About the role
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is the Government's flagship programme to improve connectivity between the North's major cities, at the heart of the Northern Growth Strategy. Its focus is the Northern Growth Corridor - between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and York, with regular services to Newcastle, Hull and Chester also impacted. NPR aims to ensure passengers in the North will benefit from convenient, consistent services boosting the ability and confidence of commuters to use the railways, helping drive Northern growth.
The Government has committed a £45 billion funding envelope for the delivery of NPR as a long-term programme. In January 2026, the government announced support for NPR and a three-phase approach to delivery:
- Phase 1 focuses on Leeds to Sheffield, Leeds to Bradford (including a new station at Bradford) and Leeds to York.
- Phase 2 focuses on service improvements between Liverpool and Manchester.
- Phase 3 considers cross-pennine links, building on the government's investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade and recent investments on the Hope Valley.
The three phases of delivery will see major construction work in the 2030s, continuing through to the 2040s.
NPR is a high-profile portfolio with high stakeholder interest from senior National and Regional leadership teams, along with a range of external stakeholders including Mayoral Statutory Authorities (MSA) and Train Operating Companies (TOCs).
This is an excellent opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you'll collaborate and contribute towards the developing the future of the railway network in the North. It's an exciting time to join the team to help us meet the development milestones and support the outputs agreed with the Department for Transport (DfT).
This role can be based in Manchester or York.
Job Purpose:
As an Assistant Development Manager (ADM), you will be part of the sponsorship team and work closely with the Programme Development Manager to help shape and progress the current development stage whilst developing links between the client, region, delivery agent and key stakeholders.
The role works within the sponsorship team to support the development of NPR, including developing the project benefits and target project outcomes to agreed scope, time and cost.
We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of the rail network, and a varied and adaptable skillset including, but not limited to:
- project development and understanding of the project lifecycle;
- proactive management of tasks and time, including reporting, IT and business processes;
- problem solving, balancing both project detail and programme objectives;
- collaboratively working with teams and stakeholders;
- communication skills, both written and verbal.
This is a great opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you'll collaborate and contribute towards the NPR portfolio that will develop the future of the railway network in the North.
This advert is related to the Governance & Reporting team based in York. We work across the entire NPR portfolio to support the individual programme teams. This includes preparing board level reports, managing the investment authority process, supporting conversations with the DfT and other internal and external senior stakeholders, leading on external funding, managing risk, and interfacing with the commercial and supplier management teams. If you would like any further information on this role please contact Richard.mather@networkrail.co.uk.
We also have 2 other ADM roles available in the NPR team:
Leeds programme (Nick.Forgham@networkrail.co.uk)
Sheffield programme (Lee-Anne.Cardus@networkrail.co.uk)
If you would like to find out any further information about a specific role please see the specific job advert and get in touch with the relevant contact.
Key Accountabilities:
- Support the Programme Development Manager to sponsor the development of assigned programmes and projects, as part of the company governance funding and commitment process, including the establishment and administration of funding remits and supporting documentation.
- Work with senior colleagues and collaboratively with funders to support establishing project scope, baseline conditions and timescales to optimise value for money, consider the whole life cost and support preparation of the business case for investment.
- Identify and evaluate risks associated with developed interventions and propose recommendations.
- Contribute to the identification and consideration of other company and industry requirements that are necessary to form part of the output specification, including risk, success criteria, project interdependencies, asset protection and payment regime.
- Develop the assurance and co-ordination project work streams to support the project or programme throughout its lifecycle.
- Contribute to the commissioning and management of deliverers to meet agreed requirements. Monitor and report progress on a periodic basis, identifying any issues.
- Assist the work of the Development team across the portfolio of interventions and in balancing the requirements of internal and external stakeholders including Clients, funders and the Department for Transport.
- Facilitate the discharge of the duties assigned as detailed within the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015 and Common Safety Method (CSM) on Risk Evaluation and Assessment Regulation (352/2009 and 402/2013).
Essential Criteria:
- Proven ability to write coherently; convening report/investment technical railway information into a concise manner that can be easily understood by funders and clients.
- Proven numerical and analytical skills to provide robust evidence for business cases to secure investment in the railways.
- Understanding of project management principles and tools.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proven influencing and negotiating skills to deliver the required outputs.
- Good knowledge of Network Rail's customers and their requirements to enhance the railway network.
- Educated to degree level
- Experience of seeking out information, analysing it and implementing actions
- Ability to establish, build and maintain collaborative relationships to progress projects and programmes.
- Knowledge of project development and delivery processes.
- Knowledge of Network Rail's sponsorship and Investment processes and procedures.
- Knowledge of rail industry and commercial framework.
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Desirable Criteria:
- Educated to degree level
- Experience of seeking out information, analysing it and implementing actions
- Ability to establish, build and maintain collaborative relationships to progress projects and programmes.
- Knowledge of project development and delivery processes.
- Knowledge of Network Rail's sponsorship and Investment processes and procedures.
- Knowledge of rail industry and commercial framework.
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: £35,582 to £43,400 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: 13th 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