Compliance Project Manager

About DFT Operator 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 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. 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 - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, 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 Job: We are seeking a dynamic and energetic Compliance Project Manager to support new Train Operating Companies (TOCs) as they transition from private sector operations to public ownership. This role will focus on providing guidance, training, and practical support on compliance requirements, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The successful candidate will actively engage with TOCs, traveling to their locations to deliver training sessions and offer hands-on support. They will also work closely with subject matter experts in the Legal and Compliance teams to ensure TOCs receive the expertise needed to meet public sector legal and regulatory requirements. The role will also assist the Head of Legal to ensure that all legal and compliance activities associated with TOC transitions are effectively monitored through the use of project planning tools. Reporting to the Head of Legal, the postholder will build strong relationships with TOC stakeholders, to drive understanding in compliance, and foster continuous improvement throughout the onboarding process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strong organisational and project management skills to manage multiple TOCs’ onboarding processes simultaneously.
• The ability to create detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation, to ensure the successful delivery of compliance training programmes and legal support.
• Experience in tracking, documenting, and reporting activities to key stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work closely with legal teams, compliance functions, senior leadership teams within TOCs, and external partners.
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships with TOCs to identify further training needs and secure buy-in for compliance initiatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey complex information and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, fostering alignment and securing organisational support for compliance activities.
• Proactive in identifying compliance risks during business change / transitions and recommending solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to collect feedback, identify lessons learned and improve processes, to ensure continuous improvement for TOC onboarding.
• In-depth understanding of relevant compliance regulations and standards applicable to the industry or proven ability to upskill quickly in relation to legal and/or regulatory requirements.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in all aspects of training program development and delivery.
• Demonstrates the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment by proactively taking on diverse tasks beyond core responsibilities.
• Shows a willingness to step in and support team members, fostering a collaborative and flexible work culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading on providing support and training to new TOCs during the onboarding process, ensuring they fully understand and comply with public sector legal and regulatory obligations.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive project plan for each TOC onboarding process to monitor legal and compliance activities.
• Manage relationships with multiple TOCs simultaneously through project management tools and processes.
• Travel to the new TOCs to build and maintain strong relationships with TOCs and other stakeholders, providing hands-on support and guidance as required.
• Develop, document, and continually improve the onboarding process to ensure smooth transitions and compliance adherence for all incoming TOCs.
• Proactively identify and report compliance risks during onboarding and transition processes, recommending effective mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to align on goals, strategies, and compliance requirements.
• Support other legal compliance and operational activities critical to the successful onboarding of TOCs, ensuring a seamless transition.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

• Experience in a legal, compliance or regulatory role, ideally within the public sector or a regulated industry.
• Project Management expertise
• Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across different levels.
• Degree level qualification
• Relevant qualifications in project management, law, compliance, or governance are preferred.

Vacancy Details: Duration: Fixed Term upto 31st October2027 contract/secondment Location: London Waterloo (travel required) Salary: up to £56,142 Closing date: 15th May 2026 DFTO Benefits: Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days) DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry Additional Information… Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities. About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact .dean.palmer@dftoperator.co.uk Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.