About the role
Eastern Routes Capital Programmes sits at the heart of Network Rail's ambition to deliver a simpler, better, greener railway. We are responsible for developing, planning and delivering major investment across the Eastern Region, one of the UK's busiest and most complex rail networks, covering key routes from London across the East and into the most northern areas of England.
We turn strategic investment into tangible outcomes. Modernising infrastructure, improving reliability, and supporting passenger growth and freight capability. Our work directly impacts millions of journeys every year and plays a critical role in supporting economic growth across the region.
We manage and deliver a multi-billion-pound portfolio of investment, spanning renewals and enhancements across track, structures, signalling, electrification and major station programmes. Our teams work closely with route businesses, integrated railways, suppliers, and government to ensure that investment delivers safely, efficiently, and with long-term value for the railway.
Our people are based across the Eastern Region footprint, with offices in London, Derby and York, as well as key delivery locations across the entire patch. We operate in a client model, providing clear governance, financial and delivery oversight while working in partnership with our supply chain.
What makes us unique is the scale, complexity and visibility of the work. You'll be part of a team that:
- Delivers some of the most high-profile and technically challenging projects in the UK rail industry
- Influences how billions of pounds of public investment are spent
- Works at the interface between strategy, policy, and delivery
- Plays a critical role in improving safety, reliability and customer experience across the network
Above all, this is a place where you can see the real-world impact of what you do, from safer infrastructure to improving performance. As we transition into Great British Railways, we play a key part in supporting the integrated railway across the region, being a more joined up system led team for passengers and freight.
This role is based in Doncaster, please note 3 days per week are required in the office.
Job Purpose:
What you will be doing:
As a Project Development Manager, you will lead the development of track renewal projects from initial scope through the PACE lifecycle to T-65 handover, ensuring schemes are safe, affordable, deliverable and fully assured. Working alongside and on behalf of Network Rail Asset Engineers across the East Coast, North and East, and East Midlands routes, you will collaborate closely with the Track Bed Investigations Team, Track Renewal's Alliance Design and Delivery teams to develop high-quality renewal solutions that meet asset, operational and customer requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the development of track renewal schemes through the PACE lifecycle, coordinating scope, programme, cost, risk, assurance and stakeholder engagement.
- Acting as the integration point between Route Asset Engineers, Design, Delivery, Operations, Maintenance and wider Alliance teams to produce safe and deliverable solutions.
- Managing the development and assurance of PACE products and stage-gate requirements through to T-65 handover.
- Coordinating surveys, engineering development, access planning, estimates, delivery planning and constructability reviews.
- Managing consultants, designers and suppliers to achieve project objectives and delivery readiness.
- Developing and maintaining integrated programmes, budgets and forecasts while managing risk, change and dependencies.
- Building strong relationships across Routes and the South and Central Alliance to support successful project outcomes.
You will develop specialist knowledge across a diverse portfolio of renewal disciplines, including Plain Line Track, Switches & Crossings (S&C), Drainage and Level Crossing renewals, gaining experience of how projects are developed from asset need to delivery-ready solutions
The role will role model and embed Eastern Region's culture principles - Show We Care, Listen Learn Improve, Better Together and Keep It Simple - by:
- Creating an environment of psychological safety and accountability where people can challenge and improve working practices
- Driving collaboration across teams and partners to deliver whole-system outcomes
- Promoting continuous improvement and learning from performance output
- Ensuring clear, simple and focused governance and decision-making
Key Accountabilities:
- Lead the development of track renewal projects through the PACE lifecycle, ensuring schemes are delivered safely, efficiently and in compliance with Network Rail standards and governance requirements.
- Act on behalf of Route Asset Engineers across the East Coast, North and East, and East Midlands routes, translating asset requirements into robust, value-for-money renewal solutions.
- Coordinate the production, integration and assurance of all PACE deliverables required to achieve stage-gate approval and T-65/T-60 handover readiness, and working to agreed and the set out milestones.
- Work closely with Track Alliance Design and Delivery teams to ensure scope, design, access, programme, cost and constructability requirements are fully aligned.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams, consultants and suppliers to develop safe, deliverable and sustainable plain line, S&C, drainage and level crossing renewal schemes
- Develop and maintain integrated programmes, budgets, forecasts and delivery plans, ensuring projects meet agreed milestones and business objectives.
- Identify, manage and mitigate safety, engineering, commercial and programme risks, ensuring compliance with CDM, CSM and Safe by Design principles and railway standards.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with Route, Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Commercial and Alliance stakeholders to support successful project development and delivery.
- Manage project change, interfaces, dependencies and assurance activities to support informed decision-making and successful project outcomes.
- Ensure projects are developed to an agreed and approved scope, with clear ownership, mature information and a complete handover package at T-65/T-60.
Support the development of future investment plans, including the FP1 Year 1 work bank, helping to shape and prioritise track renewal interventions across the region.
Essential Criteria:
- 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 Criteria:
- Experience within Track Development, Track Renewals or railway infrastructure projects.
- Knowledge of Plain Line Track, Switches & Crossings (S&C), Drainage or Level Crossing renewals.
- Experience developing projects through PACE stages and preparing schemes for T-65 handover.
- 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 Network Rail investment regulations
- Budget experience/accountability
- Commercial acumen including contract management experience (internal and external).
- Experience of working with alliance, design or delivery organisations in the rail industry.
- Understanding of access planning, engineering assurance and constructability processes.
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External how to apply:
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role."
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave
Salary: £43,588 to £53,167 per annum.
*Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*
***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****
Closing date: 3rd November 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's in it for you
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information