JOB ROLE: TRU Accessibility Lead - 12 Months 

SALARY: £47,064 - 50,000

HOURS:  Monday – Friday - 37 Hours

CONTRACT: FTC - 12 Months 

LOCATION: Manchester

Are you passionate about accessibility and ensuring an inclusive experience for all customers? Do you thrive in a role where you can influence major infrastructure projects to create meaningful change? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

As the TRU Accessibility Lead, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the needs of all customers, especially those with additional access requirements, are prioritised throughout the Transpennine Route Upgrade. You will work closely with industry stakeholders to shape station design, enhance customer handling strategies, and drive inclusive solutions that make a real difference.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Act as a key advisor on station upgrades, embedding accessibility into design and supporting delivery.
• Support the development of Strategic Customer Handling Plans to capture wider accessibility risks and opportunities across 20+ disruptive scenarios, ensuring mitigations are developed as required.
• Ensure amended train and rail replacement plans, including rail-to-road interchange points, are accessible to all, participating in Possession Readiness Reviews to confirm that all relevant accessibility enablers and requirements are in place.
• Attend Lessons Learnt workshops following engineering work to identify and feed back on specific accessibility challenges, working closely with the Customer Insights team to turn insights into action.
• Lead engagement with accessibility user groups, championing inclusive design principles.
• Conduct Equality Impact Assessments to identify challenges and develop effective mitigations.
• Assure customer communications, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and availability in alternative formats.
• Influence key stakeholders and industry partners to drive accessibility-focused solutions.

About You:

• Experience in accessibility, inclusion, or equality roles.
• Strong knowledge of accessibility legislation and best practice (e.g. Equality Act 2010, ACC NTSN, Design Standards for Accessible Railway Stations).
• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of driving change.
• Experience working within the rail industry or on major infrastructure projects (desirable).
• A passion for creating an inclusive and accessible travel experience.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We’re also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.