Job Title: Railway Operations Director
Level: L1
Employer: East West Railway Company
Location: Milton Keynes
Basis: Permanent

A little bit about us: East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way. East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

Role Summary: East West Railway’s role is to design and deliver a railway which seamlessly integrates with the existing rail network. Following delivery, and in line with Government proposals, it is expected that the asset will be transferred to Great British Railways for ongoing maintenance and operation. The role of the Railway Operations Director is to provide operator-focused input into the design, development and delivery of the new railway. They will ensure that the needs of the future operator / maintainer are at the core of EWR’s thinking in its delivery of this nationally significant infrastructure programme. Extensive operational experience of the railway is essential. The successful candidate must ensure that what is being designed can be operated and maintained efficiently as an integral part of the national rail network, and is able to deliver the benefits in the business case. Key to this role is ability to leverage a network from across rail industry, including train operating companies, Network Rail, as well as bodies such as ORR and DfT to make sure any operational requirements are being fed into design and delivery decision making, and that railway operations are represented when decisions are being made.

Function: Voice of the Operator will provide a senior operational voice and operational guiding mind to EWR Co during design. The Voice of the Operator is a champion of the operational excellence for a reliable passenger railway. It ensures operational and maintenance basics are in place throughout the design and EWR delivers an operable and maintainable railway scheme. Accountable for representing the eventual operators and maintainers of the railway to design a neutral railway that could be operated effectively.

Key Responsibilities
As the representative of the Railway Operations community and Rail industry in the Executive team, ensure that the voice of the Operator is included in all strategic and tactical decisions. By this we mean act as a proxy representative of the Train Operator and Network Rail (or successor organisations as envisaged under the Government’s rail reform proposals), to ensure that the new line is designed and built in a way that delivers optimal whole life costs, and is aligned to the future direction of the industry.

• Develop and own the concept of operations for EWR, together with supporting sub-strategies.
• Build relationships and work closely with EWR Co design and engineering teams to ensure that operational and maintenance considerations are integrated into the railway design, including ease of access for maintenance and reliability of operations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and organisational standards related to integrating with the railway operator.
• Participate in relevant EWR Co governance and assurance activities to ensure that design decisions are made in a way that enables the train and infrastructure operators to deliver whole life value for money. Provide critical challenge where appropriate.
• Convene potential operators and relevant maintenance stakeholders as required throughout design and delivery to identify requirements, and provide operational input into EWR Co decision making.
• Identify, build, and own relationships within DfT and GBR to align EWR Co with broader Rail industry strategies.
• Identify potential operational risks and develop mitigation strategies, ensuring that design enables a railway system which is resilient and reliable.
• Support planning for Entry into Service for the railway, acting as a point of continuity throughout the design, delivery, and transition process.
• Identify key operational activities which must be integrated into Programme plans ahead of Entry into Service, e.g. training requirements.
• Responsible for managing and supporting direct reports including: coaching and developing team members, individual growth and operational excellence. Leading continuous improvement, through regular performance management and ensuring compliance with organisation policies and updating relevant systems.
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious mindset, keeping tax payers’ money at the forefront of decisions.
• Shows a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Act as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Recognised and respected leader within the Rail industry.
• Experience working for either a train operating company or Network Rail in an operational role, preferably in either Performance or Maintenance capability. Proven influencing skills, including negotiating and facilitating, joint decision managing with colleagues and stakeholders
• Experience of resolving and escalating risks, issues and conflicts as necessary.
• Comprehensive network from across the transport industry, who can be convened at key decision points throughout the design and delivery to inform decision making.
• Excellent communication, relationship management and presentation skills.
  Strong leadership, people, and team management skills.
• The ability to work within a complex stakeholder environment,
• Experience working as part of a capital works/infrastructure delivery programme.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Perks platform with hundreds of discounts and freebies
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style

Diversity and Inclusion:

To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.

About East West Rail

East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.