This is an exciting opportunity to lead programme management for the West Midlands Rail Programme (WMRP), a £200m investment which will transform local rail stations and services throughout the West Midlands. As Head of Rail Programme, you will lead and coordinate the programme management office, including consultants, professional services and contractors, to ensure that works are progressed in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. Working closely with multiple stakeholders you will provide input on delivery challenges, assurance, opportunities, and lessons learnt that will support development of the wider rail network.

About you

We are looking for someone who has extensive programme management experience. Naturally, previous experience from within the Rail sector would be highly desired however, significant demonstrable experience within Highways or Aviation would be of real interest also. More specifically we are looking for: 

• Programme management experience for a portfolio of design and build projects with experience of development works


• Engineering or project management qualification to degree level or equivalent. E.g. Civil Engineering, Building


• Appropriate professional memberships e.g. APM, ICE, CIHT


• Experience in NEC3 Form of Contract management


• Successful delivery of stations works within an operational station environment, desired


• Knowledge of and proven experience of all aspects of Entry into Service requirements


• CEM/CRE experience would be an advantage


• Understanding and experience of the integration of other modes and disciplines including bus, tram and highways works

You'll be comfortable working with and through others to get things done, and have a track record of building rapport and excellent relationships with a range of stakeholders including Network Rail, DfT, and local Planning Authorities.

This is a remote working opportunity until a date is agreed for the WMCA workforce to return to our usual place of work at 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham.

About the team

The WMRP Team is formed of a delivery partnership between West Midlands Trains as the operator of the stations in question, Network Rail as the asset owner and maintainer and SLC-Aecom as the programme and project management provider. WMRP is responsible for supporting the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM’s) Leadership teams in delivering their key objectives for rail investment in the region.  As an active member of the WMRP Leadership Team, you will provide excellent standards of leadership and collaboration with the WMRP partners, stakeholders and delivery agents. 

Who we are

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) plans, develops and manages an integrated transport system for the West Midlands that is reliable, affordable and accessible for all. It is the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority. A standard setter in the industry, our achievements are regularly recognised nationally, most importantly as the winner of ‘City Region Authority of the Year’ in 2016, 2017 and 2019 at the National Transport Awards. Whether it’s developing and delivering new infrastructure, collaborating on future mobility projects, operating the West Midlands Metro or helping customers to keep moving, we need creative and innovative talent to join our already excellent team and help us make a real difference to residents, businesses and visitors travelling in and around the West Midlands.

Additional Information

Even if you don’t think you match 100% of the criteria, we would still like to hear from you as we recruit on potential as well as experience, so if you think you have what it takes, let’s start a conversation. We are committed to building a team of people with varied backgrounds and experiences as we recognise that this will only benefit us as an employer, the more inclusive we are the better our work will be. The following groups are currently underrepresented: young people, Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups and women at senior levels.

Furthermore, wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance and support service delivery for the customer. We are very happy to discuss a flexible working pattern that suits your needs, so please do not let that be a barrier to applying.

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. 

West Midlands Combined Authority reserves the right to bring forward the closing date of any of its job vacancies if we receive a suitable number of quality applications from which to make a shortlist. Therefore, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible rather than wait until the published closing date.

Supporting documents
Role Profile