Project Manager

Job Description:

Project Manager – Rolling Stock 

Location: Derby (2–3 days per week in the office)
Contract: 12‑month rolling contract (likely extension)
IR35 Status: Outside IR35
 

About the Role

Morson Vital are supporting a major rail engineering business to recruit an experienced Project Manager to deliver a range of rolling stock engineering, maintenance, overhaul, and upgrade projects.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the quality expected by customers. This includes planning, reporting, coordinating engineering teams, managing suppliers, and maintaining strong customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of modification, maintenance, overhaul, or upgrade projects.
• Maintain control of time, cost, quality, and safety throughout the project lifecycle.
• Own the project plan (WBS, schedule, risks, budget, quality & safety plans).
• Coordinate engineering, operations, materials, procurement, and commercial teams.
• Drive project progress, resolve issues, and optimise resources.
• Produce and maintain the Project Management Plan.
• Monitor progress against milestones, cost, schedule, risks, and KPIs.
• Deliver clear monthly reporting and support project reviews/boards.
• Act as the first point of contact for customer queries and escalations.
• Build strong, professional relationships and ensure customer expectations are met.
• Work collaboratively to identify improvements and future opportunities.
• Manage project budgets, cashflow, costs, and financial targets.
• Work closely with Commercial and Finance teams to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.
• Identify risks and opportunities, putting mitigation plans in place.
• Uphold and promote safe working practices across all project activities.
• Engage teams in safety culture and ensure compliance with company safety policies.

Key Skills & Experience 

• Proven experience delivering engineering or maintenance projects (rail, rolling stock, aerospace, automotive, or similar technical sectors).
• Strong project management capability: planning, scheduling, risk, cost, reporting.
• Excellent stakeholder and customer management skills.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety requirements.
• Experience in matrix or cross‑functional environments.
• Strong communication, leadership, and coordination skills.

Beneficial 

• Rolling stock or rail industry experience.
• Engineering background (degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent experience).
• Project management qualifications (APM, PRINCE2, PMP, etc.).
• Experience managing suppliers and supply chain activities.

The partnering concept promoted by Vital means that we work together with candidates and clients to achieve your career and recruitment objectives.

For clients the result is cost effective, culture-compatible solutions that make staff selection, recruitment and retention far easier.

For candidates it means a personal and professional relationship that will help you through every stage of obtaining your ideal job and pursuing your career goals.

Our commitment to both candidates and clients is equalled only by our professionalism and dedication to providing the best possible service.