Senior Project Manager – Infrastructure Portfolio Manager

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

To lead the delivery of SWR's infrastructure projects, ensuring successful outcomes from strategic outline through to closeout and benefits realisation. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of projects and managing a team of Project Managers, providing direction, mentorship, and robust governance in line with SWR's standards and wider industry expectations. Reporting to the Head of Projects, this role is pivotal in maintaining strong, effective interfaces with Network Rail and other industry partners, ensuring alignment with standards, regulatory requirements, and delivery frameworks. The role requires strategic oversight of project planning, cost control, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on ensuring full compliance with the PACE methodology and SWR's internal assurance processes.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Manage a portfolio of projects, ensuring alignment with SWR's strategic objectives and business plans. 
• Lead the successful delivery of infrastructure projects through all PACE stages and Landlord's Consent. 
• Take end-to-end accountability for scope, budget, schedule, safety, and quality on assigned projects. 
• Ensure all projects within the portfolio are delivered in accordance with the Project Management Processes and Procedures. Prepare and maintain documented project files for all projects and track progress against planned programmes.
• Support and mentor a team of Project Managers, ensuring high standards of project delivery and professional development. 
• Promote a high-performing, inclusive team culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. 
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g. Sponsors, Fleet, Operations, Finance) and external partners (e.g. contractors, consultants, local authorities). 
• Compiling and negotiating project delivery schedules with external contractors and internal and external stakeholders at all levels. 
• Ensuring any new project creating unacceptable business risk to resources, service delivery or customer experience are escalated to Head of Projects with a recommended course of action. 
• Maintain accurate and timely reporting of project status, risks, issues, and financials to the Head of Projects and executive-level stakeholders. 
• Provide expert support as required to business stakeholders. 
• Identify opportunities within projects and sharing of best practice across functional project teams. 
• Lead project reviews ensuring contractors and stakeholders are held to account. 
• Ensure projects are accepted by functional leads and benefits are acknowledged and delivered. 
• Assist in the tendering process for projects ensuring full compliance with SWR financial and procurement processes. 
• Ensure that suppliers and contractors conform to appropriate technical and safety standards. 
• Initiate and evaluate innovative ideas and develop reliable solutions within financial constraints and timescales. 
• Ensure that all projects are delivered to a standard that supports seamless operational handover and sustainable benefits realisation.

You'll need to be:

• Educated to degree level and able to demonstrate experience in the delivery of complex projects in the engineering and construction industry. 
• Holder of APM Project Management Qualification or equivalent. 
• Relevant experience in the successful support of programmes of work in the construction and/or rail industries. 
• Knowledge and understanding of CDM Regulations 2015 
• Able to work within a design and implementation environment and able to prioritise appropriately between the delivery and development functions. 
• Ability to motivate teams to deliver projects and programmes  
• Should have a practical approach to construction projects with appreciation of the aesthetics and ergonomics of completed work. 
• Strong commercial focus and financially astute. 
• Knowledge of the principles of investment processes and procedures. 
• Must have the ability to work independently or as part of a team and successfully adapt to changing priorities 
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills are a must. 

Desirable Skills/ Experience

• Holds a degree in either Engineering, Construction or Project Management. 

• Experience in the management of project teams. 

• Proficient in the use of project planning software such as Microsoft Project. 

• Experience in JCT and NEC forms of contract. 

About the location

South Western Railways HQ is based on the 4th Floor at South Bank Central, a stone's throw from the River Thames and a 10 minute walk from our busiest station, Waterloo. It is local to many well-known attractions, restaurants and retail facilities and is easily accessible by public transport. 

Working pattern

Working an average of 37 hours per week over 5 days 

Normal weekday working hours Monday to Friday,  0900 – 1730

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/