Lead Project Manager - Train Operating Company

Position: Lead Project Manager
Rate: £500 (Indicative Outside IR35)
Location: Birmingham
Start date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 3 months
Working Arrangements: Hybrid - 2 days office / 3 days home
Reporting to: Head of Programme Management Office

People Group are looking to recruit a Lead Project Manager / Senior Project Manager to provide leadership and strategic advice to the Capital Works team within the Programme Management Office (PMO) department,

Responsibilities:

• To be a lead member of the PMO team, taking accountability for the PMO delivery of Capital Works projects.
• Deputising for the Head of PMO where required.
• Direct line responsibility for the Senior Project Manager and Project Manager, whilst managing external contractors relating to the Capital Works project Governance and compliance.
• Lead Capital Works Governance and process improvements, to ensure all are effectively and efficiently operating in line with the DfT contractual arrangement with WMT, and also NEC4 requirements with contractors.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance on all matters relating to Capital Works Governance and processes.
• Implement commercial best practice to maximise value and minimise risk and cost to WMT
• Implement project management best practice where appropriate
• Support the Head of PMO with governance management of the DfT, in line with the expectations of the National Rail Contract (“NRC”) in particular chapter 7.8.
• Work with the senior commercial team on the new trains programme, ensuring that all are projects delivered within the contract requirements of the NEC4 form of contract and within the agreed Key Milestones.
• Support the WMT finance team on cost and commercial matters such as quarterly forecasting and Annual Business Plan.
• Ensure that Capital Works project Anticipated Final Costs (“AfC”) are robust and based upon solid assumptions and risks to the AfC is captured effectively and managed
• Jointly manage, with the Head of Commercial Finance, the Senior Commercial Manager and all Commercial Managers across the Capital Works projects. Supporting them to advise on assessment and entitlement of compensation events, and other contractual matters under the NEC form of Contract such as the acceptance of programmes and mechanisms of payment.
• Coach and develop the wider WMT PMO team to ensure commercial processes and Governance are embedded at all levels and operating effectively.
• Lead the commercial risk management process ensuring that WMT’s commercial risks are managed and communicated in line with WMT’s governance and reporting requirements by the DfT
• Liaise across the Client Relationships teams across commercial matter that need reporting to the DfT such as claims and potential delay events including drafting early warnings.
• Work with the PMO to ensure that all contractual processes are followed, and in line with contractual requirements including NEC4, and can be demonstrated to provide commercial assurance to WMT.
• Lead the commercial PMO function of WMT in meetings, and act as a single point of contact on commercial matters.
• Lead the close out of projects contractually where required including but not limited to agreeing a final account and demobilisation process.
• Support mobilisation of key contracts commercially with robust processes
• Any other reasonable requirements, as directed by the Head of PMO. 

Essentials:

• Strong Infrastructure specifically Rail background, ideally having worked in both a client and contractor roles previously within the infrastructure industry.
• Knowledge and commercial awareness of multiple construction contract types 
• Knowledge of the core Project Controls disciplines, including; Schedule Management, Change Management and Risk Management
• Knowledge of baseline development and maintenance of baselines on a major programme.
• Degree educated or similar in Project Management, Construction Management, or Electrical/Mechanical/Civil Engineering Extensive experience of using several project management scheduling tools & techniques including Primavera P6 Proficiency in MS Office (particularly Microsoft Project and Excel)
• Ability to set strategy and lead a team to a positive outcome for the business
• Ability to build relationships and lead team, across multiple functions