BUSINESS FUNCTION: Strategic Development

GRADE: ML1/SB1

SALARY: £34,060 to £40,508 per annum

ROLE TYPE: Hybrid

HOURS: 37 per week

Is being highly adaptable ‘Your Thing’?

We are seeking a dedicated professional to join our team as a Programme Management Assistant. This role is essential in driving the success of the TRU programme by ensuring seamless coordination and effective communication between Northern and the Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme Management Office.

As a Programme Management Assistant, you will assist the Programme Management Lead and the TRU PMO team in establishing and managing TRU programme activities for the business. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure a seamless link with the Northern PMO and interface effectively with the TRU PMO. This involves coordinating programme information and TRU reporting across Northern, managing document control processes in line with internal governance, and performing secretariat duties for the TRU Programme Steering Committee.

In this role, you will support in delivering all commitments related to TRU as part of its Services Agreement. By providing robust project management support to the Programme, you will help ensure that our ambitious goals are met and that we continue to excel in our field. Your efforts will be key in maintaining programme integrity, ensuring that all documentation is accurate and up-to-date, and that reporting processes are efficient and effective.

If this sounds like your thing, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

This is a varied and challenging role, but here is a taste of what your day-to-day activities could include:

• Managing the collation of information for periodic external/internal reporting, ensuring accurate and timely production of reporting packs for stakeholders.
• Leading and developing document control procedures and maintain the Northern TRU Teams/SharePoint site for effective sharing of programme information.
• Coordinating and producing reports for the TRU Northern Programme Steering Committee and other reference uses by the TRU Northern team.
• Driving the digitisation of reporting and document control processes, exploring opportunities for new reporting methods and improvements.
• Serving as the main contact with the Northern Programmes team, ensuring all business reporting aligns with governance processes and supports the Head of TRU in fulfilling contractual obligations to Network Rail.

About you:

You will be an organised and proactive individual with a knack for project management and a strong ability to coordinate and manage programme activities. Your excellent communication and leadership skills will be essential in fostering collaboration across teams, and your proficiency in using management software will ensure seamless and efficient reporting processes. You will thrive in a dynamic environment where your flexibility and resourcefulness will support project managers and drive continuous improvement.

We’re also looking for the following:

• Strong programme and project management skills with relevant accreditation to MSP/PRINCE 2 or a similar system (or working towards it).
• Experience working in a Programme Management Office, managing its tools and artefacts.
• Excellent organisation and IT skills
• Outcome-focused and able to drive projects to successful completion.

Our Benefits:

Because we value our people and reward hard work, we’ve created a benefits package that we think you’ll love. So, you’ll be able to make the most of:

• Free Travel on Northern services - everyone who works at Northern, plus their partners/spouses and dependents, can travel for free right across our full network of services. *Certain eligibility criteria will apply.
• 75% discount with other Train Operating Companies - after 1 year with us, you’ll also get discounted travel on many other rail services in the UK and Europe.
• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme - you’ll rarely find a pension as good as a Northern pension, and we top up your pension with a generous 1.5 times your contribution.
• Maternity and Paternity Benefits - we go above and beyond the standard, and mums can enjoy 9 months’ maternity leave on full pay while dads can make the most of 2 weeks’ paternity leave on full pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme - advice, support and useful information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on everything from family issues to lifestyle matters.
• Exclusive benefits with Northern Perks - enjoy retail discounts, instant vouchers, cashback, wellbeing support and much more.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme - if you join us at Manager or Executive level or above, you can use your salary to buy up to 5 additional days of annual leave each year.

 You can find out more here

Connecting millions of people and communities across the North is our mission. With 2,500 trains a day, we connect people to jobs, friends, family, and the wonders of the North.  

We're improving rail travel, enhancing the experience on board and at stations. Customers are at the heart of our business as we improve performance and create a better way to go.  

We're driving economic value and sustainable growth for the North and its people. Our commitment to the environment means reducing our impact and enhancing the world around us.  

Make a difference. Make it last. Make it yours. Make it easy. Make it happen. These are our values.  

Ready to make them yours? Join us on this journey.

Please note that Northern reserves the right to close recruitment for this role before the published closing date, if high volumes of applications are received.

However, if you miss the application window for this particular role, please keep checking back for other opportunities. We are always on the lookout for great people to join the Northern Team!

We’re an equal opportunities employer and a promoter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, sex, ethnicity, race, religion, education, socioeconomic background, disability, or sexual orientation.

We also have Disability Confident status, which means we’re committed to making the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to the workplace.