Consents Development Manager

Who We Are

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consist of three routes - North West, Central and West Coast South - and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services. You can learn more about our region here: North West & Central region - Network Rail. In the North West & Central Region, we're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

About NW&C Property

Our regional property team are a vital part of the North West & Central function, serving the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe and creating opportunities for economic growth for our communities and customers alike. With strategic land holdings at the heart of our major urban centres in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, together with major rail investment initiatives underway across the region, we support some of the most exciting rail based transformations in the country.

About The Role

The purpose of the role is to act as the single point of contact on consenting and compliance matters for HS2 Phase 1 On Network Works and Euston Conventional Station; working with the NR Sponsor teams, Capital Delivery, HS2 Project Managers and HS2 Compliance Managers to co-ordinate Undertakings & Assurance compliance for all On Network Works projects and support the development of RECS alongside HS2's new Euston Station and wider commercial development aspirations.

Package

This role sits within Band 3B salary range £46,701 - £56,963 Depending on experience.

Location

The successful candidate can be based in Birmingham Baskerville House or London Eversholt Street.

Travel

As this is a role in a regional team, occasional travel across NW&C is required. Candidates should be comfortable with travel to regional offices, or other business locations as needed.

What's In It For You

• 28 days annual leave - with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days
• Access to a range of contributory pension schemes
• The potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train
• Privileged staff travel - Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75%
• We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.
• A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family-friendly support
• Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community

Your Experience And Skills

What you’ll be doing

• Act as the single point of contact and compliance lead on HS2 Phase 1 works being delivered by Network Rail; working with the NR Sponsor teams, Capital Delivery, HS2 Project Managers and HS2 Compliance Managers to co-ordinate Undertakings & Assurance compliance for all On Network Works projects.
• Provide strategic advice on consents and environmental assessment, to include early input into development programmes and projects and the on-going technical advice and leadership in respect of statutory powers (TWAO/DCO/Hybrid Bill, environmental consents and assessments).
• Lead the preparation and implementation of appropriate consent strategies, to include estimates of cost and risks, following the identification of statutory powers, environmental consent and assessment requirements and associated internal and external resource needs.
• In conjunction with other corporate teams, lead on the development and implementation of strategies to deliver co-ordinated stakeholder engagement and public consultation for projects associated with statutory powers.
• For relevant projects, lead the preparation and submission of statutory consent applications through to determination and discharge of conditions and other requirements specified under powers or made with third parties.
• Prepare briefs and/or instructions for specialist external suppliers involved in the consents process. Assist project managers in the day-to-day management of those suppliers through technical support, critical evaluation and constructive challenge of their outputs.
• Lead the management of consent risk by monitoring and reporting progress on consents performance in relation to project lifecycle and the implementation of consent deliverables, escalating emerging issues and collaboratively leading the development of solutions to mitigate risk.

What you’ll have

• Chartered Membership of a relevant professional institution such as the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• A Bachelors Degree in a relevant discipline, such as environmental management, or equivalent experience
• Good understanding of the purpose and use of statutory powers (Development Consent Orders, Transport and Works Act Orders and Hybrid Bills)
• Successful experience of developing and delivering a complex consents programme for a major project
• In-depth understanding of environmental consents and assessments gained through first-hand experience of advising and/or leading Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and or similar environmental processes/consents
• Effective communicator with previous experience of leading the development and implementation of public consultation, stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution
• Demonstrable experience of successfully building relationships and influencing the thinking of others through the effective use of both written and oral communication

We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be

• Experience of managing consents and compliance within the railway industry
• Working understanding of the principles of project management, with demonstrable experience of successfully applying the tools and techniques considered to be best practice
• Experience of managing external suppliers contracted to provide consent and environmental assessment services
• Willingness to work some unsocial hours - evening meetings, public exhibitions
• Full driving licence

Recruitment Process

What does our recruitment process look like?

• Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist will look at your CV.
• If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be invited to an interview.