Principal Rail Operations Consultant

Location/s: Birmingham, York, Derby, Manchester, Glasgow; UK
Recruiter contact: Madeleine Knight

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit 
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy. 

Overview of the role
We are looking for an experienced and strategic rail operations professional to join our growing team.

From Northern Powerhouse Rail and East West Rail, supporting light rail in the United States, to planning the future of the rail network in the Republic of Ireland, the rail operations team in Mott Macdonald work globally to enable and enhance the provision of rail services. If you are strategically minded about rail operations, we want to hear from you as the job role is varied, covering the full spectrum of consultancy work. We are particularly interested in people with experience in writing operational requirements specifications or concepts of operations, who are willing to apply this experience to nationally and internationally important projects.

We are looking for a well-rounded individual, with “real world” operations experience, to support our broader team undertaking modelling using systems such as ATTUne and Railsys, alongside working with our engineering design teams to provide that crucial operational integration to ensure project success. If you have experience managing rolling stock, fleets, staff and are looking to move into a projects area to apply this knowledge to the railways of tomorrow, we also want to hear from you.

The railway is changing, and the industry is evolving, we need someone who can keep engineering teams and clients abreast of these changes and understand the reality of the day to day running to provide brilliant outcomes.

Candidate specification
Essential:

• Real world operational experience from Network Rail, train/freight operating company or other applicable areas
• Strategic thinker - able to apply experience to new and novel situations both in the UK and globally - Understanding of broader railway engineering system (track, signalling, civils, etc)
• Understanding of the railway industry structure and view on how this may change under Great British Railways
• Stakeholder management experience and able to influence at all levels

Desirable:

• Fellow or Member of Institute of Railway Operators (or working towards) Work with enhancement or renewals projects
• Understanding of railway rules and regulations
• Train crew or staff management requirements
• Modelling software experience (Railsys, ATTUne, others)

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.