At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex international monorail projects from start to finish, ensuring top performance and delivery.
- Company: Join Alstom, a leader in innovative transport solutions with a commitment to greener mobility.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible benefits, and comprehensive social coverage including maternity pay.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and collaboration with diverse teams across Europe.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the rail industry while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Project management experience in the railway sector and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high‑speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, 86,000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.
Your future role
As a Project Director, you will drive the execution of high‑criticality, complex international monorail programmes, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements and customer expectations to maximise performance in terms of cash, margin and on‑time delivery. Accountable end‑to‑end, you will lead projects from bid support and contract mobilisation through to delivery, commissioning and handover, covering major rolling stock, system integration, technology transfer and next‑generation product development. Day‑to‑day, you will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across Engineering, Sub‑Systems, Industrial, Supply Chain and Project Governance, defining delivery strategies in line with contract requirements and overseeing the Project Management Work Package to achieve optimal Quality, Cost, Delivery and Planning (QCDP) outcomes. Operating within a matrix organisation, you will drive robust governance, alignment and control across all interfaces, while leading risk, change and performance management activities. You will also play a key role in customer and stakeholder engagement, supporting export opportunities and helping position Derby as a global centre of excellence for monorail delivery, ensuring successful outcomes across both live projects and future pipeline opportunities.
We’ll look to you for:
- Lead end‑to‑end project delivery from transfer to close‑out, ensuring a smooth handover from tender and clear definition of objectives, performance, and planning.
- Build and manage project teams, including core team staffing and resource allocation; escalated gaps where needs are unmet.
- Align and lead all stakeholders (internal, external, partners), fostering collaboration, engagement, and strong working relationships.
- Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, manage variation orders, and oversee change control, claims, and potential disputes.
- Monitor project performance through KPIs, manage progress transparently, and report regularly to senior management.
- Proactively manage risks, opportunities, and savings to safeguard project outcomes.
- Ensure adherence to company standards and regulations (Ethics, EHS, Safety, Quality) while maintaining continuous alignment with customer expectations.
Business travel is required frequently to Alstom Manufacturing facilities across Europe and to final destination countries around the world.
All about you
We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:
- Strong track record as a project manager in the railway sector, with proven delivery of medium‑critical projects.
- Team management (ability to coordinate and ensure collaboration of multi‑site/multi‑functional teams).
- Strategic thinker with strong problem‑solving, advanced negotiation, and complexity management skills.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Leadership and decision‑making abilities.
- French language skills would be an asset.
Things you’ll enjoy
Join us on a life‑long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career. You’ll also:
- Enjoy stability, challenges and a long‑term career free from boring daily routines.
- Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues.
- Contribute to innovative projects.
- Utilise our dynamic, inclusive, and safety‑focused working environment.
- Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries.
- Benefit from our investment in your development, through award‑winning learning.
- Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension).
- Up to 52 weeks full maternity and adoption pay.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy or sell holiday.
- A wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.
Equal opportunity statement: Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law. As a 'Disability Confident' employer, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like ALSTOM Gruppe, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Project Director at ALSTOM Gruppe.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at ALSTOM Gruppe
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
