Description:
Balfour Beatty Rail are looking to make a critical leadership hiring and appoint a Pre-Construction Director to lead and coordinate all commercial and pre-contract activities within the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) Programme. Acting as an embedded senior leader within the project team, you will provide strategic direction across early design development, commercial strategy, programme integration, and risk management. In addition, the role is responsible for driving Balfour Beatty’s strategic positioning and pursuit of major regional opportunities. The role combines client-facing leadership, business development, technical governance, and high-impact bid strategy to secure sustainable long-term growth across key UK and Ireland corridors.
What you'll be doing
- Provide strategic pre-contract / commercial leadership for TRU, ensuring robust integration, buildability, staging, access planning, and risk management.
- Act as senior client-facing representative for pre-construction and early programme-shaping discussions.
- Lead major bid strategy and development for significant opportunities.
- Drive Balfour Beatty’s market positioning across key rail corridors with a particular Northern Focus, developing compelling value propositions and differentiators.
- Oversee the preparation of high-quality technical, commercial, and programme submissions.
- Coordinate multi-disciplinary Balfour Beatty Group capability and ensure full reach-back into major civils, systems, and engineering teams.
- Lead early supply chain engagement to secure innovative and deliverable solutions.
- Manage customer and partner relationships at senior level, ensuring insight-led, proactive engagement.
- Support business development activities including external events, account planning, and strategic pipeline expansion.
Who we're looking for
- Extensive experience in senior leadership roles across rail pre‑construction, major bids, and/or programme development.
- Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including executive leaders and clients.
- Demonstrated track record of shaping and securing major rail frameworks and programmes, typically in the £100m–£1bn+ range.
- Broad, multi‑disciplinary technical understanding spanning rail systems, civils, OLE, stations, programme integration, and commercial strategy.
- A collaborative and inclusive leader, bringing strategic thinking, clear communication, and the ability to lead diverse, high‑performing teams.