Project Director; Rail Design and Engineering Job London area,Greater London England UK,Management

Position: Project Director (Rail Design and Engineering)
Location: Greater London

Role Description

As a Project Director, you will lead the delivery of complex rail infrastructure projects and programmes, taking overall responsibility for safe, compliant and commercially successful outcomes.

You will set the delivery direction, translate business and client objectives into robust operational and financial plans, and provide senior leadership across client, contractor, partner and design interfaces.

Key Accountabilities

Project & Programme Leadership
- Direct the implementation and delivery of complex rail infrastructure projects or programmes, ensuring achievement of agreed scope, programme, cost, quality, safety and assurance outcomes.
- Set the overall delivery approach, governance framework and leadership structure, ensuring appropriate controls are in place to assure delivery.
- Lead teams through complexity, change and challenge, maintaining a clear focus on client outcomes, delivery certainty and Arcadis performance.
Commercial & Financial Leadership
- Translate business and client objectives into operational and financial targets, establishing robust delivery plans, budgets, forecasts and programme baselines.
- Hold overall accountability for project or programme financial performance, including profitability, cashflow, risk exposure, forecasting and recovery actions.
- Lead significant commercial and contractual matters, including NEC3/NEC4 obligations, major change, complex negotiations and key contractual decisions within delegated authority.
- Monitor delivery management performance, ensuring controls, reporting and corrective actions protect Arcadis’ position while supporting successful delivery.
Design, Engineering & Assurance Leadership
- Provide senior design leadership and, where appropriate, act as design authority for complex rail infrastructure projects and programmes.
- Ensure delivery complies with relevant Network Rail, HS2, Irish Rail and client‑specific technical standards, assurance requirements and approval processes.
- Embed CDM 2015 duties and "safe by design" principles into design development, optioneering, assurance reviews and delivery decision‑making.
Client & Market Leadership
- Build and maintain strategic senior relationships with key rail clients and delivery partners, including Network Rail, HS2, Irish Rail, Tier 1 contractors and joint venture organisations.
- Act as a trusted advisor at senior client level, providing credible leadership on complex delivery, commercial, stakeholder and assurance matters.
- Influence strategic project and portfolio decisions, providing senior leadership in resolving sensitive, high‑impact or reputationally significant issues.
- Support portfolio performance, repeat work generation and market growth by shaping delivery strategies, building client confidence in Arcadis’ capability, and contributing to bids and major proposals where appropriate.
Contractor, D&B & Partner Integration
- Lead effective integration across client, consultant, contractor and supply chain teams, creating clear interfaces, responsibilities and decision routes.
- Act as a senior interface with Tier 1 contractors, joint venture partners and delivery organisations while maintaining clear accountability.
- Resolve complex design, construction and delivery interface issues, balancing delivery certainty, compliance and client outcomes.
Leadership, Capability & Team Performance
- Lead operational teams by setting clear objectives, managing performance and ensuring that staff have the capability, structure and support needed to deliver successfully.
- Provide line leadership, mentoring and development to Associate Project Managers, Senior Project Managers and wider project delivery teams.
- Drive a positive, high‑performing and inclusive team culture, supporting succession planning and strengthening capability across the project management community.
Risk, Safety, Health & Sustainability
- Take ownership of major delivery, commercial and reputational risks, ensuring that mitigation strategies are established, monitored and adjusted as appropriate.
- Champion a strong safety, health, environmental and wellbeing culture across project teams and interfaces.
- Ensure sustainable and responsible practices are…