Finance Transition Manager (Procurement)

About DFTO

Join Our Team at DFTO

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 and to deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 8,500 services a day and delivers over 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year. Nearly 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year.

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership – LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeast, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia and WM Trains.

We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.

Primary Purpose of the Job

This role will play a pivotal part for incoming TOCs to the DFTO Group. It involves two main areas: mobilisation of new TOCs and support post transfer. The role reports into the Head of Procurement & Contracts and supports the Director of Business Planning/Integration and Group Procurement Director.

Key Competencies

Making Effective Decisions

• Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate.
• Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Invite challenge and involve others in decision making. Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove unpopular.
• Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits, and risks.

Working Together

• Encourage joined‑up teamwork within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Collaborate with these to share information, resources, and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another.
• Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs. Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.
• Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Seeing the Big Picture

• Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work.
• Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities. Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
• Seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area.
• Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the transition of TOCs into the public sector, analysing pipelines, existing contracts, and supporting TOC Procurement Departments to prepare for transition as per DFTO Transition Policy, providing access to public sector contracts and acting as a representative where required.
• Provision of support to procurement competitions already underway within DFTO TOCs or within private sector TOCs transitioning into DFTO while procurements are in flight, including due diligence on commercial elements of transactions as required.
• Undertake procurement activities within TOCs post day‑1 transition as well as completion of procurement activities that are already underway.
• Undertake various projects as requested by the Group Procurement Director and/or Head of Procurement & Contracts.
• Analyse a wide range of information, data, and market research to inform commercial options and decisions and to input into the shaping of the business need in line with the procurement strategy.
• Assess and constructively challenge specifications to ensure that they are fit for purpose, drawing on best practice and lessons learned from previous contracts.
• Manage procurement under a category‑style approach and challenge suppliers for additional opportunities and initiatives.
• Support the implementation of the DFTO procurement & commercial strategy by providing support for the procurement aspects of transactions.
• Manage all aspects of group procurement activity undertaken by DFTO, from notice to award, including preparation and publication of notices, drafting of procurement documentation, participation in evaluation and negotiation, and selection of the successful bidder, and contributing to the development of business cases for governance bodies including DFTO, DfT, Cabinet Office and HMT.
• Work collaboratively with other Procurement Managers across TOCs to deliver better value for money across the estate, identifying and proposing efficiencies and innovations to reduce cost.
• Undertake procurement tasks on portfolio‑level universal contracts as required.
• Identify and develop commercial opportunities to secure additional, non‑passenger related revenue across the DFTO and TOC supply chain to drive and add value, engaging with all internal and external group functions and stakeholders, including Network Rail where appropriate.
• Recommend preferred supplier and, if appropriate, submit and present recommendation to the Executive Board for approval.
• Prepare and issue guidance on how to undertake procurement activities, including providing relevant training where required.
• Act as the team’s procurement expert on ad‑hoc matters as required.
• Act as the primary procurement contact for the business.
• Plan and manage resources and workload.

Additional Responsibilities

• Planning and Delivery: create and implement effective strategy and delivery plans for procurement activities.
• Analytical Skills: proficiency in analysing data to inform decision‑making and strategy adjustments.
• Verbal and Written Communication: articulate ideas clearly and concisely in both written and oral formats.
• Interpersonal Skills: build and maintain relationships.
• Change Management: promote a culture that acknowledges the value of positive change and diversity; create strategies to involve those affected and support them through the change.
• Politically Astute: recognise the demands of DFTO shareholders and the broader context of an evolving industry. Understand the objectives of relevant stakeholders within DFTO.
• Collaboration: foster a collaborative environment both within DFTO’s portfolio and across industry groups.
• Commercially Aware: outputs focused and budget‑sensitive. Drive value for money solutions to optimise outcomes for the taxpayer over the short and long term.
• Governance: ensure corporate governance and compliance is maintained in the use of procurement processes.
• Corporate Leadership: work within the Procurement Directorate’s governance and assurance process and, where appropriate, support DFTO’s business plan.
• Socially and Culturally Aware: consider the wider benefits for, and requirements of, employees, customers and suppliers; develop sustainable solutions for the communities that we interact with.
• Transparency: commit to open and honest communication with stakeholders. Maintain high ethical standards and build trust through consistent and reliable actions.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications

• Proven track‑record of success as a procurement manager in a public sector procurement environment.
• At least five years of successful track‑record in procurement.
• Expertise in the creation and running of competitive tenders and detailed contract negotiation.
• Ability to communicate and facilitate effectively with all levels of staff within the business and with external suppliers.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and Procurement Regulations 2024.
• Preferable but not essential: CIPS qualified or studying towards a professional procurement qualification.

Vacancy Details

Duration: Fixed Term until 31st October 2027 contract/secondment

Location: London Waterloo

Salary: up to £60,000

Closing date: 30th June 2027

DFTO Benefits

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 years, up to a maximum of 5 additional days (30 days).
• DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution.
• Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry.

Disclaimer

Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application.

Contact

If you have any questions or require reasonable adjustments, please contact Name.

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