Senior Policy and Compliance Manager

Who are we? South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight. Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

The Senior Policy and Compliance Manager is responsible for providing leadership, authority, and assurance over procurement policy, compliance, and governance across South Western Railway. The role ensures that all procurement activity is fully compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), associated secondary legislation and statutory guidance, DFTO mandated procurement requirements, and wider central government procurement policy. The postholder acts as the focal point for procurement policy interpretation, horizon scanning, and compliance assurance, supporting the Head of Procurement and Supply Chain and providing confidence to senior leaders, auditors, and other rail bodies that SWR's procurement activity is compliant, transparent, and auditable.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• PROCUREMENT POLICY LEADERSHIP & REGULATION COMPLIANCE
  • Provide senior ownership and professional authority for procurement policy and compliance across SWR, ensuring alignment with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), secondary legislation, statutory guidance, and DFTO mandated procurement requirements.
  • Maintain continuous oversight and horizon scanning of emerging and changing procurement legislation, policy, and guidance, ensuring SWR remains current with PA23 developments, secondary legislation, and wider government procurement policy, and that changes are translated into clear, practical guidance for the business.
  • Provide authoritative advice, guidance, and constructive challenge to procurement and business stakeholders on policy interpretation, compliance requirements, and governance expectations.
• GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORKS, CONTROLS & ASSURANCE
  • Operate and oversee procurement compliance controls, assurance checks, and reporting, providing confidence that procurement activity is compliant, transparent, and auditable.
  • Promote a strong culture of compliance, transparency, integrity, and public value across SWR procurement activity.
  • Oversee procurement related conflict of interest policies, declarations, and controls, ensuring risks are identified, managed and appropriately mitigated.
• PROCUREMENT HANDBOOK & DOCUMENTATION OWNERSHIP
  • Own and maintain the SWR Procurement Handbook, ensuring it is accurate, current, and fully aligned with legislation, DFTO requirements, and internal governance frameworks.
  • Ensure all procurement related policies, procedures, forms, templates, guidance notes, and supporting documentation are kept up to date, accessible, and fit for purpose.
• TRAINING, AWARENESS & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
  • Own and oversee procurement training and awareness materials, ensuring they are regularly refreshed and used effectively across SWR to educate and support non procurement functions in compliant procurement practice.
• STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & EXTERNAL INTERFACE
  • Act as the primary procurement policy and compliance interface with the DFTO Procurement Team, ensuring proactive engagement, alignment with mandated requirements, and effective management of assurance and reporting obligations.
  • Lead engagement and collaboration across the rail industry, including with other TOCs and Network Rail, to share best practice, align approaches where appropriate, and respond collectively to procurement policy and regulatory change.
• AUDIT ASSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT
  • Support internal and external audit activity relating to procurement policy and compliance, including preparation of evidence, coordination of responses, and monitoring of agreed actions.
• LEADERSHIP SUPPORT & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
  • Support the Head of Procurement and Supply Chain through expert policy advice, compliance assurance, and insight on emerging risks, issues, and areas requiring intervention.
  • Participate fully in the Annual Performance Management Review process.
  • Actively support Company equality, diversity, and inclusion policies.
  • Attend training and development activities as agreed, ensuring continued professional expertise in public sector procurement policy and compliance.

This job description shall not limit your role, and you will also be expected to carry out any other duties that your Manager feels are within your capabilities and skill set. The above information may not cover everything involved in the position but indicates the size and scope of the role and may be subject to change as the role develops.

You’ll need:

• Honours degree or equivalent in a related subject or 5 years' experience in relevant subject
• In depth knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 requirements and guidance.
• Demonstrable experience of leading compliant procurement in a public or regulated sector.
• Proven experience in procurement policy, compliance, governance, or assurance roles within a public or regulated sector.
• Experience of interpreting legislative and policy change and translating it into practical organisational guidance
• Experience of procurement systems supporting transparency, audit, and governance.
• Proven experience of operating under external audit and sponsor oversight.
• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Proven experience of leading and developing professional teams, including remote based teams
• Ability to work without detailed direction on a wide range of issues
• Good networking and liaison skills and the proven ability to meet deadlines and targets.
• Self developer, acting as a role model, invests time in their own development and encourages others.
• Proven ability to operate with authority and influence across organisational and industry boundaries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex policy clearly.
• Strong judgement, credibility, and senior stakeholder presence

Beneficial:

• Qualified or working towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS - Level 6)
• Working knowledge of the UK transport industry (notably Rail) legislation and Supply Chain
• Strong understanding of central government procurement policy.
• Procure to pay and Finance systems experience (Notably SAP and Neptune)
• E tendering tools knowledge
• Experience of planning and budgeting including business planning, expenditure mapping and development of strategies to create efficiencies
• Proven experience of managing contracts under formal governance frameworks.
• High level of program management skills

Working pattern

You will work an average of 37 hours across 5 days per week, typically; Monday to Friday, office hours

Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment. We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent. We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.