Senior Consultant (Strategy, Funding, Appraisal)

Missions/Main Duties

• Proactively support the successful delivery of projects of varying scale, primarily for the Strategy Funding and Appraisal and Rail teams, while also contributing to work for other SYSTRA teams and clients where needed.
• Manage a range of work packages and projects, ensuring strong client satisfaction, effective financial performance and achievement of project targets.
• You will take ownership of the delivery of small to medium value proposals, ensuring clear scope, acceptance criteria and invoicing milestones. You will also contribute to, and where appropriate oversee, large proposals.
• A key part of the role will involve guiding and mentoring junior colleagues, supporting both their technical and professional development.
• Take responsibility for substantial elements of SYSTRA reports and present technical and project information clearly to clients and colleagues to support project delivery, learning and business growth.
• Contribute directly to the preparation of business cases and option appraisals for transport projects and programmes, taking ownership of the end-to-end development of strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management dimensions.
• The role also includes undertaking rail appraisal work and rail demand and revenue forecasting using PDFH methodologies. Experience with MOIRA is desirable, though not essential.
• Help define appraisal strategies, select the appropriate tools and models, and establish assurance approaches. This includes overseeing demand, revenue and benefits modelling, cost estimation, risk and optimism bias, distributional and environmental appraisal, and value-for-money assessments, as well as supporting assurance reviews and peer reviews.
• Lead or contribute to Pre-SOC studies, including corridor and town centre strategies, optioneering and longlisting exercises. Work closely with internal multidisciplinary teams, including transport modelling, design and consultation specialists, to deliver high-quality feasibility studies.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships across government departments, combined authorities, local councils, operators and developers. Identify and initiate sales opportunities within Strategy Funding and Appraisal and rail market areas, share market insight with colleagues, and contribute to SYSTRA’s profile through thought leadership activities such as articles, conference presentations and policy insight.

Profile/Skills

• We are looking for candidates who are strong team players, confident communicators and capable of building credibility with both clients and colleagues.
• You will bring excellent presentation, written and numerical skills, along with the ability to manage your own time effectively and support others in doing the same.
• Strong understanding of appraisal tools such as TUBA, COBALT and AMAT
• Knowledge of rail demand forecasting methodologies including PDFH and MOIRA.
• Candidates should have a strong track record in developing business cases across a range of transport modes, with rail business case experience being particularly desirable.
• Candidates should also have project management experience in a client-facing environment and hold a degree in a relevant subject.
• Chartered Transport Planning professional status would be advantageous