Network Rail

Senior Strategic Planner

Job Description

About the role:

This role will involve working with a variety of organisations across Eastern Region, generating strategic advice and producing recommendations to drive regional and national economic growth with up to a 30yr horizon.

You will be starting in the role at a fascinating and critical time for strategic rail planning, with a real opportunity to shape the system in alignment with the Government’s 5 strategic objectives for rail; meeting customers needs, delivering financial sustainability, contributing to long term economic growth, levelling up and connectivity and delivering environmental sustainability.  

This role offers a perfect opportunity for career development with a wide-ranging portfolio and exposure to the decision-makers and funders across the rail industry.

Further information and examples of the reports we produce can be found at Long-term planning - Network Rail

We’re looking for keen, forward-looking applicants with the desire to be innovative leaders and shape the future of rail on Eastern Region within a wider transport setting.

Some Key Accountabilities of the role:

1. Build and manage strategic internal and external relationships through effective stakeholder management to balance the requirements of Government, Network Rail and the wider industry.
2. Lead the production of strategic advice through working closely with internal and external stakeholders. Secure funding for development of recommendations identified in strategic advice.
3. Co-ordinate analysis for capacity studies, taking into account the existing capability, contractual & regulatory obligations, and the implications of expected future traffic levels.
4. Provide support to other organisations’ rail and wider transport strategies, considering strategic fit and requirements of other internal teams.
5. Embrace innovative working practices to remove waste and improve efficiency and productivity.
6. The role is expected to have line management responsibilities

Essential Criteria:

• Understanding of the basic infrastructure issues which influence capacity 
• Degree level or equivalent
• Good relationship management with good experience of cross-functional, collaborative working
• Good communication skills (both written and verbal), including report writing
• Understanding of network strategy or business planning
• Knowledge of rail industry and commercial framework

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of Network Rail’s sponsorship and investment processes and procedures
• Knowledge of project development and delivery processes
• A wide-ranging knowledge of the customers and assets of the route

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 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.

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 75% discount off leisure travel from December 2022, this includes all Advance, off peak and super off peak tickets. You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave.

Please search 'IRC2236484' on Careers search - Network Rail to apply.