BUSINESS FUNCTION: Commercial & Customer
GRADE:  ML2/SB1
SALARY: Circa £50,000 per annum
ROLE TYPE: Hybrid
LOCATION: Across the network with a requirement to have a visible presence at our York and Manchester offices
HOURS: 37 per week

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 accessibility 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 in design and supporting through delivery.
• Support the development of Strategic Customer Handling Plans to capture any wider accessibility risks and opportunities for the 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, partaking in Possession Readiness Reviews to confirm all relevant accessibility enablers and requirements are in place.
• Attend Lessons Learnt workshops post-engineering work to feed in any 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:

• Proven experience in accessibility, inclusion, or equality roles.
• Strong knowledge of accessibility legislation and best practice (e.g., Equality Act 2010, PRM 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 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 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.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme: Buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.

You can find out more here

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, after which rail quickly spread across the globe - and this year, we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back on the historic events that led us here, we also look towards the future as we move into the era of Great British Rail. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

Building an inclusive work environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if you meet the minimum criteria for a job.

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.