Consultant – Rail Operations & Performance

Help Shape and Deliver the Future of Rail Operations We are looking for an experienced, motivated and commercially minded consultant to join our Rail Operations & Performance team. You will combine practical rail operations knowledge with project management experience to help clients define, mobilise and deliver complex operational, strategic and transformation initiatives. Working with senior consultants, technical specialists and client teams, you will take responsibility for defined work streams and smaller assignments.

Your work will support improvements in operational performance, safety, service reliability, passenger experience and asset utilisation, as well as the successful delivery of major rail programmes and organisational change. This is an opportunity to apply your rail industry experience in a client-facing consultancy environment, lead high-quality analysis and delivery, manage stakeholders and contribute to the continued growth of our rail operations advisory capability.

Manage defined work streams and smaller consultancy assignments from initiation through to delivery. Apply rail operations knowledge to assess current performance, operating arrangements, processes and interfaces. Develop project plans, schedules, governance, risk controls and progress reporting. Analyse operational and business data to identify risks, trends and improvement opportunities. Lead or support workshops, interviews and stakeholder meetings with operational, technical and management teams.

Prepare clear, evidence-based reports, business cases, presentations and recommendations for clients. Support bids, client development and the continuous improvement of our rail advisory services. Plan and deliver consultancy assignments in accordance with agreed scope, programme, budget and quality requirements. Manage project controls, including schedules, actions, risks, issues, dependencies, change and status reporting. Assess rail operating models, operational processes, performance, capacity, timetable and control interfaces to identify practical improvements.

Translate complex operational evidence into options, recommendations, implementation plans and business cases. Coordinate multidisciplinary inputs across operations, engineering, digital, planning, safety and project delivery disciplines. Build effective relationships with client stakeholders, facilitate decision-making and communicate delivery priorities clearly. Produce and quality-assure client-facing reports, presentations, plans and governance documentation. Monitor delivery performance and take timely action to resolve issues or elevate risks.

Support and coach junior colleagues providing clear direction and constructive review of their work. Contribute to proposals, estimating, client account development and wider practice initiatives.

Essential Relevant professional experience in rail operations, transport consultancy, project delivery or a closely related field. Demonstrable project management experience, including planning, governance, risk and issue management, stakeholder coordination and reporting. Good understanding of the rail operating environment and the interfaces between operators, infrastructure, timetable planning, control, engineering and customer service. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn evidence into practical recommendations.

Confident written and verbal communication, including experience engaging client and operational stakeholders. Ability to manage competing priorities, work with limited supervision and maintain high standards of quality. A collaborative, proactive and commercially aware approach. A degree or equivalent relevant…