Land and Property Programme Manager

A little bit about us: East West Rail is an infrastructure programme connecting communities between Oxford and Cambridge, a region currently underserved by transport. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve prosperity for people and places across the corridor. East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was established by the Department for Transport to oversee delivery from construction through to operation, ensuring the railway comes together in the right way for the communities it serves. East West Rail is backed by the Government as a key driver of economic growth, with the potential to deliver a £78 billion boost to the UK economy by supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration. We are committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that means nurturing a diverse team that reflects the UK communities we serve. Our approach is straightforward: to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves.

Role Summary: The Programme Manager is a key role within the Land & Property team, reporting to the Head of Land and Property, responsible for securing all land required for the EWR project and supporting successful delivery of the Development Consent Order (DCO). Developing and managing delivery of an integrated Land and Property programme to secure the Development Consent Order and support delivery of the project. Coordinating and integrating delivery of governance, assurance, and management of risk and opportunities across land and property workstreams. Managing governance, risk, suppliers, and programme integration on behalf of EWR as an intelligent client.

The Programme Manager leads a team of project managers and technical specialists in land referencing, land access, and assembly, with strategic oversight and assurance of external land and property suppliers, including their strategies, forecasts, risk assessments, data quality, performance, and consistency of approach across the programme. This includes chairing structured programme review meetings with external advisors to monitor performance, review emerging risks, and ensure alignment with programme objectives and governance requirements, together with close liaison with other EWR teams and oversight of external relations with landowners, their representatives, and statutory bodies.

The Function: The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function defines what EWR Co is and the impact it will deliver, secures the approvals required to deliver the scheme, holds the Development Consent Order submission (including statutory consultation), and builds the business case, holding design and delivery to account to realise the intended economic benefits. Within this function, the Land and Property team acts as an intelligent, informed integrated team, using a network of third-party strategic suppliers to bring the capabilities required to deliver the land needed to construct and operate the project.

Key Responsibilities What you will do:

• Lead and manage a team of project managers and technical specialists, providing strategic direction, oversight, and integration assurance for cohesive, compliant project delivery, and facilitating effective communication and coordination with suppliers to ensure cohesive integration of deliverables and milestones.
• Develop and deliver effective land and property strategies and plans to support a successful DCO application and delivery of the project, including preparation for the DCO examination process such as evidence and resourcing plans.
• Develop and oversee processes for governance, assurance, and management of risks and opportunities for land and property workstreams.
• Support project managers and technical specialists to design and deliver a solution aligned to a central approach, to successfully acquire the land and property required to construct, commission, and operate the railway.
• Monitor programme progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to address potential issues and support on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Prepare and present programme reports, updates, and performance metrics to the Head of Land and Property and other senior managers.
• Act as Project Lead for the Lot 2 Land and Property Partner Contract, covering the DCO programme, land referencing, and land access, including contract management and change control, coordinating with EWR workstream leads.
• Take responsibility for your own and others' health and safety, working to EWR Co's Health and Safety principles.
• Bring a cost-conscious mindset, keeping taxpayers' money at the forefront of decisions.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Support EWR Co's vision and behaviours, working in line with our Ways of Working and encouraging others to do the same.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise What you will bring:

• Essential A track record of successfully managing and delivering land and property programmes, with an emphasis on integration and coordination.
• Background leading land and property workstreams within a client-side organisation.
• Skilled in land acquisition, including by compulsory purchase, for linear infrastructure projects.
• Confident acting as an intelligent client, instructing, managing, and integrating external land and property suppliers to acquire, transfer, manage, and dispose of land and property.
• Able to develop governance, assurance, and reporting arrangements for land acquisition programmes.
• Effective leadership and team management, including oversight of multi-disciplinary teams and ensuring cohesive integration of project outputs.
• Well-versed in strategic planning and option analysis, including financial appraisal and forecasting.
• Ability to explain property matters clearly to audiences without a property background, present data and reports to stakeholders at all levels, and demonstrate compliance with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements.

• Desirable Background within a government-related organisations.
• Familiarity using or implementing land data management systems and data-led reporting environments.
• A track record of maintaining effective external relationships at senior levels, with appropriate influencing skills to achieve results at pace.
• Skilled at collaborating with internal senior leaders across disciplines to deliver land assembly outcomes, working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• A degree in an appropriate discipline with membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. APM), or equivalent.

Benefits What we offer:

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
• 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
• Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
• Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
• Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Diversity and Inclusion: At East West Railway Company, we're committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences. If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we'd love to hear from you.