Principal Consultant - Assurance and Competency Specialist

Who Are We?

First Rail is one of the most experienced rail operators in the UK, with more than 770,000 passenger journeys daily last year across our Department for Transport contracted operations and Open Access routes.

We operate two major train operating companies – Avanti West Coast and Great Western Railway (GWR), and two Open Access passenger rail services, Hull Trains and Lumo.

We are also ‘shadow operator’ on the HS2 programme and operate the London Overground; London Tram and London Cable Car services on behalf of Transport for London.

Our First Rail head office is home to specialist teams that provide expert support across the Engineering, Finance, Property, Operations, Procurement, IT and Human Resources functions of the rail division.

First Rail Holdings is a part of First Group, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London.

First Group operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier.

First Group works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

What is the role?

As a key member of the newly established Safety Function within the Railway Operations team at First Rail Consultancy, you will play a pivotal role in building our market presence and expanding our safety and operational assurance offering across the rail industry.

This is a high-profile position that combines technical expertise with business development, enabling the consultancy to strengthen existing client relationships, develop new markets, and establish a reputation as a trusted provider of safety and competence management services.

You will provide independent competence management, assurance, and safety advisory services to a diverse range of clients, supporting them in delivering safe, compliant, and high-performing railway operations.

The role will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing competency management frameworks that align with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and operational best practice.

Working closely with clients, you will lead the development and deployment of systems and processes for the recording, monitoring, assessment, and management of competence, ensuring that organisations have robust arrangements in place to support safe operations and continuous improvement.

You will provide expert guidance across a range of operational, safety, and assurance activities, helping clients address challenges, mitigate risk, and achieve sustainable positive outcomes.

In addition to delivering technical excellence, you will actively contribute to the growth of the consultancy by identifying opportunities to expand services, develop innovative solutions, and generate new revenue streams.

You will build strong relationships with current and prospective clients, support bid and proposal development activities, and represent First Rail Consultancy at industry events, forums, and client engagements to raise the profile of our safety and operational capabilities.

The role will also work collaboratively with our affiliate companies and wider group businesses to develop integrated service offerings, share expertise, and create new opportunities for growth across the rail sector.

Through your leadership, industry knowledge, and professional credibility, you will help position First Rail Consultancy as a recognised leader in railway operations, competence management, and safety assurance.

Note that this role is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract, with progression onto a permanent contract subject to meeting criteria on utilisation and revenue generation.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety, Competence and Assurance Delivery
• Lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of competence management frameworks, standards and assurance arrangements for clients operating within the rail and transport sectors.
• Provide independent expert advice and guidance on competence management, operational safety, assurance, human factors and regulatory compliance.
• Undertake audits, assessments, reviews and assurance activities to evaluate the effectiveness of competency and safety management systems.
• Develop and implement competency assessment, training and development frameworks that support safe, compliant and high-performing railway operations.
• Support clients in the development and deployment of digital systems and processes for recording, managing and monitoring competence.
• Produce high-quality reports, recommendations and improvement plans that provide practical, evidence-based solutions to client challenges.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, Rail Industry Standards, ORR guidance, RSSB standards and industry best practice, ensuring advice remains current and relevant.
• Client Engagement and Consultancy Delivery
• Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, acting as a recognised subject matter expert in operational competence and safety assurance.
• Lead and support the delivery of consultancy commissions, ensuring projects are delivered safely, effectively, on time and within budget.
• Work collaboratively with clients to identify organisational challenges, operational risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide strategic and operational advice across a broad range of railway operations, safety, competence and assurance activities.
• Support clients in preparing for regulatory inspections, audits and accreditation activities.
• Business Development and Revenue Growth
• Identify, develop and convert opportunities to expand First Rail Consultancy's safety and operational assurance services.
• Support the preparation of bids, proposals, tenders and client presentations that demonstrate the consultancy's capability and value proposition.
• Develop new service offerings, products and solutions that respond to emerging client needs and industry challenges.
• Contribute to achieving revenue, utilisation and growth targets for the Railway Operations and Safety Function.
• Collaborate with colleagues across First Rail Consultancy and affiliate companies to develop integrated solutions and maximise commercial opportunities.
• Market Presence and Thought Leadership
• Represent First Rail Consultancy at industry events, conferences, working groups and professional forums.
• Develop technical papers, articles, presentations and thought leadership material that promotes the consultancy's expertise and market reputation.
• Support the development of strategic partnerships with industry bodies, clients and supply chain organisations.
• Help establish First Rail Consultancy as a recognised leader in railway operations, competence management and safety assurance.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement in safety, competence management and operational performance across the rail sector.
• Leadership and Team Development
• Support the growth and maturity of the newly established Safety Function through the development of processes, methodologies and best practice.
• Mentor and support colleagues across the consultancy, sharing knowledge and developing capability within the wider team.
• Foster a culture of safety, professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to business planning activities and the long-term development of the Railway Operations and Safety practice.

Who are we looking for?

The successful applicant for the role will be an experienced and qualified Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) professional with experience in a rail operating environment, and with an established profile within the rail industry.

Skills, Experience and role responsibilities include

• Qualified Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) professional
• Comprehensive knowledge of train working techniques rules instructions and Railway Group and Company Safety Standards
• Knowledge of rules and regulations and regulatory bodies such as Rail and Other Guided Systems (ROGS)
• IOSH Managing Safety
• NEBOSH Level 3 or equivalent
• Risk Based Training Needs Assessment (RBTNA)
• Development of competence frameworks
• Development and deployment of systems for recording and management of competence
• IQA
• Standardisation
• Audit, inspection and assurance across safety, operations and engineering environments
• Support for due diligence activity
• Business Development

What can we offer you?

• Salary of up to £75k per annum dependant on experience
• Minimum of 10% contribution to your Pension (5% employer and 5% employee)
• 25 days holiday plus national bank holidays
• Travel offers for Bus and Rail
• Payroll Giving – donate directly from your pay to a charity of your choice
• Shopping discounts including discounts and cashback on electrical goods, your weekly shop, holidays, cinema trips, car insurance, upgrading your mobile and lots more
• All employee Share Schemes
• Buy as You Earn share scheme
• Employee Assistance Helpline – free, confidential employee support service provided by an independent provider
• After 6 months employment

First Group plc welcomes applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.

We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive organisation because we believe that diversity brings benefits for our customers, communities and our people.

Valuing our differences and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience helps us develop new services, open up new markets and broaden our customer base.

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