Project Manager Lead

Project Manager Lead

London or Darlington, with hybrid working arrangements.

About the role

At Railpen, we’re committed to securing our members’ futures and delivering long-term value through effective change, innovation and continuous improvement. As Project Manager Lead, you’ll own and develop the Project Management capability across Change & Transformation (C&T), while championing the profession and its value across the wider organisation.

This is a people leadership and professional capability role rather than a project delivery position. You’ll create the conditions for Project Managers to perform at their best by providing clear leadership, effective coaching, consistent professional standards and meaningful development opportunities.

Working closely with Portfolio Managers, PMO colleagues, Resource Planning and other capability leads, you’ll help create the conditions for successful change delivery through strong project management capability, effective resource deployment and continuous improvement. As a visible leader within C&T, you’ll actively participate in team anchor days, capability forums, coaching activities, workshops and other in-person events that strengthen collaboration, development and community.

To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our careers page here.

What you’ll be doing

• Line-managing and developing Project Managers, supporting their performance, wellbeing and long-term career progression.
• Owning and continuously improving the Project Management capability, including professional standards, methodologies, frameworks, role expectations, development pathways, AI-enabled practices and ways of working.
• Building and leading a thriving Project Management community that promotes consistency, collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous professional development.
• Working with other matrix managers, Portfolio Managers and Resource Planning colleagues to support effective deployment, utilisation, performance feedback, succession planning and capability development across the Project Manager community.
• Coaching and mentoring Project Managers on planning, governance, stakeholder management, risk management and delivery leadership.
• Using performance trends, feedback, delivery insights and lessons learned to identify capability gaps and continuously improve Project Management practice.
• Partnering with other capability leads to ensure Project Management standards remain fit for purpose and aligned with organisational and portfolio needs.
• Championing consistent adoption of the C&T and Project Management frameworks across the portfolio.
• Acting as a visible advocate for the Project Management profession across C&T and the wider organisation.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an experienced Project Management and people leader with a strong track record of developing individuals, building professional capability and improving delivery practice within complex change and transformation environments. You’ll combine supportive and inclusive leadership with sound judgement and a pragmatic, outcome-focused approach. Comfortable working across matrix structures, you’ll build credible relationships at all levels, challenge constructively and use insight and feedback to help Project Managers and the wider profession perform at their best.

Essential

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams through an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.
• Strong coaching and mentoring capability, with the ability to adapt your approach to colleagues at different stages of their development and career journey.
• Significant experience establishing, implementing and continuously improving Project Management methodologies, frameworks, standards and ways of working.
• Strong understanding of Project Management disciplines, including planning, governance, risk management, stakeholder management and delivery controls.
• Experience building and leading professional communities that promote consistency, knowledge sharing and continuous professional development.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive positive outcomes.
• Experience working across matrix structures to support resource deployment, capability development and succession planning.
• Ability to use performance trends, feedback and delivery insight to identify capability gaps and improve professional practice.
• Ability to balance consistency, governance and professional standards with a pragmatic, outcome-focused approach.

Desirable

• Experience developing or embedding AI-enabled Project Management practices within a change or transformation environment.
• Experience establishing or leading a professional community of practice across a complex organisation.
• A relevant Project Management qualification or professional accreditation, such as PRINCE2, APM or equivalent.
• Experience operating in a financial services, pensions or investment environment.

Why is this role exciting now?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of the Project Management profession across C&T at a pivotal time. You’ll have the platform to develop talented Project Managers, strengthen professional standards and influence how projects are led across a diverse portfolio of strategic change. Rather than delivering one project, your impact will be seen across the community, helping create consistently strong Project Management capability and better conditions for successful delivery.

What you’ll get in return

• A competitive salary (depending on experience) plus generous annual bonus plan

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay

• 4x Life Assurance cover

• We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave

• Take a look at the full range of benefits available to support you, click here

Next steps

If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and grow your career with us, we encourage you to apply by 8th October 2026

Inclusion at Railpen

At Railpen, diversity, equity and inclusion are core to who we are. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to thrive. Our mission to secure a better future for our members is strengthened by the different perspectives and experiences our people bring.

We are transparent about our gender pay gap and are actively committed to addressing it through fair and inclusive recruitment, progression and reward practices.

We respect and support individuals’ pronouns and encourage colleagues to share them if they feel comfortable to do so.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity, or any other protected characteristic. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.