Project Manager (LENNON)

To excel as a Project Manager at Rail Delivery Group, candidates should have experience managing complex technical projects using recognized delivery methodologies. A proven track record in collaborating with third-party suppliers and internal delivery functions is crucial. Strong project planning, risk management, and scope control skills are essential, along with proficiency in project scheduling tools. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities will empower you to drive alignment and deliver results.

As a Project Manager in the LENNON Programme at Rail Delivery Group, your role will involve leading the modernization of the rail industry's central system for revenue allocation. You'll coordinate project tasks, manage risks, and ensure the project aligns with stakeholder expectations. Your leadership will be pivotal in overseeing technical improvements, facilitating smarter decisions, and driving operational efficiencies throughout the railway system.

Rail Delivery Group offers an attractive benefits package for Project Managers, which includes a competitive salary range of £46,359 to £60,000, along with 30 days of annual leave. Additional perks include significant discounts on rail travel, enhanced maternity and adoption leave, a pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 11.58%, and private medical insurance. Furthermore, access to wellness programs and discounted gym memberships is also provided.

The LENNON project is set to revolutionize rail travel in the UK by modernizing how ticket sales and revenue allocations are managed. By implementing cloud-based systems and enhancing data processing capabilities, the project will facilitate smarter decision-making, enabling Train Operating Companies to offer better services tailored to passenger needs. This transformation aims to create a more efficient and user-friendly experience for all rail travelers.

Working as a Project Manager at Rail Delivery Group opens up significant career progression opportunities. You’ll gain valuable experience in handling complex enhancements in a highly visible environment, positioning yourself for larger strategic project or programme management roles within the organization. The experience you gain will not only enhance your project management skills but also prepare you for key leadership positions in the future.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects you've managed that demonstrate your ability to handle complexity. Focus on your role, the methodologies you employed, how you overcame obstacles, and the tangible outcomes achieved. Be sure to mention any alignment with stakeholders and deadlines.

Discuss the delivery methodologies you have experience with, such as Agile, Waterfall, or SCRUM. Explain how you’ve applied these approaches in different projects and the impact they had on project outcomes. It’s also beneficial to mention your adaptability to use various methodologies as per project requirements.

Explain your approach to managing scope changes by outlining your process for handling requests, assessing impacts on timeline and resources, and communicating with stakeholders. Discuss your experience in ensuring that necessary adjustments align with project goals and contain potential risks.

Detail your strategies for effective stakeholder engagement. This can include regular communication, expectation management, collaboration techniques, and ensuring that all parties feel valued and included in the decision-making process. Highlight specific examples where your engagement had a positive impact.

Provide a concrete example of a risk you encountered in a project, describing the impact it could have had. Detail the steps you took to mitigate the risk, including the strategies implemented and the outcomes. This shows your proactive risk management approach and ability to navigate challenges.

Discuss your methods for task prioritization, such as using project management tools or frameworks like Eisenhower's Matrix. Share examples of how you balanced multiple deadlines efficiently by identifying key deliverables and aligning tasks with project goals to ensure successful outcomes.

Explain your communication style, emphasizing clarity, openness, and adaptability. Provide examples of how you've used different communication channels to fit audience needs and how this facilitated enhanced collaboration and issue resolution within project teams.

Talk about your metrics for success, such as meeting deadlines, staying within budget, and achieving user satisfaction. Discuss frameworks you’ve used for post-project evaluations and how you implement lessons learned from each project to improve future outcomes.

Share the project scheduling tools you’re proficient in, such as Microsoft Project, Trello, or JIRA. Explain how these tools help you visualize timelines, track progress, and facilitate team collaboration, ultimately contributing to more organized project management.

Discuss your strategies for budget management, which may include regular budgeting reviews, adjustments based on project changes, and proactive financial tracking. Provide examples that showcase your ability to keep projects financially aligned while achieving project goals.