Electrification / OCS / OLE Delivery
Provide senior oversight of the delivery of electrification infrastructure including:
• OCS/OLE foundations and support structures.
• Masts, portals, cantilevers and headspans.
• Contact and catenary wire installation.
• Registration and adjustment of overhead wiring.
• Sectioning and switching arrangements.
• Neutral sections and overlaps.
• Earthing and bonding.
• Traction power substations.
• Feeder and distribution systems.
• SCADA and power control interfaces.
• Testing, commissioning and energisation.
• Integration with signalling, track, telecommunications and civil infrastructure. Drive efficient construction methodologies, installation sequencing and production rates while ensuring compliance with approved design and railway safety requirements.
Programme Planning & Controls
• Establish and maintain the integrated master programme.
• Ensure construction programmes accurately reflect access, possession, resource and productivity constraints.
• Monitor critical path activities and programme float.
• Review contractor schedules, progress and productivity.
• Lead programme recovery planning where performance falls behind target.
• Establish measurable installation production targets including foundations, structures, steelwork and OCS wiring.
• Ensure programme controls provide reliable forecasting of completion dates and key milestones.
• Coordinate closely with planning and project controls teams to monitor schedule, cost, risk and change.
Construction & Railway Access
• Develop construction strategies that maximise available railway access and possessions.
• Ensure electrification activities are fully coordinated with track, signalling, civil engineering and operational railway requirements.
• Review possession and access strategies to maximise installation productivity.
• Coordinate blockade, possession and engineering access requirements.
• Ensure plant, equipment, materials and labour are available ahead of planned construction activities.
• Drive effective utilisation of specialist OCS installation equipment, engineering trains and road-rail vehicles.
Engineering & Design Management
• Work closely with the Engineering Manager and Design Manager to ensure designs are safe, constructible and delivered in accordance with the construction programme.
• Ensure design packages are released sufficiently in advance of construction.
• Lead constructability and value-engineering reviews.
• Manage technical interfaces between OCS/OLE, traction power, track, signalling, structures, stations, utilities and civil engineering.
• Ensure technical queries and design changes are resolved efficiently.
• Maintain appropriate engineering assurance and configuration management processes.
Commercial & Contract Management
• Maintain overall accountability for programme financial performance.
• Work with commercial teams to manage budgets, forecasts, cash flow and cost-to-complete.
• Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations.
• Review variations, compensation events and programme changes.
• Ensure commercial risks and opportunities are actively managed.
• Support procurement and contracting strategies for major electrification work packages.
• Challenge contractor costs, productivity and resource levels where appropriate.
Contractor & Supply Chain Management
• Provide senior leadership of principal contractors, specialist electrification contractors and suppliers.
• Establish clear performance expectations and KPIs.
• Monitor contractor productivity, quality, safety and programme performance.
• Conduct regular programme and performance reviews.
• Ensure sufficient skilled OCS/OLE resources are available to meet programme requirements.
• Identify supply-chain risks relating to specialist equipment, steelwork, conductors, insulators, switchgear and other long-lead materials.
• Implement corrective action where contractor performance is below expectations. Safety
• Demonstrate visible leadership in railway and construction safety.
• Ensure compliance with applicable railway safety legislation, standards, procedures and client requirements.
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the programme.
• Ensure construction methodologies, access arrangements and commissioning activities are appropriately planned and controlled.
• Review significant incidents, near misses and emerging safety trends.
• Ensure risks associated with high-voltage systems, working at height, railway operations and construction plant are effectively managed.Testing, Commissioning & Handover
• Develop the programme-level testing and commissioning strategy.
• Ensure progressive completion and assurance of installed electrification assets.
• Coordinate energisation activities with traction power, railway operations and other systems.
• Ensure test documentation, inspection records and asset information are completed progressively.
• Manage interface testing between electrification and associated railway systems.
• Lead readiness reviews for energisation and operational entry into service.
• Ensure defects and outstanding works are managed through to final acceptance.
• Oversee successful handover of assets to the infrastructure owner and railway operator.
Stakeholder Management
Develop strong working relationships with:
• Client programme leadership.
• Infrastructure owners.
• Railway operators.
• Government and transport authorities.
• Engineering and design organisations.
• Principal and specialist contractors.
• OCS/OLE and traction power suppliers.
• Signalling, track and civil engineering teams.
• Safety and regulatory organisations.
Represent the electrification programme at senior client, executive and programme governance meetings.
Leadership Responsibilities
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team potentially including:
• Programme Managers.
• Project Managers.
• Construction Managers.
• OCS/OLE Managers.
• Traction Power Managers.
• Engineering Managers.
• Design Managers.
• Planning and Project Controls Managers.
• Commercial Managers.
• Testing & Commissioning Managers.
• Access and Possession Planning teams.