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About the Role

As a key member of the newly established Safety Function within the Railway Operations team, you will play a pivotal role in building our market presence and expanding our safety and operational assurance offering across the rail industry. This high-profile position combines technical expertise with business development, enabling the consultancy to strengthen client relationships, develop new markets, and establish a reputation as a trusted provider of safety and competence management services. You will provide independent competence management, assurance, and safety advisory services to clients, supporting them in delivering safe, compliant, and high-performing railway operations. This role is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract, with progression onto a permanent contract subject to meeting criteria on utilisation and revenue generation.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of competence management frameworks, standards and assurance arrangements for clients.
Provide independent expert advice and guidance on competence management, operational safety, assurance, human factors and regulatory compliance.
Undertake audits, assessments, reviews and assurance activities to evaluate the effectiveness of competency and safety management systems.
Develop and implement competency assessment, training and development frameworks that support safe, compliant and high-performing railway operations.
Support clients in the development and deployment of digital systems and processes for recording, managing and monitoring competence.
Produce high-quality reports, recommendations and improvement plans that provide practical, evidence-based solutions to client challenges.
Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, Rail Industry Standards, ORR guidance, RSSB standards and industry best practice.
Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, acting as a recognised subject matter expert in operational competence and safety assurance.
Lead and support the delivery of consultancy commissions, ensuring projects are delivered safely, effectively, on time and within budget.
Work collaboratively with clients to identify organisational challenges, operational risks and opportunities for improvement.
Provide strategic and operational advice across a broad range of railway operations, safety, competence and assurance activities.
Support clients in preparing for regulatory inspections, audits and accreditation activities.
Identify, develop and convert opportunities to expand First Rail Consultancy's safety and operational assurance services.
Support the preparation of bids, proposals, tenders and client presentations.
Develop new service offerings, products and solutions that respond to emerging client needs and industry challenges.
Contribute to achieving revenue, utilisation and growth targets for the Railway Operations and Safety Function.
Collaborate with colleagues across First Rail Consultancy and affiliate companies to develop integrated solutions and maximise commercial opportunities.
Represent First Rail Consultancy at industry events, conferences, working groups and professional forums.
Develop technical papers, articles, presentations and thought leadership material that promotes the consultancy's expertise and market reputation.
Support the development of strategic partnerships with industry bodies, clients and supply chain organisations.
Help establish First Rail Consultancy as a recognised leader in railway operations, competence management and safety assurance.
Promote innovation and continuous improvement in safety, competence management and operational performance across the rail sector.
Support the growth and maturity of the newly established Safety Function through the development of processes, methodologies and best practice.
Mentor and support colleagues across the consultancy, sharing knowledge and developing capability within the wider team.
Foster a culture of safety, professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Contribute to business planning activities and the long-term development of the Railway Operations and Safety practice.

Requirements

Experienced and qualified Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) professional.
Experience in a rail operating environment.
Established profile within the rail industry.
Comprehensive knowledge of train working techniques rules instructions and Railway Group and Company Safety Standards.
Knowledge of rules and regulations and regulatory bodies such as Rail and Other Guided Systems (ROGS).
IOSH Managing Safety.
NEBOSH Level 3 or equivalent.
Risk Based Training Needs Assessment (RBTNA).
Development of competence frameworks.
Development and deployment of systems for recording and management of competence.
IQA Standardisation.
Audit, inspection and assurance across safety, operations and engineering environments.
Support for due diligence activity.
Business Development.

Skills

Competence Management
Operational Safety
Assurance
Human Factors
Regulatory Compliance
Competency Assessment
Training Development
Digital Systems Implementation
Client Relationship Management
Business Development
Bid and Proposal Development
Thought Leadership
Innovation
Continuous Improvement
Mentoring
Collaboration

Location

Work Type

Fixed Term Contract
Full-time

Experience Level

Experienced

Education Level

Qualified Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) professional
IOSH Managing Safety
NEBOSH Level 3 or equivalent

Salary/Compensations

Up to £75k per annum

Benefits

Minimum of 10% contribution to Pension (5% employer and 5% employee)
25 days holiday plus national bank holidays
Travel offers for Bus and Rail*
Payroll Giving – donate directly from your pay to a charity of your choice
Shopping discounts including discounts and cashback on electrical goods, your weekly shop, holidays, cinema trips, car insurance, upgrading your mobile and lots more
All employee Share Schemes*
Buy as You Earn share scheme*
Employee Assistance Helpline – free, confidential employee support service

About the Company

First Rail is one of the most experienced rail operators in the UK, with more than 770,000 passenger journeys daily.
We operate Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway (GWR), Hull Trains, and Lumo.
We are also ‘shadow operator’ on the HS2 programme and operate London Overground, London Tram and London Cable Car services.
First Rail head office supports Engineering, Finance, Property, Operations, Procurement, IT and Human Resources functions.
First Rail Holdings is a part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London.
FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees.
FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.
FirstGroup is a leading private sector provider of public transport.
We provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities.
Our services are a vital part of society – transporting customers for business, education, health, social and leisure purposes.
We create solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier.
Our businesses are at the heart of our communities, and the essential services we provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social, and environmental goals.

Equal Opportunity

FirstGroup plc welcomes applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.
We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive organisation because we believe that diversity brings benefits for our customers, communities and our people.
Valuing our differences and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience helps us develop new services, open up new markets and broaden our customer base.