The Project Liaison Manager is a key operational expert responsible for defining the requirements of the Concept of Operations (ConOps) for M500. This role ensures that all systems, rolling stock, signaling, and station assets are captured and tracked accordingly.
This individual will drive collaboration and liaise with the M400 project team, engineering teams, and other stakeholders to capture system requirements and support design reviews. They must ensure that all requirements align seamlessly with the programme's operational goals, sponsor expectations, ConOps, and safety standards.
Principal Accountabilities
* Provide expert guidance on GoA4 rail operations throughout the remaining M400 design phase and M500 phase to support accurate development.
* Liaise and coordinate meetings between M400 and M500 project teams to ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and integration points.
* Review scopes of M400 series contracts to ensure they align with overall objectives and requirements of M500 package.
* Participate in design reviews to provide customer-centric feedback, ensuring design aligns with customer expectations, operational needs, and safety requirements.
* Ensure customer and operational needs, including service patterns, timetable planning, capacity, and railway performance, are prioritized within the programme.
* Serve as 'Customer Conscience' to ensure decisions made during design phase are centered around customer expectations – embodying Voice of Customer.
* Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with operational railway interfaces.
* Facilitate collaboration and integration among multidisciplinary programme teams.
* Review potential training programme issues for operational staff to ensure operability and trainability, and that system can be effectively used by staff.
* Advocate for continuous operational improvement, taking advantage of opportunities as they arise.
* Perform additional tasks, activities, or other duties as may be required or assigned as part of the role.
Experience
* 10+ years' experience managing large-scale projects, particularly in transportation or rail industry.
* Significant experience guiding GoA4 railways from design phase through to delivery and operational implementation.
* Considerable experience testing and commissioning GoA4 railways.
* In-depth knowledge of rail systems including signaling, track, traction power, depots, lifts, escalators, and communications systems.
* Previous experience working within multi-disciplinary groups and managing complex interfaces.
* Demonstrated experience utilizing requirement management tools to oversee and track project requirements throughout project lifecycle.
* Experience working within Public-Private Partnership environment.
Skills
* Strong project management skills to oversee planning, execution, and completion of the project.
* Ability to effectively engage with and manage relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, regulatory bodies, and internal teams.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate clear and consistent dialogue between all parties involved.
* Proficiency in gathering, documenting, and analyzing project requirements to ensure they align with customer and operational needs.
* Expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with the project.
* Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and ensure cohesive project delivery.
* Ability to identify issues and develop effective solutions to keep the project on track.
* Understanding of railway systems, including design, operations, and safety standards.
* Experience in quality assurance processes to ensure that project deliverables meet required standards.
* Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements and environments.
* Strong interpersonal skills with ability to influence and relate to individuals and groups – both technical and non-technical.
* Strong analytical and organizational skills.
* Ability to govern and drive outcomes to ensure high-quality service.
Qualifications
* Advantageous but not mandatory for this role: Project Management Certification from Project Management Institution (e.g., PRINCE2, PMI, PMP, CAPM).
* Certifications in safety standards and regulatory compliance, such as those provided by International Association of Public Transport (UITP) or similar organizations.