Please note this is an internal opportunity only.

We have an exciting opportunity within our technical team at Midlands Connect… Do you have a professional background rail planning and strategy development? Do you have a good grasp of scheme and programme business case development? If you are a dynamic, experienced leader of rail strategy development we will be keen to speak with you.

Who we are

As the Sub-National Transport Body (STB) for the Midlands, Midlands Connect are developing a regional plan which aims to boost economic growth whilst at the same time reducing transport’s part in the climate emergency and having a positive impact on quality of life for our citizens. In order to be successful our team will have to ensure that we fully understand aspects such as: the economy, housing, social policy and the impacts of climate change.

About the team

You will be working as part of the ‘Technical Team’ within Midlands Connect.  This team is charged with the development of our refreshed strategy and finding ways to accelerate the major transport infrastructure requirements of the region.  Within that team we have a group of rail planners and scheme developers, pulling together the ‘Midlands Engine Rail’ programme.  You will be working closely with the Head of Rail to continue to develop Midlands Engine Rail into a fully developed rail investment plan for the Midlands.  You will also work with our Senior Rail Programme Managers who are developing individual schemes to detailed business cases and eventual submissions for capital funding.

Who we need

We are looking for someone with a professional background in rail planning and strategy development to lead the development of Midlands Engine Rail from its current position as a programme of seven individual schemes into a more fully formed, coordinated and complementary rail strategy for the Midlands.

You will have extensive experience of working in the rail industry and have an excellent knowledge of the network in the Midlands.  This role will require the development of scheme and programme-level business cases so you will have a strong understanding of how to build a compelling case for investment in the rail network.

This role will also have strong links into the overall Midlands Connect Strategy, both feeding in rail priorities but also working with others to ensure that our strategy is fully multi-modal and considers end to end journeys across the Midlands.  You will therefore have a broad understanding of transport planning in general, including the use of tools such as transport and economic models.

This is a remote working opportunity until a date is agreed for the Midlands Connect team to return to our usual place of work at Baskerville House, Centenary Square, Birmingham.  Although Midlands Connect is based in Birmingham, the way we have all worked remotely over the past few months has shown us how we can make that work.  We are therefore open to discussions regarding the balance between working from home and out of the office when we do return.

Our priority is to keep all our employees safe and well during this time. We will be working remotely for the foreseeable future, and we are doing everything we can to ensure all our employees can enjoy a comfortable remote working space.

How to apply:

Please provide detailed information in your application outlining your suitability for the post and ensure it is submitted by the closing date. 

 Closing Date: 22 September 2020

 Interview/Assessment Date: 30 September 2020

We are committed to developing an organisation that is representative of the diverse communities that we serve and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The following groups are currently underrepresented: young people, Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups and women at senior levels.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who meet the essential job role criteria. We will make reasonable adjustments, in line with the Equality Act, for disabled applicants if these are needed. Wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance and support service delivery for the customer.