Strategic Rail Operations Programme Lead

FirstGroup plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Travel for you and a nominated周

Discounted season tickets

Employee benefits portal

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

First Rail London is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead strategic change across Operations on the London Overground network. You will coordinate delivery, track performance, and ensure governance and benefits realisation across large-scale transformation initiatives.

The role requires railway operations experience, strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, plus the ability to drive cross-functional ownership and action plans.

Qualifications

• Experience in railway operations, performance, timetable planning or operational strategy.
• Strong understanding of factors influencing railway performance and operational resilience.
• Experience undertaking operational reviews, performance analysis or strategic assessments.
• Strong analytical, report writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to challenge existing assumptions and develop innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate delivery of key operational performance improvement programmes.
• Track progress against agreed performance, resilience and operational efficiency objectives.
• Support the development and implementation of action plans arising from performance reviews, deep dives and operational investigations.
• Ensure cross-functional ownership of actions and delivery milestones.
• Monitor delivery of improvement initiatives and provide assurance regarding benefits realisation.
• Lead programme governance across major operational transformation initiatives.
• Develop and maintain programme plans, milestones and implementation roadmaps.
• Plan and lead mobilisation activity during delivery phases of programmes.
• Develop and lead programme communication plans, including delivering briefings, presentations, and communication with key stakeholders.
• Manage programme risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies.
• Support benefits tracking and post-implementation reviews.
• Ensure appropriate governance and escalation arrangements are in place.
• Provide programme and governance support to strategic Industrial Relations initiatives.
• Maintain oversight of actions arising from engagement with Trade Unions.
• Support delivery of workforce modernisation programmes and operational change initiatives.
• Ensure Industrial Relations risks, dependencies and stakeholder engagement plans are captured and managed effectively.
• Coordinate reporting and action tracking associated with local and company-wide Industrial Relations strategies.
• Support implementation of agreements, commitments and relationship improvement plans.
• Any other duties, both proactive and reactive, which may be required to enable successful delivery.

Skills

Railway operations

Performance analysis

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Tools

Modelling tools

Simulation tools

Operational planning tools

Job description

First Rail London is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead strategic change across Operations on the London Overground network. You will coordinate delivery, track performance, and ensure governance and benefits realisation across large-scale transformation initiatives.

The role requires railway operations experience, strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, plus the ability to drive cross-functional ownership and action plans.