Assistant Manager (IRSE & Business Operations)

Job Description
Atkins is a leading player in the UK railway signalling and telecommunications infrastructure projects market with a strong pipeline of work including recent project wins such as the Cornwall Capacity Enhancement project, Norwich-Yarmouth-Lowestoft resignalling and the Feltham (Shepperton Branch) resignalling to name a few.

Underpinning our delivery capability is the experience and competency of our engineers and technical personnel. Atkins use of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) Licensing Scheme, to demonstrate our competency within the industry, is crucial to our ability to operate successfully in this sector.

Atkins is proud to operate as a certified IRSE Licencing Agency, enabling us to assess staff for the award of appropriate licence categories and we are looking to strengthen our Agency team to deliver this internal service as we move forward.

In addition, as the rail market in the UK moves towards the next Network Rail Control Period the demands on our signalling and communications business are also growing. To help our business rise to this challenge we also wish to enhance our Practice Management business operations capability with additional management and business systems administration capability.

Reporting to the IRSE Assessing Agent Manager you will provide management support in two key areas:
1. Working within Atkins IRSE Assessing Agency as Assistant Manager where you will provide a confidential, efficient and effective support service to the Assessing Agency Manager. You will also provide administration in support of the EAL Assessment Centre, which provides training towards formal assessor and verifier qualifications.
2. Providing support to the Practice Manager with regular and ad hoc business operations tasks which may include administration and management of small practice lead bids and projects, updating of online business systems covering resources, opportunities, project finances etc. and the production of regular reports.

Requirements
Essential Qualifications and Experience
o HNC / HND / Degree or other equivalent qualification in Business Administration or Project Management. Or other experience operating in a managerial/senior administration role.
o Excellent computer/IT skills with demonstrable experience in use of Microsoft software including Excel, Access and word, with proven ability to learn new systems as required.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience
o Previous experience of the UK rail industry within the signalling and telecommunications sector
o Qualified Internal Verifier (IQA), or be willing to train towards the IQA qualification.
o Experience of financial management relating to bids, projects, and/or business operations
o Experience of the IRSE licensing scheme or similar competency management scheme/framework


Responsibilities
IRSE Agency
• Thoroughly check all paperwork is accurate prior to submission, liaising with assessors / candidates re any missing / incorrect paperwork – act as the IRSE point of contact for all submissions.
• Accurately record all information onto the database / spreadsheets.
• Attend Assessing Agents meetings in London as and when required.
• Ensure that an efficient and effective filing system is maintained to cover the lifecycle of the assessment process – this will include centre records, assessor records and candidate records.
• Provide guidance to assessors and candidates when required.
• Monitor and arrange assessor interviews
• Arrange payments for services provided.
• Arrange logistics for training events – could include meeting rooms, portfolios, ordering assessment paperwork, text books etc.
• Order IRSE logbooks as and when required.
• Attend and contribute to assessor and standardisation Meetings – provide required papers, update records.
• Maintain SharePoint site.
• Provide ad-hoc reports as and when required.
• Provide ad-hoc administration support as and when required.

Business Operations
• Assist with project management / contract administration of small, practice lead, projects.
• Update details of bids and opportunities on business CRM Pipeline system.
• Download reports and analyse data on staff time and expenses booked to projects and overhead activities.
• Update staff / resource details on resource management system and HR listings.
• Support Practice manager with control of business overhead time bookings and expenditure
• Support Practice manager with production of monthly reports covering resource, finance and other performance KPI’s
• Provide ad-hoc reports as and when required.
• Provide ad-hoc administration support as and when required.

The Individual
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic individual with questioning nature
• High level of confidence and the ability to give presentations
• Methodical and thorough approach to work
• Good at juggling tasks and prioritising - ability to stay calm under pressure
• Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to produce consistently accurate data
• Potential for taking on additional responsibility and progression.
• Can do attitude and flexible approach to job

Location
Applicants will be considered for working based in our offices at Derby or Birmingham.

The role is office based, but the candidate will be required to work from time to time at other Atkins offices around the UK with potential visits to our Global Design Centre offices in India.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary it will be discussed with you at interview.

If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.