Project Manager, Operations Manager, Program ​/ Project Manager

Are you a Project Manager with proven experience leading reactive rail frameworks and turning delivery programmes into well-structured, high-performing operations? Do you have a strong background in managing buildings, civils or minor works frameworks within a live rail environment, ideally handling high-volume reactive workloads and complex stakeholder interfaces? Are you looking to take on a permanent leadership role where you can genuinely shape a Network Rail framework, improve performance, and rebuild client confidence?

Location:

Chesterfield (Hybrid working with 2-3 days in the office and regular travel across the North West & Central region)

Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum

• Company vehicle
• Private healthcare
• Pension contribution
• 21 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexible and supportive management structure

Due to continued growth and increasing demand across the Northwest & Central Buildings Framework, my client is seeking a Project Manager to take full leadership ownership of this key scheme and help shape its next stage of delivery. This is an opportunity to bring structure, consistency and strong leadership to an established framework, working closely with an experienced team to further strengthen performance and client confidence.

The framework includes a healthy pipeline of reactive and planned works, and this role will focus on enhancing delivery processes, improving visibility across reporting, and ensuring a more coordinated and efficient approach to managing the work bank of approximately 280 live faults. You will be based out of the Chesterfield office while also travelling across the NW&C region, working alongside a Framework Manager and three Works Delivery Managers to drive performance and support operational success.

• Take full leadership responsibility for the framework, ensuring the existing team is effectively managed, supported and held accountable for performance.
• Introduce structure, set clear expectations, and carry out regular performance reviews to improve delivery and consistency across the team.
• Strengthen commercial performance and enhance the quality and consistency of reporting across both internal stakeholders and the client, creating clearer visibility and improved alignment across all parties.
• Act as the main point of contact for the Network Rail client, developing and maintaining a strong, professional relationship built on trust, collaboration and effective communication.
• Take ownership of the reactive work bank, implementing and embedding a structured programme of works to improve coordination, drive efficiency, and ensure faults are prioritised and closed out effectively within required timescales.

• Experience operating at Project Manager level within a reactive works or minor works framework environment, ideally within the rail sector.
• Confident leading teams, providing structure, direction and accountability without needing to be hands‑on in delivery.
• Strong stakeholder and client management skills.
• Solid commercial awareness and reporting capability.
• Comfortable taking ownership of frameworks and driving performance, improvement and delivery consistency across teams.

• Experience with in Network Rail buildings or NW&C frameworks would be highly advantageous, along with prior exposure to reactive rail maintenance or high-volume work bank environments.
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams and working within complex, time-sensitive operational settings would also be beneficial.