Commercial Scheme Sponsor

As a Sponsor on the Wessex Route, you will be accountable for delivering a variety of enhancements that make a tangible difference to the rail network and the passengers that use it. The role involves leading projects with third-party clients, working closely with train operators and championing accessibility improvements at stations, helping to put passengers first.

You will lead the development, delivery and implementation of a portfolio of enhancement schemes across Wessex and in our managed stations, create and maintain relationships with customers and stakeholders and lead projects to deliver improved outcomes for our passengers and communities.

This is a 12-month opportunity with the potential to be extended or to become permanent.

Key Accountabilities –

1. Lead and maintain relationships with nominated customers and stakeholders, and be the focal point, to monitor whether our operation is fully responsive for the development of schemes. Champion the interests of the customers and stakeholders within our network

2. Develop proposals from customers and stakeholders for enhancements, to establish the nature and scope of their schemes in line with the business planning criteria, including consideration of their viability within the route planning process, timetable, implications, operational arrangements and railway Estates interfaces.

3. Lead negotiations with customers for the commercial and contractual terms on which schemes will be implemented, or the terms on which we will provide asset protection if the customer implements.

4. Sponsor the delivery or facilitation (through asset protection arrangements) by Infrastructure Investment of externally funded schemes to track, monitoring whether customer and stakeholder requirements are fully met on scope, price, quality and programme of works.

5. Comply with the requirements of corporate investment regulations, other corporate governance, and the Guide to Railway Investment Projects.

6. Monitor progress on customer schemes against agreed budgets, delivery plans and work programmes, challenge and intervene as required with Infrastructure Investment to achieve correction of adverse trends.

7. Undertake post implementation reviews to close schemes, check the customer is fully billed and pays for the works, whether the works deliver the intended outputs and new works are fully incorporated into maintenance and renewal plans.

8. Contribute to the development of the Route’s strategy for enhancements through the Route Utilisation Strategy process and other business planning processes.

9. Work with customers and stakeholders to identify new opportunities for them to investment in the network.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified to degree level, or equivalent

• Commercially astute, persuasive, and customer focused

• Negotiating skills

• Knowledge / understanding of the railway industry

• Experience of dealing with industrial client portfolios and negotiating contracts to finalisation and able to demonstrate commercial success

Desirable

• Some experience in management roles in an industrial commercial environment

• MBA or other related postgraduate qualification