Project Support Officer

The railways are undergoing a significant transformation with the Public Ownership Programme, which will transfer all privately managed Train Operating Companies into public ownership as contracts expire. This role will lead on management and optimisation of the performance related incentive framework (Performance-Based Fee (PBF)) for the legacy private sector operator National Rail Contracts (NRC) – a vital component of the contract that rewards effective private sector delivery and validates the right outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. In this role you will also support planning and delivery of the annual Quantified Target Measures (QTM) setting process across Train Operators and be part of a team ensuring effective and efficient contract system management.

As we move towards Great British Railways (GBR) roles will evolve and there may be opportunities to work across other areas requiring a similar skill set.

• Ensure that the Performance-Based Fee process runs smoothly, working collaboratively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Support planning and delivery of the annual Quantified Target Measures as required.
• Provide flexible support across other areas which may include stakeholder engagement (across contract managers and legal) to ensure contracts are up‑to‑date or support on specific projects to strengthen our effectiveness as we move towards GBR.
• You will need to be comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment and advising senior internal and external stakeholders on matters relating to the work.

This is an excellent opportunity to grow your knowledge of Train Operators and contract and performance management, while drawing on your project management skills to drive and deliver positive outcomes for rail passengers.

• Take a leading role, working with colleagues, to develop and baseline the target setting and scorecard evaluation programmes.
• Critically analyse the trade‑offs including duration, assurance and resource requirements to achieve the optimal balance in delivering the evaluation process and target setting.
• Work effectively with stakeholders to ensure everyone is clear on their roles and responsibilities and the programmes are on track to meet the contractual deadlines.
• Answer clarifying questions from stakeholders as required.
• Monitor programme progress ensuring they deliver outputs in line with aims, with any risks or issues identified and suitably mitigated.
• Work closely with the business planning team to ensure the target setting programme is seamlessly integrated in the wider business planning process.
• Deliver excellent communication and stakeholder updates, for instance attending informal forums and where necessary providing updates for external parties.
• Organise contractual meetings and ensure accurate meeting minutes.
• Identify and deliver improvements to the evaluation programme and process, taking onboard stakeholder feedback as appropriate.
• Promote best practices and lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Oversee document storing and management of the Operator Assessment team SharePoint archive in line with relevant data management policies.
• Support the Head of Operator Assessment, Contracts and Systems with management of the cost and budget for external advisors.

• Identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders to ensure all are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests.
• Clearly define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and establish controls and approval routes.
• Create and maintain a delivery plan; identifying and escalating any risks or issues to delivery.
• Work flexibly as part of a small team, adapting quickly to changing priorities and workloads.
• Take a proactive approach to delivering results and use their own initiative.

• Been involved in the delivery of a medium or large‑scale project in a fast‑paced and complex environment.
• Worked collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders to achieve shared goals in a changing environment.
• Demonstrated excellent planning, delivery and organisation skills.

• Duration: Permanent/secondment
• Location: London Waterloo, Leeds or Birmingham
• Salary: up to £52,827
• Closing date: 13th May 2026

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional days (30 days)
• DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution
• Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

For questions or reasonable adjustments please contact Amra Hurley at Amra.Hurley@dftoperator.co.uk.