Head of Major Programmes

Job Introduction

We are seeking a Head of Major Programmes to join our team based in our Office in London Bridge (Hybrid working).

Your role will be to provide strategic leadership at Southeastern for business transformation programmes, fleet and infrastructure changes and major programmes. You will work collaboratively across Southeastern leading the major programmes team to deliver and embed changes and ensure that dependencies and interfaces are well managed across the change programmes as well as be accountable for all programmes delivery ensuring safety and high levels of performance are delivered, passenger experience levels are maintained or improved, staff are involved where appropriate and staff and passengers are fully aware of any changes. 

Major programmes and business transformation programmes are those which require delivery across the organisation.  Current examples include further developing the alliance between the Southeastern and Network Rail Kent route, safety upgrades in yards depots and sidings, liaising with councils, developing operational plans, and delivering fleet upgrades.

Working here: This is a Monday – Friday role, 37 hours a week, normal working hours.  We are open to a discussion on flexible working.

Role Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Leading the plan/do/review process for business transformation and Major programmes, including engineering transformation.
• Coaching and supporting people within the major programmes team to work together to become a highly engaged, motivated high performing team.
• Leading and directing the successful business transformation of Southeastern and embedding change from a number of different major programmes, projects and tasks.
• Leading the interface with senior stakeholders, including the executive team, DOHL board, DfT and Network Rail, to deliver effective interfaces and communications to all stakeholders in relation to projects and changes.
• Implementing The Southeast Alliance with Network Rail, delivering improvements to create a simpler, cheaper, and more joined up railway across Network Rail and Southeastern.
• Leading the development of a framework to deliver new alliance activities and identify further collaboration activities across the industry including with GBR.
• Managing the commercial aspects of projects, delivering to budget and finding further efficiencies, including recovery of all relevant costs such as resource and any capital expenditure.
• Reviewing industry changes in relation to the programmes managed and providing advice and direction as appropriate.  Guiding the organisation and its employees through the process of change and making necessary adjustments to programme deliverables to realise benefits.

The Ideal Candidate

To be successful for this role, your application must be able to demonstrate:

• Project/programme management capabilities
• Experience of developing collaborative solutions to challenges
• Strong financial and business acumen
• Experience in working with senior stakeholders and communicating to them effectively.
• Experience at embedding change within an organisation.
• A strong approach to developing teams and people.
• Experience in influencing senior people around future strategic direction.
• Ability to Influence at all levels – Gaining commitment to deliver the desired result, through the use of a range of interpersonal skills, focussing on persuasion, negotiation and selling.
• Commercial Awareness – Be able to demonstrates a broad based view of issues, events and activities and a perception of their longer term impact or wider implications.
• Leadership –  Ability to show direction and inspire commitment to achieve common goals and the ability to coach to improve performance.
• Professionalism – Aim to be the very best you can be through attitude & respect of others and always leading by example.
• Problem Solving – Ability to Identify potential difficulties and causes, generating workable solutions and making rational judgements.

Package Description

Southeastern recognises the value of every individual employee and offers benefits that reflect this.

As well as a generous salary, we offer an comprehensive benefits package which includes;

• A Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme 
• Free rail travel on Southeastern and GTR rail services (extends to family members for leisure/educational travel)
• After a qualifying period, reduced rate travel on other train operators, including European services
• Up to 25 days annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays)
• Private healthcare
• Access to an array of discounts for retail and leisure products through our benefits scheme.
• Family friendly benefits including enhanced maternity/paternity leave, parental leave and carers leave.

About the Company

About Southeastern

Southeastern is one of the busiest commuter rail companies in the UK running more than 2,000 trains, and carrying nearly 600,000 passengers every day between London, Kent and East Sussex.

Just over 4,700 employees - mostly from the communities that we serve - work together to provide this vital service and we are looking to expand our successful team. We have a strong set of values that shape the way we run our business and guide our staff in delivering what our customers need. These are:

• We aim to be the best
• We make the difference together
• We care passionately about our people and our passengers

We are committed to being an inclusive employer, creating a workplace where everyone can come to work, feel safe and comfortable and able to do everything to the best of their ability. Read about some of the great Diversity and Inclusion initiatives our Head of Colleague Experience has been leading on here. 

We recognise the positive value of diversity and it matters to us that our teams reflect the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

We are also proud to be a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women. If you would like to know more information about how we are supporting our employees, you can view our policies and initiatives here.

If you have been unsuccessful in the recruitment process for the same/similar position you will not be eligible to apply for a period of 6 months from that date.

All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years and any previous railway employment). We will also complete right to work in the UK and criminal record checks. This is to ensure we are employing the best person for the role and to protect our customers, colleagues and our reputation. We are unable to offer sponsorship to work in the UK. 

This post will close before the intended closing date should sufficient number of suitable applications be received. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this role, we suggest that you do so at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.

SE Trains Limited