Technical Lead - Rail

Overview

Do you want to help make a difference by supporting the delivery of key transport priorities across the England’s Economic Heartland region, which includes the entirety of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor?

Improved connectivity is pivotal to the economic success of the region. England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) is looking for a new project lead with a rail focus to take forward key rail priorities across the corridor.

With delivery of East West Rail transforming the region, now is an incredibly exciting time to join. It is important that East West Rail’s benefits are maximised, the six radial lines meet requirements, and that the region benefits from capacity released by HS2. This role ensures regional and that local rail priorities are progressed.

About us

England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) is the sub-national transport body stretching from Swindon and Oxfordshire through to Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including Buckinghamshire, North and West Northamptonshire, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Luton. Our geography covers the entirety of the ‘Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor’ recently announced by the Chancellor.  The area has a population of 5.1 million and with over 280,000 businesses employing 2,550,000 people. It brings together the Local Transport Authorities to provide leadership on strategic infrastructure issues.   

EEH is hosted  by Buckinghamshire Council. We are a small dynamic organisation that responds to our local authorities’ needs, progressing key local priorities and representing our partners at a regional and national level. 

You will be working directly to the Technical Programme Manager as part of EEH’s technical team.  EEH offers flexible working with two days in the office one of those in the Aylesbury office on a Monday when the whole team meet to collaborate and share ideas.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

About the role

This role is primarily focused on progressing EEHs rail and freight priorities but the role is flexible in contributing and leading on a number of different work areas.  The role will be responsible for ensuring the most strategic and often long distance transport movements in the EEH region are planned in a way that supports economic growth and net zero. The role will have a strong focus on ensuring the best outcomes form East West Rail and High Speed Two are realised for the region.

The work of England’s Economic Heartland requires strong collaborative working between the local partners and more widely across the corridor.  Its activities involve regular engagement, at a senior level and the successful post holder will be responsible for representing EEH on rail with Department for Transport, Network Rail, emerging Great British Railways, as well as Transport Operating Companies (known as TOCs) and freight representatives as well as our Local Authority and Combined Authority partners.  The role will support EEH’s secretariat of the East West Main Line Partnership Board, Wider South East Rail Partnership and Wider South East Freight Partnership as well as leading officer groups in these areas.

The role will be responsible for commissioning professional advice that will support our work and will need the ability to deliver other areas of work outside of just rail, this will include technical analysis through to planning and ensuring delivery of key transport priorities. The role also be responsible for managing EEH’s relationship with the key external partners. As a Project Lead, the postholder is responsible for a project budget – allocated to support the delivery of a programme of commissioned work that will be developed and managed by this role.  

You will have good analytical and report writing skills be able to write board papers and present work at EEH Board, at Transport Forums and with wider audiences. 

Please see the job description for more details on the duties required for the role.

About you

You will be a credible thought leader in the sector, representing England’s Economic Heartland on strategic issues including rail across the region and nationally. 

You will have excellent technical and/or professional knowledge and understanding of the wider transport policy connections at both national and local level; good knowledge of wider sector/external influences and experience of rail.  

You will have experience of providing high-level support to Member-led strategic partnerships including the ability to work on a confidential basis on politically sensitive issues.

Excellent inter-personal skills and experience of partnership working and developing effective working relationships and stakeholder management at all levels across partner organisations operating at the regional level.   

You will have experience in delivery of a progamme of work on time and within budget, and commissioning work and working with delivery partners to get the best outcomes.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

This is a fixed-term contract for 2 years, with the potential for extension and we would consider a secondment as part of career growth and development.

Working Style = Mobile:

This role has a ‘mobile’ working style that provides you with the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common. The whole team meet every Monday in our Aylesbury office for team collaboration.

Number of positions available: 1

Closing date: 7th April 2025

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: the Head of Technical Programme Suzanne Winkels on 01296 387084.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/