Telecoms, Rail & Signaling Project Director (Contract)

Fusion People Ltd; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Fusion People Ltd is seeking an experienced Telecoms, Rail & Signalling Project Director (Contract) to lead major rail programmes from design through commissioning and handover. You will operate at a senior leadership level, ensuring safe, timely delivery and governance across telecoms, signalling and systems integration.

The role involves strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and reporting to senior clients, with the engagement structured as an independent consultancy outside IR35.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering large telecoms and signalling programmes in rail.
• Experience with Tier 1 or Tier 2 rail contractors.
• Strong knowledge of Network Rail standards, frameworks and governance.
• Experience delivering projects within live operational railway environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and client engagement skills.
• Track record leading multidisciplinary teams across complex programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of major rail telecoms and signalling projects.
• Develop delivery strategies aligned to client and business objectives.
• Drive programme performance across safety, quality, schedule and cost.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering, construction, commissioning and commercial teams.
• Establish effective governance, reporting and controls.
• Oversee projects from design through to commissioning and handover.
• Manage planning, risk, resources and project controls.
• Ensure compliance with Network Rail standards and industry regulations.
• Resolve delivery issues and manage cross-disciplinary interfaces.
• Chair programme reviews and governance meetings.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Programme Governance

Risk & Controls

Job description

Telecoms, Rail & Signaling Project Director (Contract) (791737) Reading, England

Telecoms, Rail & Signalling Project Director (Contract)

The Main Contractor is seeking an experienced Telecoms, Rail & Signalling Project Director to provide strategic leadership and delivery oversight across major rail infrastructure projects. The successful consultant will be responsible for the safe, profitable and timely delivery of complex multidisciplinary rail programmes, with particular emphasis on railway signalling, communications, telecoms and systems integration.

Location:

Contract Type

Duration:

12 Months (with potential extension)

Rate:

Reporting To:

Role Overview:

Operating at a senior leadership level, the Project Director will oversee project governance, stakeholder engagement, commercial performance and programme execution, ensuring compliance with Network Rail standards and applicable industry regulations.

This engagement is structured as an independent consultancy assignment outside IR35, requiring the successful candidate to operate autonomously and deliver agreed project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the delivery of major rail telecoms and signalling projects.


• Develop delivery strategies aligned to client and business objectives.


• Drive programme performance across safety, quality, schedule and cost.


• Lead multidisciplinary engineering, construction, commissioning and commercial teams.


• Establish effective governance, reporting and controls.

Project Delivery

• Oversee projects from design through to commissioning and handover.


• Manage planning, risk, resources and project controls.


• Ensure compliance with Network Rail standards and industry regulations.


• Resolve critical delivery issues and manage cross-disciplinary interfaces.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior client-facing lead for key stakeholders.


• Build strong relationships with Network Rail, operators and supply chain partners.


• Provide executive-level reporting and manage stakeholder expectations.

Health, Safety & Quality

• Champion safety, quality and compliance across all activities.


• Ensure adherence to CDM regulations and company procedures.


• Lead corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.


• Chair programme reviews and governance meetings.


• Maintain robust reporting, controls and performance monitoring.


• Support business development, client engagement and bid activities.

Required Experience

• Proven success managing large-scale telecoms and signalling programmes (£50m+).


• Experience working with Tier 1 or Tier 2 rail contractors.


• Strong knowledge of Network Rail standards, frameworks and governance.


• Experience delivering projects within live operational railway environments.


• Strong stakeholder management and client engagement skills.


• Track record leading multidisciplinary teams across complex programmes.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Rail Telecoms & Signalling Project Director to lead complex infrastructure programmes on behalf of a major contractor operating across the UK rail sector.