UK Project Management

Building a sustainable tomorrow

At BAM, we are currently seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Assurance to join our Rail sector team.

The purpose of this role is to drive business efficiency and uphold the highest standards of technical, safe work planning and quality within the rail sector. Acting as the Lead Technical Head, the role oversees the Access Lead (possessions & ssow) and Quality Leads, who report directly to the Head of Assurance. It also maintains a functional line with the engineering team for assurance purposes.

The role supports the rail business by ensuring robust assurance in engineering, safe access, quality and other key areas of our delivery, promoting effective application and continuous improvement of company management systems. A key focus is maintaining RISQS and PCL certifications, providing assurance to stakeholders, and reinforcing confidence in the organisation’s rail operations. Through proactive engagement and technical leadership, the role contributes to the delivery of a safe, reliable, and high-performing rail business. 

Your work environment

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  BAM operates a flexible working policy 

  
  

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  This position can be based from any of our UK office locations.

  
  

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  People are at the heart of what we do at Bam. We recognise that creating a diverse and inclusive environment that nurtures our employees and encourages them to bring their best and whole self to work is crucial. We're on an exciting journey to get us there by recruiting the very best talent to join us regardless of race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or other characteristics.

  
  

Your mission

• Lead the technical, access, quality assurance functions within the Rail Sector, ensuring alignment with business objectives and industry standards 


• Act as the lead technical head for the rail business, providing strategic direction and oversight across engineering, access and quality disciplines


• Organise and chair the Rail Technical Heads meeting


• Provide updates on standards, regulations, and best practices to the wider rail business, ensuring awareness and compliance


• Lead the continuous improvement of access strategies across rail, ensuring alignment with Network Rail’s national frameworks, and regulatory requirements


• Investigate & implement effective preventative measures for access, technical, quality, and other assurance-related issues to support risk management


• Plan, manage, and maintain the sector’s licenses to operate, including RISQS and PCL certifications, ensuring compliance and audit readiness


• Ensure technical access and quality resources across the rail business are sufficient


• Oversee and coordinate assurance activities across the rail sector, ensuring they are effectively planned, executed, and reported


• Ensure audits are planned and delivered consistently across the rail business, supporting proactive risk management and compliance


• Monitor & ensure the closure of audit findings and non-conformances across the sector


• Ensure projects, alliances, and frameworks are established with the appropriate systems, technical governance, effective access control systems and quality assurance in place


• Review performance of the rail sector, including the supply chain, and report findings and recommendations to the Rail Directors and BAQS


• Support contributing technical, access control and quality expertise to bids, proposals, and client engagements


• Support technical and access teams and quality managers in delivering high-quality, compliant, and efficient outcomes


• Report to the Rail Director, with functional accountability into the Head of Business Assurance UK&IBAQS

Who are we looking for?

The following elements are required:

• Proven experience in leading assurance in engineering, quality, safe work planning and a wider operational assurance activities, with a strong understanding of technical standards and assurance processes.


• Demonstrated auditing experience, including internal and external audits against industry standards.


• Excellent communication skills


• Strong team leadership and collaboration skills


• In-depth experience in the UK rail with comprehensive knowledge of RISQS.


• Strong commercial and contractual awareness


• Familiarity with ISO management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001)


• Ability to analyse complex technical and compliance issues


• Strong knowledge of Network Rail standards and industry regulations, particularly in relation to engineering assurance and quality management.


• Knowledge of track safety rules, critical activities, and their assurance requirements. 


• Ability to support technical, access and quality managers in delivering compliant, efficient, and high-quality outcomes.

The following elements are desirable:

• Relevant academic qualifications such as a degree, HND, or equivalent in Engineering, Compliance, Quality, or Business Management.


• Experience working in the construction industry across the UK.


• Professional membership or certification from a recognised industry body (e.g., CQI, IRSE, ICE, IMechE, IET).


• Knowledge of digital tools and systems used in quality and engineering management (e.g., audit software, document control systems).


• Understanding of risk management principles and their application in engineering, access controls, and quality assurance.


• Experience supporting or leading certification and accreditation processes. 

What’s in it for you?

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  Competitive salary

  
  


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  A wide range of family-friendly policies

  
  


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  Company car/car allowance/travel allowance

  
  


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  8 % matched pension contributions

  
  


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  Private healthcare

  
  


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  Life assurance

  
  


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  26 days holiday

  
  


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  2 wellbeing days

  
  


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  1 volunteering day

  
  


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  Personal and professional development

  
  

BAM UK&I is also committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices, and to developing policies that support work-life balance.

Who are we?

The art of building is about building for communities; it’s about building for life.

Where others stop, we go further, leading the way towards a sustainable tomorrow for us and future generations. As an industry leader, we raise the bar.

Our values: sustainable, inclusive, collaborative, reliable and ownership, enable us to achieve our ambitions. Today, tomorrow and every day.

Our recruitment process

For more information about the vacancy and our projects, please contact Zainab Rubbani, Recruiter, BAM Infrastructure, Email: [email protected]

BAM is committed to ensuring a fully inclusive recruitment and onboarding process, so if at anytime you feel you may need any reasonable adjustments, do not hesitate to speak with one of our team, and we will do our best to support you.