Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager Application Deadline: 22 October 2025

Department: Maintenance Services

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Derby

Description About us Porterbrook is the UK's leading rolling stock financier and asset management company. We've been at the heart of the rail network for over three decades with 4000 vehicles in our diverse portfolio of passenger and freight trains.

As a partner that adds value to the railway today and for the future, we've invested over £3.5bn in new rolling stock and we're actively looking to invest a further £1bn in the years ahead. Since 2020, this includes over £550 million in new trains, fleet upgrades, traction innovation and rail infrastructure.

Sustainability is embedded in our decision making, and we've been named the global sector leader in the annual GRESB sustainability assessment for the last four years.

Our teams are leading some of the most exciting innovations taking place in the railway today at our sites in Derby, London, and the 135-acre Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire - an invaluable asset for the railway to test and trial new traction technologies.

Our values We provide comprehensive engineering, project management and asset management services to ensure our assets deliver industry leading levels of performance and passenger satisfaction for our customers.

About the role A great opportunity for an exceptional Senior Project Manager, to join the Porterbrook team.

Role Purpose To lead the Maintenance Service Project Managers in the effective delivery of their respective heavy maintenance overhauls events.

• Support the safe operation of the fleets
• Deliver Porterbrook's lease obligations for heavy maintenance
• Ensure that projects are delivered, safely, on time, to the planned cost and expected quality in line with Porterbrook's business objectives
• Deputise as required for the Head of Maintenance Services

Key Responsibilities Safe Operation of Porterbrook Owned Rolling Stock

• Ensure that all projects are managed to support the safe operations of Porterbrook owned vehicles on the railway system, with due consideration to respective lease obligations
• Support close out of National Incident Reports pertinent to current heavy maintenance/overhaul contacts
• Support the supplier accreditation process.
• Support ITT reviews as required
• Support the supplier audit activities/process. Manage audit CARs allocated to you and your team to closure

Project Delivery

• Oversee and support each HM event being delivered by your Project Managers, reporting issues early to the Head of Maintenance Services
• Ensure that all heavy maintenance/overhaul projects are managed and delivered to time, cost and quality objectives in line with Porterbrook's business objectives
• Ensure that all heavy maintenance projects under your control are reported monthly affording the business sufficient visibility of progress, issues, costs, risks and opportunities. Outlining any mitigation measures required to recover those events at risk
• Ensure all relevant information on heavy maintenance projects is shared within the business in a timely manner, including ensuring that the Planning team are kept up to date with project schedules, along with planning management for top tolerance planning
• Review and authorise where appropriate project contract variations to ensure they are providing value for money for the business
• Support the Senior Planning Manager in the delivery of the HM Planning meetings through the planning, procurement and implementation process
• Support the Head of Maintenance Services in the delivery of the monthly change board sessions
• Carryout periodic compliance reviews on your teams HM event governance, ensuring each PM is delivering in accordance with the Project Management Process
• Support the Project Manager as required by attending meetings, mobilisation meetings, contract review meetings, lessons learnt etc

Asset Management

• Delivery of maintenance/overhaul and modification projects
• Support the development of whole life maintenance plans for the fleets, taking cognisance of all maintenance plans and feedback from projects
• Support the development of maintenance/overhaul budgets
• Support the development of heavy maintenance specifications, particularly any updates that are required during a project
• Support contract negotiations of maintenance/overhaul contracts (including contract variations)
• Support the audit of suppliers of maintenance/overhaul activities to ensure all necessary compliance is reached
• Manage applicable warranty systems with both operators and suppliers to minimise risk to all parties

Customer Relations

• In liaison with the Heads of Fleet Services and Head of Maintenance Services, provide direct support to customers on all technical issues affecting the vehicles that they lease that arise from heavy maintenance projects. Ensure that these matters are appropriately prioritised by the team
• Support negotiations with operators on commercial issues arising from heavy maintenance programs, involving the Commercial Manager as appropriate.
• Support the refranchising process as required
• Support the fleet teams to ensure reliability effecting defects arising overhaul events are actioned by our suppliers

Residual Asset Value Protection

• Ensure asset deterioration (e.g. corrosion) is addressed as part of maintenance/overhaul programmes in a cost-effective manner as appropriate
• Ensure that heavy maintenance projects are delivered to protect the residual value of the asset
• Share learning across the business on asset protection issues from heavy maintenance e.g. corrosion, vehicle condition

Team Management

• Set annual objectives for your team. Monitor performance through the year and at end of year, conduct six month reviews in accordance with company process
• Ensure that the competence management process is implemented across all direct reports
• Support the creation of personal development plans for your team
• Coordinate and monitor the activities of your team to ensure effective deployment across the respective areas of responsibility. Ensure that the output being achieved is at an acceptable level to resolve any areas of under performance that may emerge

General Management

• Working closely with the respective Heads of Fleet, developing an approach across all Porterbrook fleets which ensures a high degree of commonality on the approach to technical issues and customer interface agreements
• Produce regular reports detailing issues relating to the projects and the actions that are being taken to resolve these matters. Identify areas where additional management support is necessary to resolve outstanding issues
• Support suppliers in their development of working practices, promoting an environment of continuous improvement
• Work closely with the Heads of Maintenance Services ensure that the team resources are allocated and utilised effectively to meet the overall business objectives

Other Duties

• Assist in providing general engineering services to/across the business as and when required

Skills / Experience What you'll need to have

• Proven experience in leading a team delivering complex rolling stock heavy maintenance events
• Strong track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, influence, and guide cross functional teams
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of engaging at all levels, including executive leadership and external partners
• Advanced understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and techniques (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, or equivalent)
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budget management, cost control, and risk mitigation
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure
• High level of problem solving, negotiation, and decision making skills
• Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and maintaining health, safety, and compliance standards
• Degree in project management, engineering, business, or related field and professional certification preferred but not essential. Demonstrated experience is essential
• Knowledge of railway industry rolling stock, organisation and players is highly desirable
• Significant knowledge of both theoretical and practical implementation of programme and portfolio management
• Working knowledge of Contract Management obligations and stakeholder management
• Knowledge of project management tools and techniques, Risk Management, Earned Value, MS Project, WBS, Critical Path
• Basic understanding of engineering drawings and can understand the design and implementation.
• Knowledge and understanding of maintenance and overhaul requirements

It would be great if you also had

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in ideally rail traction and rolling stock or experience in an equivalent industry
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in managing planning, delivery, and contractual aspects of project teams
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in directly managing personnel
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