Rail Development Officer

Rail Development Officer\\n\\n£49,359 per annum (pay award pending) – Grade 9\\n\\nWellington House, Leeds Permanent – 37 hours per week\\n\\nPlease note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.\\n\\nWe’re looking for a Rail Development Officer to join our Transport Policy Team and help shape the future of rail in West Yorkshire.\\n\\nWith rail reform and greater devolution on the horizon, the mayor has a unique opportunity to deliver our ambitious rail strategy. We need someone who can champion further investment in our region’s rail network – ensuring it provides the capacity and services needed to support our Local Growth Plan. Our new Rail Development Officer will play a key part in delivering a rail system that integrates seamlessly with our franchised bus network and future mass transit system.\\n\\nOur Offer\\n\\n * Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.\\n\\n * Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.\\n\\n * Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).\\n\\n * Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.\\n\\n * Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.\\n\\n * Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.\\n\\n * Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.\\n\\n * Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.\\n\\n * Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.\\n\\nThe Role\\n\\nReporting into the Policy Manager, your key responsibilities will include:\\n\\n * Supporting the Policy Manager and helping to shape the Combined Authority position on rail reform as part of the wider devolution agenda.

This includes developing the short-term programme of improvements through rail reform and developing the options for the long-term rail devolution models.\\n\\n * Responsible for rail strategic development, ensuring alignment with our corporate plans and policies. In respect of rail, shape and influence pan-northern and national policy developments.\\n\\n * Responsible for the delivery of the Combined Authority’s Rail Strategy including rail infrastructure enhancements or rail reform or rail operation to achieve the best outcomes for the passenger. Be a key advocate and representative for the Combined Authority in rail industry and regional fora, being a visible leader for the functions you are responsible for both internally and externally.\\n\\nPlease review the Role Profile on our website for more information about the responsibilities.\\n\\nAbout You\\n\\nYou will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:\\n\\n * Proven experience of confidently and professionally conveying information, both written and oral in a clear, concise and persuasive style.\\n\\n * Comprehensive experience of leading, negotiating and influencing stakeholders.\\n\\n * Strong skills in analysing rail data, interpreting it, and in communicating it to a wider, non-technical, audience.\\n\\n * Experience of prioritising, planning and organising workloads, managing people, championing change, and a commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.\\n\\n * Experience in managing the effective delivery of rail policy and strategy development, such as the production of business cases, bids for rail investment and collaboration with industry partners to deliver results.\\n\\nTo Apply\\n\\nIf this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile.

Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.\\n\\nFurther Information\\n\\nThe Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas,\\n\\nperspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.\\n\\nUnder the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis