Senior Consultant (Strategy, Funding, Appraisal) in Edinburgh

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day. For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland, we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

The Senior Consultant will support the Strategy Funding and Appraisal (SFA) Team and Rail Advisory Team within SYSTRA's Consultancy Business. This role will play a key part in shaping our business by leading and contributing to high-profile projects across strategy, business case development, funding, appraisal and rail advisory. You will combine strong technical expertise with project leadership, client engagement and business development, helping to deliver high-quality outcomes for clients while supporting the growth of our people and our business. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex and meaningful transport projects, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and make a visible contribution to innovative and sustainable transport solutions.

Missions/Main Duties

• Proactively support the successful delivery of projects of varying scale, primarily for the Strategy Funding and Appraisal and Rail teams, while also contributing to work for other SYSTRA teams and clients where needed.
• Manage a range of work packages and projects, ensuring strong client satisfaction, effective financial performance and achievement of project targets.
• Take ownership of the delivery of small to medium value proposals, ensuring clear scope, acceptance criteria and invoicing milestones.
• Contribute to, and where appropriate oversee, large proposals.
• Ensure that complex technical tasks are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget.
• Guide and mentor junior colleagues, supporting both their technical and professional development.
• Take responsibility for substantial elements of SYSTRA reports and present technical and project information clearly to clients and colleagues to support project delivery, learning and business growth.
• Contribute directly to the preparation of business cases and option appraisals for transport projects and programmes, taking ownership of the end-to-end development of strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management dimensions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant guidance, including HMT Green Book, DfT TAG and applicable local requirements.
• Undertake rail appraisal work and rail demand and revenue forecasting using PDFH methodologies.
• Help define appraisal strategies, select the appropriate tools and models, and establish assurance approaches.
• Lead or contribute to Pre-SOC studies, including corridor and town centre strategies, optioneering and longlisting exercises.
• Work closely with internal multidisciplinary teams, including transport modelling, design and consultation specialists, to deliver high-quality feasibility studies.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships across government departments, combined authorities, local councils, operators and developers.
• Identify and initiate sales opportunities within Strategy Funding and Appraisal and rail market areas.
• Share market insight with colleagues and contribute to SYSTRA’s profile through thought leadership activities such as articles, conference presentations and policy insight.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of your skills and experience in the SYSTRA CV system, continue your professional development and maintain membership of relevant professional institutions.
• Demonstrate behaviours aligned with SYSTRA’s behavioural framework by actively fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, respect, and empowerment.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with clients and, where relevant, third-party contractors and other stakeholders.
• Keep line managers, project managers and project directors appropriately informed on project matters and your own activities.
• Collaborate proactively with the wider project team, project director and client to drive progress, manage issues and deliver successful outcomes.
• Take ownership of financial responsibilities across projects and assignments, ensuring sound commercial management and a strong focus on performance.
• Contribute to achieving high levels of client satisfaction by delivering quality outputs and maintaining a responsive, professional and solutions-focused approach.

Profile/Skills

• Strong team players, confident communicators and capable of building credibility with both clients and colleagues.
• Excellent presentation, written and numerical skills, along with the ability to manage your own time effectively and support others in doing the same.
• Strong understanding of appraisal tools such as TUBA, COBALT and AMAT.
• Knowledge of rail demand forecasting methodologies including PDFH and MOIRA.
• Strong track record in developing business cases across a range of transport modes, with rail business case experience being particularly desirable.
• Project management experience in a client-facing environment.
• A degree in a relevant subject.
• Chartered Transport Planning professional status would be advantageous.