Lead Portfolio Manager

About the Opportunity

Location: London, GB

Department Name

GC Industry Partnership Digital Railway (382300) G4

About Network Rail

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About GBRX

At GBRX, we are at the forefront of transforming the railway industry, driving innovation, and delivering complex projects that push the boundaries of transportation. We are seeking a Lead Portfolio Manager to manage the Digital Signalling Portfolio.

At GBRX, we foster a values-driven culture rooted in curiosity, pioneering spirit, and tenacity. By applying a first principles approach, we tackle the most complex challenges in railway modernisation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and driving transformative change. Our mission is to reshape the future of the railway and improve customer experiences within the railway industry.

You’ll work on ground breaking projects that make a real-world impact. This hybrid role offers a balance of regular in-office collaboration with remote work, encouraging flexibility while enabling you to work closely with our diverse team of experts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and approval processes for assigned projects, focusing on specific, measurable outcomes to facilitate seamless procurement and efficient contract awards.
• Collaborate with clients and funders to identify optimal solutions, aligning projects with strategic goals and business cases.
• Design funding strategies that secure incremental financing and reflect project SPEED and PACE principles.
• Integrate clear and measurable KPIs and KRAs into pre-contract documentation to guide effective project monitoring and control throughout the contract.
• Oversee contracting and procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with legal, corporate, and governance standards, while fostering collaboration with the supply chain.
• Evaluate supplier proposals and ensure timely contract awards, aligning with the broader programme objectives.
• Lead Level 1 assurance reviews and support Level 2 assurance activities across the capital delivery portfolio, ensuring compliance with CDM 2015 regulations.
• Implement and monitor an assurance framework to ensure supply chain compliance, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.

Eligibility

Essential Qualifications And Experience

• Degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Membership (or working towards membership) of the Association for Project Management or equivalent.
• Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.
• In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and best practice.
• Understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015).
• Strong experience in procurement, assurance processes, and project governance.
• Practical experience applying CDM and Common Safety Method (CSM) regulations.
• Proven ability to lead and foster collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex issues proactively and think strategically about costs, business priorities, and customer impacts.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of investment, commercial, and procurement regulations.
• Experience working within the PACE framework.
• Familiarity with Network Rail’s asset management practices.
• Commercially astute with experience of managing NEC4 contracts.
• Experience of managing complex development and delivery programmes in close collaboration with internal and external engineers.
• Experience of collaboratively working with large Original Equipment Manufacturers to jointly resolve issues.

Benefits

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.

About Company

How To Apply (External)

Salary: £55,596-£65,966

Closing date: 10/12/25. - Late applications will not be accepted.

Click apply now to apply.

This role can be based in either London Kings Cross or York, and requires working from either of these offices 3 days per week.

What does our recruitment process look like?

Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist and Hiring Manager will look at your CV. If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be invited to an interview.

You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here.

Ready to drive the future of railway systems? Bring your expertise to GBRX and make a lasting impact.

Apply today to join our team and shape the future of rail travel!