Maintenance Engineering Manager

For the purpose of the expected award in Manila for the project detailed below, we are looking for expressions of interest for the position of: Maintenance Engineering Manager The North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is a major heavy rail infrastructure project designed to transform mobility across Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces. Spanning approximately 147 km (34 stations) from Clark in the north to Calamba in the south, the system is a fully electrified, double-track, standard-gauge railway, built to international heavy rail standards. The NSCR is conceived as a high-capacity heavy rail system, capable of supporting both commuter and airport express services, with infrastructure designed for intensive operations, high speeds (up to 160 km/h), and large passenger volumes. The network includes modern stations, full grade separation, and advanced signaling and control systems, ensuring high levels of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency typical of major metropolitan heavy rail networks. The rolling stock consists of electric multiple units (EMUs) compliant with international heavy rail specifications, enabling high acceleration, optimized dwell times, and energy-efficient operations. Two types of EMUs will operate on the line: Commuter trains and Limited Express trains. Both are configured for high-frequency commuter services, and for limited-stop airport express services, all featuring air-conditioned cars, wide doors, and layouts designed for high passenger throughput and rapid boarding/alighting. The NSCR is expected to significantly increase the rail modal share in the region, targeting up to 800,000 passengers per day in its full configuration. By connecting key economic hubs, residential areas, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the system will play a critical role in reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and supporting sustainable urban development. As a flagship heavy rail project, NSCR requires extensive expertise in high-capacity rail systems, including operations, maintenance, and asset management aligned with international best practices. Experience in heavy rail environments is therefore a key prerequisite for all critical roles within the project. Transdev, together with its consortium partners Tokyo Metro, Mitsubishi Corporation and Ayala, has formed a consortium to address the bid and, upon award, will deliver the Operations and Maintenance (O M) of the overall system, bringing together strong and complementary local international expertise in high-capacity rail operations and asset management. Project Context The NSCR is the largest railway infrastructure projects currently being delivered in the Philippines. It is currently under construction by the appointed Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contractors. Commercial service is planned to start progressively through a series of phased operational openings, with infrastructure, systems and operational sections becoming available as construction, testing, commissioning and readiness activities are completed. The first phase is currently expected to be handed over to the O M Concessionaire towards the end of Q4 2027. Following Contract Award, the O M Concessionaire will undertake a comprehensive pre-operations phase, working closely with the Grantors, EPC Contractors, the Independent Consultant, the Employer's Independent Safety Assessor (E-ISA), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and other stakeholders to support the transition from project delivery into passenger railway operations. Key activities during this period will include mobilisation of the O M organisation, recruitment and onboarding of personnel, development and implementation of operational procedures, training and competency management, participation in Testing and Integration activities, operational readiness planning, Safety Case development, Trial Running and preparation for phased commencement of passenger services. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to contribute not only to the long-term operation of the railway, but also to the establishment, preparation and progressive commissioning of the operational railway organisation from mobilisation through to the successive Partial Operation phases until Full Operation. Role Purpose The Maintenance Engineering Manager’s role is to define, implement, and optimise the maintenance engineering and asset management strategy, ensuring effective asset lifecycle planning, condition monitoring, and renewal forecasting, to maximise asset performance, reliability, and lifecycle value in line with international standards. Key responsibilities Develop and implement asset lifecycle strategies covering maintenance, renewal, and long-term planning Establish and manage condition monitoring programmes for critical assets Lead renewal and replacement forecasting to ensure long-term asset integrity and performance Ensure alignment with ISO 55001 (or equivalent) asset management principles Analyse asset performance data to support data-driven decision-making and optimization Define and monitor engineering and asset management KPIs (reliability, degradation, lifecycle cost) Support maintenance teams with engineering expertise and technical standards Coordinate with planning, operations, and maintenance functions for integrated asset management Drive continuous improvement in maintenance engineering practices and methodologies Support innovation initiatives, including predictive maintenance and digital asset tools Contribute to cost optimisation and long-term sustainability of assets Your profile Minimum of 8 years’ relevant industry experience in rail, infrastructure, or asset-intensive environments Proven experience in asset lifecycle planning, condition monitoring, and renewal forecasting within asset-intensive industries Familiarity with ISO 55001 or equivalent asset management standards Experience in heavy rail or large-scale infrastructure projects is an advantage Holds a relevant degree in engineering, management, or equivalent Possesses a recognized professional qualification or engineering license Experience in performance-based environments and KPI delivery Strong understanding of multi-disciplinary rail assets (fleet, infrastructure, systems) Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills Ability to work effectively in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment Language You speak and write English fluently. Additional information Location: Manila, Philippines Award date : December 2026 Expected contract signature : January 2027 Mobilisation date : Early 2027