Operational Technology Asset Management Consultant - Transport - Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Description

Asset‑intensive organisations are under increasing pressure to improve the performance of their operational technology and asset systems, driven by rising customer and regulatory expectations and the growing complexity of digitally enabled infrastructure. Many are at different stages of asset‑management maturity, from establishing foundational practices to pushing the boundaries of innovation. PA helps clients navigate this challenge by strengthening their asset‑management capabilities, modernising lifecycle approaches, and delivering measurable improvements across cost, risk and service performance, creating exciting, varied work for consultants at the intersection of OT, asset management and transformation.

About the role

We are looking for exceptional Consultants and Senior Consultants to join our growing Asset Management practice, with a particular focus on Operational Technology (OT) across the UK transport sector. Our clients, including major national infrastructure operators, are increasingly seeking support to improve the performance of operational technology, strengthen management of critical assets, and modernise how maintenance, renewal and operational decision‑making are carried out. You will work with organisations that own and operate complex, safety‑critical and highly regulated infrastructure. Your role will help clients improve the performance of their OpTech environments, make better use of asset data, and implement more effective approaches to maintaining and renewing their assets.

What you will do

Improve the performance of OT and asset systems

• Diagnose how OT assets and operational systems are maintained, monitored and renewed.
• Identify opportunities to improve the performance of OT systems, increasing reliability, resilience and availability.
• Strengthen maintenance, inspection and renewal approaches using risk‑based, proactive AM practices.

Strengthen asset‑management maturity across the lifecycle

• Apply ISO 55001‑aligned asset‑management principles to clarify roles, responsibilities, asset strategies and lifecycle controls.
• Support the development of asset‑management system elements such as governance, standards, assurance and continuous improvement.
• Shape lifecycle approaches (plan – design – deliver – operate – renew) that drive consistent performance.

Analyse performance, risk and operational insight

• Use operational data, fault/incident logs, service KPIs and asset health information to identify root causes of underperformance.
• Build baselines of asset & OT performance to inform investment cases and improvement plans.
• Recommend actions that improve the performance, reliability and sustainability of OT estates.

Support transformation and delivery

• Contribute to operating‑model improvements, new ways of working, and improved governance structures.
• Help clients adopt digital tools, telemetry, monitoring platforms and analytics to enhance lifecycle decision‑making.
• Support delivery of improvement roadmaps, business cases and change artefacts.

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.

Qualifications

Experience (one or more of the following):

• Exposure to operational technology environments (control rooms, SCADA‑linked assets, roadside systems, industrial automation, etc.).
• Experience in engineering, maintenance, operations, reliability engineering, systems engineering or infrastructure management.
• Experience in asset‑management roles covering asset strategies, lifecycle planning, performance management or investment planning.
• Experience working with operational or performance data.
• Strong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to translate operational issues into business implications (performance, cost, risk, safety).
• Clear communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Curiosity and appetite to develop deeper expertise in asset management and OT.

Qualifications

You are likely to have one or more of the following (or be keen to develop them):

Asset‑Management Frameworks

• Understanding of ISO 55001 and modern asset‑management system principles.
• Knowledge of lifecycle asset management, risk‑based maintenance, reliability engineering or asset‑investment planning.
• Awareness of asset‑management maturity models.
• Membership (or interest in membership) of professional bodies such as IAM.

Operational Technology & Engineering

• Exposure to OT environments such as SCADA, PLCs, roadside or field assets, control systems, telemetry, signalling or industrial OT.
• Understanding of how OT assets degrade, fail, are maintained and renewed.

Desirable (but not required)

• Experience with asset‑performance monitoring tools or APM platforms.
• Familiarity with operational risk, safety or assurance frameworks.
• Understanding of the interfaces between OT, IT, operations and engineering.

Why join us?

• Shape solutions that improve the performance of critical infrastructure and OT systems.
• Learn from and work alongside specialists in asset management, OT, engineering, data and operations.
• Build a career across asset strategy, lifecycle optimisation, performance improvement and operating‑model design.
• Work in a supportive, multidisciplinary team delivering meaningful change for clients.

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

Additional Information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.

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