Senior Development Project Manager

East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year. However, the lack of good East-West transport connections makes it harder for residents to make the most of everything the region has to offer. EWR is also one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

The Senior Development Project Manager (SPM) is responsible for managing the design development of a section of the route connecting the proposed new railway with existing railway infrastructure as EWR builds towards submitting a Development Consent Order. This presents opportunities but also challenges that the SPM must proactively manage. The project interfaces are complex and multi-disciplinary with significant interest from a large variety of stakeholders within and outside of EWR. This role involves oversight, coordination, and integration assurance to achieve project milestones and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, and budgets for significant work packages.
• Key point of contact within the geographical area, both with internal EWR stakeholders and external stakeholders.
• Focus on the development of single option design, including extensive engagement with external stakeholders.
• Matrix management of a multi-disciplinary team across design and engineering.
• Act as the single point of contact for project delivery for the respective area.
• Work closely with other team members to ensure collective awareness of activities being undertaken across all geographical areas.
• Balance the need for tailored area solutions whilst serving the programme.
• Ensure interfaces across the programme are appropriately identified and managed.
• Coordinate and collaborate with engineers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to ensure project alignment and compliance.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to address potential issues.
• Oversee quality control and safety management processes to ensure adherence to industry standards and regulations.
• Prepare and present progress reports, updates, and project documentation to senior management and stakeholders.
• Manage project resources, including personnel, equipment, and materials, to optimise efficiency and productivity.

Experience, Skills and Knowledge

• Strong project management experience across scope, schedule and cost in the design of transport infrastructure projects.
• Extensive experience of project controls including periodic reporting, assumptions management, contract administration, and document management.
• Experience of client role in public consultations and dealing with external bodies.

Skills

• Proactive and effective team player with a deep understanding of multidisciplinary roles and the ability to inspire high performance.
• Strong commitment to delivering a high-quality output and to driving high standards across the team.
• Familiarity with business case, benefits management, and Client Requirements.

Qualifications

• Relevant industry qualifications – APM/ MSP or similar.

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, enhanced family-friendly policies, life assurance (4x your annual salary), Employee Assistance Programme, access to Perkbox, recognition programme, and advanced learning and development opportunities.

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. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and experiences.