Job Description

Job Title: Project Development Manager (Assistant Project Manager)

Location: York or Manchester / Hybrid (3 days/week on site)

Contract Duration: 30/9/26

Daily Rate: £321/day (Umbrella – Maximum)

IR35 Status: Inside

Responsible for the safe design and development of Infrastructure railway enhancement projects throughout the early project lifecycle from inception to creation of a robust single option for delivery to comply with relevant legislation, Group and company standards and to meet client requirements including programme, cost and quality and business plan commitments.

Key Accountabilities:

Lead the development of the project(s) to time, cost and quality in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, in accordance with current legislation including Railway Interoperability Regulations, Common Safety Method of Risk Assessment and Measurement (CSM) Regulations, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), Railway Group standards, company standards and the Governance of Railway Investment Projects (GRIP).

Provide a professional and effective project development service to the client(s), including reporting systems in accordance with Railway Group, company standards and guidelines including reviewing, clarifying, challenging and agreeing remits and requirement documents.

Develop projects through the feasibility, option selection and single option development stages in accordance with the Client Remit and Sponsor’s Instruction. Appoint and manage consultants and contractors to deliver the required outputs where necessary, ensuring a successful transition to delivery at the appropriate GRIP stage for the project.

Identify, establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Collaborate through the wider rail industry to ensure projects deliver key requirements and remitted outputs for internal and external clients. This includes asset managers, maintenance, operations and control, elected members, MPs/MSPs, local authorities, community groups, statutory undertakers, DfT and Transport for Scotland and train and freight operators.

Responsible for creation and management of project budgets, periodic reviews, forecasting and engaging the support of the commercial team in the development of contracting strategies, procurement activities and supplier engagement.

Minimise project safety risk through the management of the pre-construction phase to reduce project risk exposure for both NR and suppliers e.g. CDM compliance (appointments, competencies, duties), Safe by Design, Health & Safety documentation – CSM Hazard Identification, Close Call monitoring.

Evaluate, mitigate and manage commercial and programme risks. Control and assess the impact of change. Manage contingency within the development stages of the project(s) and provide all cost, contingency and programme details to the Sponsor.

Creation of baseline programme and on-going management, to support the delivery of an efficient Programme Level integrated plan.

Provide advice to clients on project development and related techniques which include identifying strategies for the development and implementation stages, balancing project objectives within known constraints e.g. available funding, current market conditions, access strategies, high level resources and programme timescales.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications:

Essential

Successful relevant experience in a project environment in particular managing ambiguity and complexity

Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience.

PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent

Project safety management knowledge (relevant construction and Health and Safety legislation)

Commercial acumen including contract management experience (internal and external)

Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Desirable

Membership of the Association for Project Management (APM) or relevant professional qualification

Demonstrable experience of managing within a complex matrix environment

Knowledge and understanding of Rail investment regulations

Budget experience/accountability

Disability Confident

As a member of the disability confident scheme, CLIENT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

Armed Forces Covenant

CLIENT is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

If you qualify for the above, please notify us on (phone number removed).

We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.

Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.

To apply for this role please submit your latest CV or contact Aspect Resources on (phone number removed)