Project Manager, Program ​/ Project Manager, Operations Manager

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Milton Keynes, GB

ST Programme Management (571115) G1

Duration: Fixed term Contract of 12 months with the potential to extend or go permanent. (Please note, secondments are subject to line manager approval, please discuss this with them before applying).

Location: This role is based in the Quadrant:

MK. This role is a full‑time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered. For Quadrant:

MK, you must live within 90 minutes.

Band & Salary: Band 3B, salary £46,701 - £55,411

Brief

Description:

An exciting opportunity for a motivated project manager to join the ASCEND Programme (Asset knowledge of Slopes using Change detection in Earth observation and Next generation Data analytics) which aims to deliver transformational change through the integration of remote sensing technologies and other observed data sets into our core geotechnical processes and systems. You will be responsible for managing the projects within the programme to ensure scope, schedule, budget, safety and quality standards are met while collaborating closely with key business stakeholders (internal and external) and their representatives.

The Central Projects Team deliver a wide range of projects that enable the organisation and wider industry to deliver change, realise benefits and meet strategic objectives. These fall into three main categories:

• Compliance – programmes aimed at achieving compliance with legislation or policy.
• Strategic – deliver a clearly‑defined vision that realises strategic opportunities and may change the operating model.
• Emergent – evolve to respond to situations or events that are often beyond the organisation’s immediate control.

We have a friendly and welcoming team environment and put a strong emphasis on learning and continuously improving.

At Network Rail, no two days are ever quite the same—and that’s what makes it exciting. As a Project Manager within the ASCEND Programme, you will deliver a range of work streams targeting an ambitious plan to transform how we monitor and carry out earthwork examinations through making better use of technology, delivering significant safety benefits and financial efficiencies.

The successful candidate will be a strong collaborator, bringing people together to deliver meaningful change. You’ll work closely with engineers, procurement teams, suppliers, and stakeholders to keep projects on track—managing and owning project timelines, budgets, and risks while always prioritising safety and quality.

We’re looking for a confident project manager who can hit the ground running, is able to follow and apply business and industry processes, has strong experience in developing and maintaining a project or programme plan, and can adapt those plans to keep projects moving forward where challenges arise.

• Lead the delivery of a range of projects safely to time, cost and quality, being mindful of any dependencies between them.
• Collaborate and coordinate with teams across disciplines, as well as suppliers, to drive progress and prepare the business for change.
• Monitor and report project performance using Network Rail standards.
• Work alongside commercial colleagues to manage the procurement of critical…