Project Manager, Operations Manager, Program ​/ Project Manager

Project Manager | Milton Keynes | £60,000–£68,250 | Permanent

The Opportunity

If you're looking for a Project Management role where you can take genuine ownership of major engineering programmes, influence business performance, and build long-term stakeholder relationships, this is an opportunity to join a leading rail engineering operation during a period of continued growth and investment.

With an increasing pipeline of new work and a strong focus on programme delivery excellence, the business is expanding its Project Management capability to bring greater consistency, governance, and control across a complex engineering environment.

You'll take ownership of both established and newly mobilised rolling stock programmes, leading delivery from planning and mobilisation through to execution and completion. This is a highly visible role, giving you responsibility for programme performance, financial outcomes, forecasting, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Working closely with Production, Commercial, Finance, Engineering, and Operations teams, you'll be the driving force behind successful project delivery, bringing structure, confidence, and accountability to a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly.

For ambitious Project Managers, this role offers significant scope to broaden your influence, take on greater responsibility, and develop your career within a growing and well-established organisation.

Project Manager Responsibilities

Programme Ownership:
Taking full responsibility for engineering and rolling stock projects, from mobilisation through to successful delivery, ensuring milestones, risks, resources, and timelines remain under control.

Stakeholder Leadership:
Acting as the key interface for customers and internal stakeholders, delivering clear communication, managing expectations, and building trusted working relationships.

Commercial Management:
Owning forecasting, financial performance, revenue reporting, and variation management to ensure programmes remain commercially successful.

Governance & Delivery Excellence:
Embedding robust project controls, risk management, and standardised reporting while driving continuous improvement across programme delivery.

Ideal Project Manager

Experience & Qualifications

Proven Project Management experience within rolling stock, rail, heavy engineering, manufacturing, or comparable engineering environments.
Strong experience managing stakeholders within operational or site-based environments.
Experience overseeing programme budgets, forecasting, and commercial performance.
APM PMQ, Prince2, or equivalent Project Management qualification is desirable, although practical experience will be strongly considered.

Personal Attributes

Calm, structured, and dependable under pressure.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a reactive environment.
Confident communicator capable of engaging senior stakeholders, engineers, operational teams, and commercial functions.
Hands-on approach with a visible leadership style.
Commercially aware with a strong focus on delivery and performance.
Able to influence cross-functional teams and drive accountability.

Location & Working Arrangements

Based primarily at the Milton Keynes site.
Ideally 5 days per week on-site.
Availability to provide occasional remote support during weekend operational outputs when required.

Salary & Benefits

Salary

£60,000–£68,250 depending on experience.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
Company shutdown over Christmas
Option to buy and sell up to 5 days holiday
Pension scheme (4.4% employee / 6% employer contribution)
Life Assurance (4x annual salary)
Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
Salary review following probation and annually thereafter

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

Ford & Stanley…