ability to coordinate multi-party funding reviews.
• Strong analytical and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate ORR’s funding reviews and CP7 planning.
• Develop and monitor objectives, funding and business plans for GB railways.
• Prepare for first funding process for Great British Railways.
• Build relationships with Network Rail, DfT, Transport Scotland.
• Provide independent challenge and robust evidence to inform decisions.

Skills

Regulatory analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Funding reviews

Cross‑organisation coordination

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Regulatory Analysis Manager to join our Economics, Finance & Markets Directorate. This role can be based at any of our office locations: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Glasgow. ORR operates a hybrid working model, working from a workplace location other than home for at least 40% of each month. This may be higher depending on the role and business needs. Workplace locations include ORR offices, inspection sites, off-site meetings, conferences, and other approved business locations.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways and monitor of performance on England’s strategic road network.

This is an exciting time to join ORR, during a time of significant change in the rail industry. Further detail on our future role is set out here. We are delivering a transformation programme in support of rail reform to create a consistently agile and enabling organisation, with the right capability and a strong, inclusive culture that reflects our talented people. This will ensure we continue to operate as an independent, expert regulator, fit for the future and equipped with the capabilities and ways of working required to support sector‑wide rail reform, while contributing to the government’s broader agenda on regulatory reform and economic growth.

The recent Highways (Financing) Bill (the Bill) will also enable us to take on the role of economic regulator for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC). We are working with government on the design of the regulatory regime for LTC.

The Periodic Reviews & Monitoring team leads and coordinates ORR’s work on funding reviews. A key part of this role is work to establish and monitor the objectives, funding and business plans for the railway in Great Britain. The team works closely with colleagues across ORR, as well as with governments, Network Rail & DFTO (which together will form Great British Railways), and other stakeholders.

The Senior Regulatory Analysis Manager will play a key role in coordinating ORR’s work on funding reviews and the Lower Thames Crossing.

A key part of the role will include preparing for the first funding process for Great British Railways. This will determine what the railway is expected to achieve during the five years from 1 April 2029 and the level of funding available for the infrastructure.

You will have a unique opportunity to be a part of making UK Government’s vision for the railway a reality as it plans for Great British Railways to take on Network Rail’s responsibility for the infrastructure, alongside running many of the passenger services on the network. You can read more about the government’s plans for the rail industry in its consultation response.

ORR will evaluate Great British Railways’ plans for the next funding period and advise the UK and Scottish governments on objectives, funding and whether its integrated business plans can deliver on these and represent value for money.

You will build effective working relationships with stakeholders within Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland to understand their approach and expectations and ensure that ORR’s work responds effectively. You will bring together contributions from across ORR, helping teams to develop a robust evidence base and produce clear, coherent advice and recommendations.

You may also be required to support the team’s coordination of the cross‑organisational monitoring and assessment of Network Rail’s delivery during the current funding period (known as control period 7, or CP7).

Through this work, you will help ensure that decisions on the future funding, planning and operation of Britain's railway are informed by robust evidence and independent challenge. Your work will support government, industry and ORR to make informed decisions about investment and outcomes, helping to deliver a railway that is affordable for taxpayers, responsive to government priorities and capable of meeting the needs of passengers and freight users.

ORR is assisting DfT with the development of the economic regulation regime for Lower Thames Crossing. This work will involve the development of a series of economic regulation guidance documents. You will coordinate and provide oversight on the development of ORR’s guidance documents and the wider regulatory framework, working across ORR and with DfT and National Highways. You will also provide coordination and oversight on resourcing and budgeting on our work on Lower Thames Crossing. Through this work you will help to ensure that ORR is ready to take on its new role on Lower Thames Crossing and that when taking on this role users of the crossing are adequately protected.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Job Information Pack for further details.

Find out what our colleagues have to say about their ORR careers at Our people | Office of Rail and Road (orr.gov.uk).