Project Manager Lead

Project Manager Lead

London or Darlington, with hybrid working arrangements.

About the role

At Railpen, we’re committed to securing our members’ futures and delivering long-term value through effective change, innovation and continuous improvement. As Project Manager Lead, you’ll own and develop the Project Management capability across Change & Transformation (C&T), while championing the profession and its value across the wider organisation.

This is a people leadership and professional capability role rather than a project delivery position. You’ll create the conditions for Project Managers to perform at their best by providing clear leadership, effective coaching, consistent professional standards and meaningful development opportunities.

Working closely with Portfolio Managers, PMO colleagues, Resource Planning and other capability leads, you’ll help create the conditions for successful change delivery through strong project management capability, effective resource deployment and continuous improvement. As a visible leader within C&T, you’ll actively participate in team anchor days, capability forums, coaching activities, workshops and other in-person events that strengthen collaboration, development and community.

To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our careers page
here
.

• Line-managing and developing Project Managers, supporting their performance, wellbeing and long-term career progression.
• Owning and continuously improving the Project Management capability, including professional standards, methodologies, frameworks, role expectations, development pathways, AI-enabled practices and ways of working.
• Building and leading a thriving Project Management community that promotes consistency, collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous professional development.
• Working with other matrix managers, Portfolio Managers and Resource Planning colleagues to support effective deployment, utilisation, performance feedback, succession planning and capability development across the Project Manager community.
• Coaching and mentoring Project Managers on planning, governance, stakeholder management, risk management and delivery leadership.
• Using performance trends, feedback, delivery insights and lessons learned to identify capability gaps and continuously improve Project Management practice.
• Partnering with other capability leads to ensure Project Management standards remain fit for purpose and aligned with organisational and portfolio needs.
• Championing consistent adoption of the C&T and Project Management frameworks across the portfolio.
• Acting as a visible advocate for the Project Management profession across C&T and the wider organisation.

You’ll be an experienced Project Management and people leader with a strong track record of developing individuals, building professional capability and improving delivery practice within complex change and transformation environments. You’ll combine supportive and inclusive leadership with sound judgement and a pragmatic, outcome-focused approach. Comfortable working across matrix structures, you’ll build credible relationships at all levels, challenge constructively and use insight and feedback to help Project Managers and the wider profession perform at their best.

Essential

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams through an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.
• Strong coaching and mentoring capability, with the ability to adapt your approach to colleagues at different stages of their development and career journey.
• Significant experience establishing, implementing and continuously improving Project Management…