Lead Operational Readiness for Rail Transformation

Turn engineering blockades into seamless operations, drive readiness and keep Britain moving.

Are you ready to play a key role in one of the UK’s most ambitious rail modernisation programmes? This is your chance to lead from the front, ensuring our operational teams are fully prepared to deliver during major engineering works. If you thrive on coordination, collaboration, and making complex projects run smoothly, we want you on our team.

We’re looking for a Possession Delivery Readiness Manager to champion operational readiness for the West Coast North Modernisation Programme and associated projects. Acting as the industry lead on behalf of Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, and Northern, you’ll make sure our people, plans, and resources are aligned for success.

In this role you will:

• Drive Operational Readiness: Scope and coordinate changes affecting frontline colleagues before, during, and after engineering blockades.
• Collaborate Across the Industry: Work with Network Rail, train operators, and internal teams to ensure alignment on possession delivery.
• Plan & Prepare: Assure route knowledge, contingency plans, and operational competencies are in place well ahead of time.
• Engage & Communicate: Attend key meetings, liaise with trade unions, and keep stakeholders informed of requirements and progress.
• Improve & Innovate: Review activities, capture lessons learned and continuously enhance possession delivery processes.

 Who we are looking for:

• Possession Management Expertise: Proven experience managing rail possessions and coordinating across multiple business departments.
• Operational Readiness Knowledge: Strong understanding of rail operational requirements, agreements, and readiness principles for successful project delivery.
• Project & Stakeholder Coordination: Ability to design and deliver project plans, track actions, and align diverse stakeholder groups effectively.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships.
• Continuous Learner: Ideally holds a project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, Six Sigma, APM) or keen to develop further.

This position is offered on a fixed-term basis, with the possibility of becoming permanent.

Please see the attached role profile for detailed information about this role.

Benefits include: 

• Final salary pension
• Free travel on Avanti West Coast for you/spouse/partner/dependents
• Privilege Travel card (75% off other train operators fares for leisure travel)
• 30 days holiday rising by 1 for every completed year of service to a maximum of 37 days (inclusive of bank holidays)
• 10 free journeys on other First Group Train Operators

Ready to make a real impact? If you’re passionate about operational excellence and want to play a key role in shaping the future of rail travel, apply today and help us deliver engineering works with confidence and precision.

Be You. With Us.

At Avanti West Coast, we believe our strength comes from the unique perspectives, experiences and backgrounds of our people. We are proud to build a workplace where diversity is embraced, and everyone is supported to thrive.

We welcome individuals of all races, religions, ages, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities. Our goal is to reflect the communities we serve and create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.

When you join Avanti West Coast, you become part of a close-knit team that encourages authenticity. We want you to bring your whole self to work. No need to change who you are to fit in. Your individuality is what makes us better.

We celebrate it, we respect it and we put it to great use.