Location - Connolly HQ
Reports to - Chief Operating Officer
Salary - 2A
Role and purpose
Iarnród Éireann is implementing an ambitious strategy to establish rail as the backbone of a sustainable transport system for Ireland, transitioning capital investments into operational delivery for enhanced customer experiences and to achieve wider stakeholder objectives.
The Senior Programme Leader, Shadow Operator, will oversee the development, evaluation and transition of capital development projects into day-to-day operational delivery, ensuring alignment with our organisation’s strategic objectives, including enhanced customer experiences.
The post is a senior leadership position in IÉ and is filled by someone with a strong background in programme management, leadership, stakeholder engagement and railway operations.
Responsibilities

Lead the design and transition to the future state for Operations, to include:

• Safety: Provide leadership in safety, in line with the established Infrastructure Manager and Railway Undertaking. Safety Management Systems (SMS), discharging your safety responsibilities as outlined by your reporting Manager and Safety Responsibility Statement (SRS), to include implementation of the Construction Regulations
• Programme Strategy and Development: Develop and implement programme strategies, plans, and budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives
• Programme Delivery: Oversee the operational readiness and delivery of programmes, ensuring to scope, timely, within-budget, and high-quality outcomes
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including programme sponsors, customers, partners, regulators, and interfaces within the operational and maintenance businesses
• Team Leadership: Lead and manage high-performing programme teams, providing guidance, coaching, and development opportunities, in a manner consistent with IÉ corporate policies and values – particularly Valuing our People. Communicate success
• Risk and Issue Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate programme risks, issues, and dependencies
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Develop and implement programme monitoring and evaluation frameworks, with tracking and reporting of Key Performance Indicators, ensuring data-driven decision-making and effective programme delivery
• Resource Allocation: Manage programme resources, including budget, personnel, and vendors, ensuring delivery of programme scope, quality, cost and time specifications
• Governance and Compliance: Ensure programme compliance with organizational policies, procedures, standards and regulatory requirements

A full job description can be requested from sharedservicesrecruit@irishrail.ie

Essential Requirements

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in programme management, leadership and stakeholder engagement
• Educated to degree level, or equivalent third level qualification, in Business Administration, Engineering, Programme Management and/or a related discipline
• Experience in implementing change initiatives at scale, across multi-functional teams
• Possess an abundance of the following skills:
• Strong programme management, leadership and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Proven ability to manage complex programmes, risks, and issues
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Desirable

• Master’s degree in Programme Management, Business Administration, or a related field
• Desired certifications include Programme Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, Agile, or similar
• Experience of rail, other transport, infrastructure or a frontline service delivery industry
• Experience of taking change proposals through regulatory and safety validation processes with knowledge of the associated guidelines for Ireland

A competency-based interview will form part of this selection process. Candidates may be shortlisted on the basis of their application/CV and relevant experience.
If any applicants have special requirements, please advise Shared Services when forwarding your application.
If you are interested in applying for this role, CV and cover letter should be forwarded to: sharedservicesrecruit@irishrail.ie by 4pm Friday 5th September 2025.
At Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail we are committed to embedding diversity and inclusion in all that we do. This starts with how we recruit people. It is important to us that all individuals feel welcome to join our organisation and we take great care to ensure an even playing field for all.
We will strive to provide reasonable accommodation to all candidates where required and requested.
We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or disability.

Please refer the Job description for details