Senior Programme Manager - MetroLink

National Transport Authority; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

National Transport Authority is seeking a Senior Programme Manager for the MetroLink project in Dublin. The role focuses on managing the MetroLink investment, coordinating with government departments, authorities and stakeholders to drive planning, design, construction and operations of a major city rail infrastructure programme.

The successful candidate will lead multi‑disciplinary teams, oversee procurement and contracts, and ensure alignment with national transport strategies and investment

Qualifications

• Experience in sponsor or client roles for large infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams with ability to motivate and empower staff.
• Proven ability to manage procurement processes and contracts in line with governance.
• Excellent written and oral communication across senior stakeholders and Government departments.
• Ability to prepare investment plans and manage multi‑project budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead oversight and assurance activities for the MetroLink project.
• Coordinate engagement with delivery bodies, Departments, local authorities and stakeholders.
• Ensure MetroLink delivers the projected benefits and outcomes as approved by the NTA.
• Prepare tender documentation and manage procurement in accordance with NTA procedures.
• Develop transport strategies, policies and implementation plans in collaboration with the NTA team.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Financial governance

Education

NFQ Level 7 degree in engineering or project management

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing, monitoring and liaising with the Sponsoring Agencies in the development and the successful delivery of the NTA’s multi-billion-euro metro rail infrastructure investment programme, spanning design, planning, construction and operations.

The cornerstone of the metro investment programme is the MetroLink project, an 18.8km driverless (Grade of Automation 4) metro system travelling from north of Swords through to south city centre in Dublin, via Dublin Airport. The route comprises sections of single bore tunnel, open and covered retained cut, and above ground running and will deliver a capacity of up to 20,000 passengers per hour, per direction. The MetroLink project received planning approval on 2 October 2025, and preparation of the tender design and procurement packages is currently underway. It is anticipated that the project will enter initial construction phases in 2027 with commencement of passenger services in mid 2030’s.

Reporting to the Head of Metro Investment, in the Transport Planning and Investment Directorate, the primary role of the Senior Programme Manager – MetroLink, in the Metro Investment team - is to manage, or assist in the management of, the MetroLink project funded by the NTA. This project is being delivered by other statutory authorities or agencies on behalf of the NTA. In addition, the Senior Programme Manager - MetroLink will be required to liaise with other key stakeholders such as Government Departments, local authorities, internal NTA stakeholders and other state agencies in respect of projects. With a focus on the delivery of new infrastructure, it is an exciting and challenging role, delivering a key element of the North-South spine in Dublin, enabling increased sustainable travel and enhancing regional and international connectivity.

In addition to the MetroLink project, in line with government policy, feasibility studies on future Metro projects will be undertaken over the coming years feeding into the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.

In addition to the MetroLink project, the role also encompasses engagement across the other areas of transport planning and investment with the NTA’s capital investment portfolio ensuring the delivery of an integrated transport system meeting the needs of all users.

The principal duties and responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager – MetroLink may include some or all of the following:

• Managing the NTA’s role in the planning and implementation of MetroLink, including but not limited to:
• managing oversight, assurance and approval processes;
• managing engagement with the delivery bodies, Department of Transport and other key stakeholders; and
• ensuring that the MetroLink scheme is delivered in a manner that secures the projected benefits and planned outcomes as specified by the NTA.
• Managing the work of the NTA in respect of the MetroLink project, ensuring coordination of the necessary engagement across all departments is undertaken, and NTA inputs are provided in a timely manner to support delivery of the MetroLink project;
• Providing input to preparation of investment plans for public transport investment, particularly relating to metro investments, and management of the relevant NTA’s investment budget, as part of the NTA’s overall capital programme which is currently over €1 billion per annum and projected to increase over the next five years to support delivery of the MetroLink and other investment projects;
• Management and development of key stakeholder relationships, particularly those involved in the delivery of Metro investments including Transport Infrastructure Ireland or other statutory delivery bodies;
• Providing input to the development, in collaboration with other sections of the NTA, of transport strategies, policies, strategic traffic management plans and implementation plans;
• Management of various engineering and advisory contracts to support the delivery of MetroLink and other public transport investment programmes;
• Management of Programme Managers and consultants as part of the metro investment team;
• Preparation of tender documentation for services and works related contracts and management of various procurement processes in accordance with procurement rules, regulations and NTA procedures;
• Undertaking reviews of project designs and project proposals;
• Overseeing the appraisal of the MetroLink project including reviews of business cases;
• Managing the MetroLink project in accordance with Government and Sectoral guidance;
• Preparation of guidance documentation including in the areas of project management, cost management, design standards and project appraisal;
• Managing a portion of the NTA’s overall capital investment budget, ensuring financial accountability for incurred expenditure;
• Ensuring compliance of funded projects with national policies including planning and procurement policies;
• Preparing regular progress/expenditure reports;
• Developing and assisting in the development of transport strategies and related implementation programmes; and
• Taking part in other NTA projects and initiatives as required.

Note: The functions and responsibilities initially assigned to the position are based on the current organisational requirements and may be changed from time to time. The person appointed requires the flexibility to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar level within the Authority.

Please note: In order to satisfy the shortlisting panel that you meet these criteria you must explicitly reference how you meet same in your application. Failure to demonstrate these may prevent your application progressing to future shortlisting stages.

Each candidate must meet the following requirements at the time of the competition closing:

• Hold a minimum of an NFQ level 7-degree qualification in a relevant discipline, being engineering or project management or equivalent;
• Have at least 7 years’ satisfactory experience of engineering or infrastructure project management work, including at least 3 years’ experience in the management of people;
• Have significant experience in sponsor or client roles in the planning or construction of projects of a similar scale and complexity as the planned Dublin MetroLink;
• Have experience in development and/or management of major construction contracts and/or contracts which involve private finance such as PPP forms of Contract, or similar;
• Demonstrate strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to work within, and lead, multi-disciplined teams and to motivate, empower and encourage personnel under their control to achieve maximum performance;
• Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills; and
• Possess a high standard of technical training and experience.

Please note: Should further shortlisting be required after essential criteria above, a selection of the following may be assessed.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Have experience in the design development stage and the construction delivery stage of large transportinfrastructure projects, with a strong knowledge of current relevant guidelines and technical specifications;
• Have experience in construction tender documentation preparation for large transport projects over €10M;
• Have experience in development and/or management of NEC contracts;
• Have experience in the management and delivery of multi-project infrastructure investment programmes;
• Be able to work autonomously;
• Have the ability to manage financial resources for a multi-project portfolio within a budgetary control framework;
• Have a good knowledge of public service policies, guidelines, services and activities, particularly in the transport area;
• Have a good knowledge and awareness of health and safety legislation with particular reference to project design and project construction;
• Have superior report writing skills together with an ability to produce high quality analysis and reporting; and
• Have a good level of computer proficiency.