Sponsor

East West Railway Company; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension up to 12%

36 days annual leave

Volunteer days

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Perkbox access

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

East West Railway Company is seeking a strategic leader to shape sponsorship, stakeholder engagement and programme governance across our rail project connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

Reporting to a Programme Sponsor, you will work with government, industry partners and internal teams to align scope, benefits and value with policy objectives and funding opportunities. This is a senior role demanding collaboration and clear decision-making.

Qualifications

• Experience in programme sponsorship or major programme delivery.
• Ability to analyse complex information and communicate technical issues clearly.
• Experience developing options and proposals to support decision-making.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Support development and management of programme scope to deliver outcomes and benefits.
• Act as Accountable Sponsor within the governance framework for designated work packages.
• Support the delivery of a wider sponsorship portfolio.
• Collaborate with project teams to align with Sponsor's Requirements and benefits plans.
• Contribute to governance and business case development with evidence-based analysis.
• Build and maintain relationships with government departments, industry partners and local stakeholders.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme benefits and value creation.
• Support identification and development of funding and commercial opportunities.
• Work with Network Rail and government stakeholders for integration with the wider rail network.

Skills

Programme sponsorship

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & assurance

Strategic thinking

Communication

Job description

East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.

EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, and is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

Role Summary:

The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function is responsible for defining the outcomes East West Rail will deliver, securing the necessary approvals, and ensuring the programme realises its strategic, economic and social objectives.

Reporting to a Programme Sponsor, you will play a key role in ensuring East West Rail delivers the intended outcomes, benefits and value expected by government, stakeholders and communities.

This is a strategic role that combines sponsorship, stakeholder engagement and programme governance. You will work closely with colleagues across EWR Co, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and other industry partners to guide programme development and support informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

The successful candidate will help ensure programme scope, requirements and benefits remain aligned with organisational objectives whilst supporting the effective integration of projects across the wider programme portfolio.

What you'll be doing

• Support the development and management of programme scope to ensure delivery of agreed outcomes and benefits.
• Act as Accountable Sponsor within the PACE governance framework for designated work packages.
• Support the Programme Sponsor in the delivery of a wider sponsorship portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with project teams to maintain alignment with Sponsor's Requirements, programme objectives and benefits realisation plans.
• Contribute to governance and approval processes through the development of robust options, recommendations and evidence-based business cases.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, industry partners and local stakeholders.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme benefits and value creation.
• Support the identification and development of funding and commercial opportunities.
• Work with Network Rail, train operating organisations and government stakeholders to ensure successful integration with the wider rail network.

What you'll bring

We are looking for an individual with strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills who can operate effectively within a complex delivery environment.

You will demonstrate:

• Experience in programme sponsorship, project management or major programme delivery.
• The ability to analyse complex information and communicate technical and commercial issues clearly to a range of audiences.
• Experience developing options, recommendations and proposals that support effective decision-making.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities within a dynamic and evolving environment.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to delivering positive outcomes.
• Experience within the rail, transport or wider infrastructure sector.
• Experience of working with central government or public-sector organisations.
• Knowledge of major programme governance and assurance processes.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation infrastructure programme that will deliver lasting benefits across the Oxford-Cambridge region and beyond.

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
• 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
• Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
• Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
• Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.