Location
York, GB
Department Name
RB Industry Partnership Digital (118515) G2
About Network Rail
Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter
Vacancy : Sponsor
Location : York or London
Salary : £46,701 to £53,589
Role Type : Permanent
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here - At Network rail you will have a clear development path with access to training and additional qualifications. You can enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as up to 28 days annual leave, 75% of Leisure Travel and Season Ticket for travel, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, healthcare, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more.
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!
Brief Description
We are recruiting for a Sponsor to join the
East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) within Network Rail’s Industry Partnership & Investment team.
The
East Coast Digital Programme is a £2bn, industry-leading programme that is revolutionising the
East Coast Main Line through the deployment of
digital signalling technology (ERTMS/ETCS). As a cross-industry partnership involving more than 30 organisations, it is delivering a safer, more reliable, greener and higher-performing railway — setting the blueprint for how digital transformation will be delivered across the national network.
This role will play a central part in shaping and delivering that transformation. As a Sponsor, you will lead and coordinate key investment areas on behalf of our funding clients and industry partners, ensuring delivery of outcomes to agreed scope, time and cost. Reporting to a Senior Sponsor, you will lead the Sponsorship and delivery of a range of projects within the programme. This includes key areas such as
Passenger Train Fitment and
Business Change, the roll-out of
enabling digital tools and IT systems, alignment of performance, timetable planning and infrastructure readiness, and the management of the
formal Network Change processes.
A key part of the role is ensuring the programme
delivers value for money. You will work with industry partners to identify and realise
cost efficiencies while maintaining a clear focus on outcomes, securing the best possible benefits for passengers, freight users and the wider rail network.
This is a high-impact, outward-facing role that requires
strong leadership,
stakeholder engagement and
problem-solving skills. You’ll be working across organisational boundaries to deliver industry-wide benefits and help create the next generation railway.
We’re looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and is motivated by the challenge of delivering complex, high-profile programmes. Experience of delivering infrastructure projects, business or technology change, Network Change, or passenger operations would be an advantage.
About The Role (External)
Key Accountabilities
- Build effective relationships, (internally & externally) to balance the requirements of the client, Network Rail and the industry as a whole. Champion the interests of clients, customers and stakeholders acting as the focal point for escalation within Network Rail.
- Review and interrogate client remits to confirm their viability. Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish a scope which optimises client requirements, value for money, network availability and capacity for future development and whole life cost.
- Be responsible for the conversion of the client remit into an agreed project requirements specification. Be accountable for the development of the initial project plan and budget; working with the project manager to specify how the project is going to be delivered, expected milestones and associated timescales, resource requirements, risks & issues and funding needs/sources.
- Produce business cases and investment papers for projects.
- Devise solutions which maintain the ‘business as usual’ accessibility for our customers, take consideration of the 7 day railway principles and therefore minimise disruption to end rail users. Take a national/route wide view across portfolios to generate additional benefits, identify and resolve conflicting work and drive efficiencies.
- Lead the process of quantifying risk associated with the project. Devise mitigating actions and periodically review recovery progress.
- Interrogate and challenge plans to assess the deliverability of agreed scope within stated timescales and cost parameters, presenting any required scope changes to the client for approval.
- Hold the Project Manager accountable for programme delivery to cost, time and scope parameters. Hold periodic reviews to understand and challenge delivery progress against the client remit. Communicate progress status against defined milestones and expectations to stakeholders putting contingency measures in place if required.
- Negotiate with customers and stakeholders on the project’s commercial and contractual terms in accordance with relevant corporate policy and strategy. Act as the focal point for negotiations and resolution of external scheme interface requirements, including any Parliamentary or Statutory processes, external consents issues to optimise the value of the scheme to Network Rail and funder(s).
- Comply with the requirements of investment regulations, other corporate governance and the Guide to Railway Investment Projects. Adhere to corporate processes, including those related to safety, finance, legal and corporate affairs.
- Facilitate the discharge of the duties assigned by the Client as detailed within the Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations for the programme of projects allocated to you.
Essential
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
- Qualified to degree level or equivalent
- Experience of dealing with client portfolios and liaising with people at all levels
- Ability to articulate complex business problems into manageable work packages and produce synthesised logical solutions
- Proven ability to write coherently, conveying report / investment information in a concise manner
- Commercially astute, persuasive, and customer focused
- Proven influencing and negotiating skills
- Experience of leading a successful team
Desirable
- Experience in management roles in a commercial environment
- MBA or other related postgraduate qualification
- Experience in negotiating contracts to finalisation and ability to demonstrate commercial success
- Knowledge and experience of the Network Change process within the UK rail industry
- Track record of delivering business change within complex, multi-stakeholder programmes
- Familiarity with ETCS/ERTMS technology and its implications for operations, infrastructure and industry readiness
Don’t meet every requirement?
Research suggests that individuals from underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a job if they don't meet all the listed criteria. We are building a diverse and inclusive place to work where people of all backgrounds can thrive. We encourage you to apply for this role. If this isn’t the job for you, there may be other roles available in the wider team.
How To Apply (External)
Salary: £46,701 to £53,589
Closing date: 15th June 2025 - Late applications will not be accepted.
Interviews will take place on 23rd and 24th June 2025
Click
apply now to apply.
You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Drugs and Alcohol Standard:
All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced 
