Job Title: Project Manager – Luxury Rail Interior Programme

Location: Remote / Hybrid (with occasional travel as required)
Engagement: Contract / Freelance (initial project-based appointment)

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee delivery of a high-end luxury rail interior refurbishment programme on behalf of JPA Design. The project involves the transformation of existing rail carriages into a premium, luxury offering, requiring close coordination between design intent and engineering reality.

The role will focus on managing JPA’s scope of work within a wider client-led programme, ensuring delivery is aligned with brief, schedule, and commercial objectives.

This is a coordination and control role rather than a full programme leadership position. The client has appointed an overall Project Manager, and this role will work alongside them to represent and manage JPA’s interests and outputs.

A key aspect of the role is managing interfaces with Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national rail operator, who will be responsible for carriage refurbishment works including structural modifications, first-fix services (electrical and mechanical), and potentially elements of installation. This introduces additional complexity and requires careful coordination to ensure design intent is fully realised within operational and engineering constraints.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination

• Act as the central point of coordination for all JPA design activities on the project
• Manage internal design deliverables across concept, development and detailing phases
• Ensure alignment between JPA outputs and the wider programme led by the client-appointed Project Manager
• Coordinate closely with Comboios de Portugal (CP) to ensure design integration with refurbishment work

Programme Management

• Track progress against agreed milestones and deliverables
• Identify risks to programme, particularly those arising from refurbishment constraints and third-party dependencies
• Proactively manage mitigation actions and maintain programme alignment

Commercial Management

• Monitor project scope against agreed fee structure
• Identify and document any changes, additional scope, or client-driven variations
• Support the preparation and agreement of variation claims where required
• Ensure delivery remains within agreed commercial parameters

Technical and Interface Management

• Manage the interface between JPA design outputs and CP’s engineering and installation activities
• Ensure that all design proposals are compatible with existing carriage constraints and CP delivery methods
• Oversee coordination of first-fix requirements (e.g. mounting provisions, services routing, structural interfaces)
• Facilitate clear communication between design and engineering teams to avoid rework or misalignment

Quality and Design Oversight

• Ensure that all outputs meet the agreed design brief and quality expectations
• Maintain consistency with the intended luxury positioning of the project
• Support internal reviews and client presentations where required

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise regularly with the client-appointed Project Manager
• Act as JPA’s primary interface with CP on design-related matters
• Attend and contribute to project meetings and reviews
• Provide clear, concise reporting to JPA leadership on progress, risks, and commercial status

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in project management within design, architecture, transport interiors, or a related field
• Experience working on refurbishment or retrofit projects, ideally within constrained or legacy environments
• Strong understanding of design process stages from concept through to delivery
• Experience managing complex interfaces between design teams and engineering or delivery partners
• Commercially aware, with experience managing scope, fees, and variations
• Comfortable working within a multi-party project structure
• Clear communicator, able to manage both creative and technical stakeholders
• Self-sufficient and organised, with the ability to operate independently

Desirable Experience

• Experience in rail, aviation, or complex transport interiors
• Experience working with national operators or public-sector organisations
• Exposure to international projects and multi-disciplinary teams
• Familiarity with design consultancy environments