Network Rail
Senior Systems Thinking Manager
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Who We Are
Join the Southern Region where your work truly matters.
Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day.
This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail.
From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.
About The Role
Senior Systems Thinking Manager
Help shape the future of Britain's railway
The rail industry is entering one of the most significant periods of change in its history.
As Great British Railways starts to take shape and the industry evolves towards greater integration and public ownership, Network Rail Southern Region is building a new Systems Thinking capability to help solve complex challenges, improve performance and drive lasting organisational change.
We're looking for an experienced Systems Thinking leader to help shape and grow this capability, working with senior leaders across the railway to influence how the organisation responds to some of its biggest opportunities and challenges.
About The Role
As Senior Systems Thinking Manager, you'll be one of the leading Systems Thinking practitioners within the organisation, helping shape how the railway approaches complex operational, strategic and organisational challenges.
You'll lead the design and delivery of high-impact Systems Thinking interventions across regional and national programmes, working closely with Executive Directors, Functional Directors and senior stakeholders to improve performance and achieve transformational outcomes.
This is not a traditional programme management or business improvement role.
Success comes from understanding complexity, seeing connections that others miss, and helping leaders understand challenges from a whole-system perspective. You'll coach senior stakeholders, develop organisational capability and support the delivery of meaningful change across the railway.
You'll also lead and develop systems thinking capability within the region, including managing the Lead Systems Thinking Managers and Systems Thinking Specialists, helping to build a high-performing team and ensuring consistent, high-quality application of Systems Thinking methodologies.
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Why join now?
This is a unique opportunity to join a growing team at a pivotal moment for the railway.
The work you undertake will influence how the industry responds to future challenges, helping shape operating models, improve organisational performance and support the development of Great British Railways.
You'll work on complex and varied programmes, collaborate with senior leaders across the industry and help build Systems Thinking capability that creates lasting impact.
About You
Your experience and skills
We welcome applications from Systems Thinking professionals who have operated within complex, highly regulated and asset-intensive environments such as infrastructure, utilities, transport, aviation, defence, manufacturing, emergency services, public sector organisations and large-scale consultancy. Rail experience is not an essential criteria to be considered for this role.
You Might Be Working In:
- Systems Thinking
- Business Transformation
- Business Improvement
- Consulting
You'll Bring:
- Significant experience applying Systems Thinking methodologies to complex organisational, operational and strategic challenges
- Experience leading major change, transformation or improvement initiatives
- Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building skills
- Experience working with executive leaders and senior decision-makers
- Strong coaching, facilitation and leadership skills
- Experience building capability and developing high-performing teams
- The ability to analyse complex information and support strategic decision-making
- A passion for improving organisational performance and helping others solve complex problems
Location and travel
This is a hybrid role, but success in this position depends on being present within the business.
You'll travel regularly across the Southern Region and wider network, working directly with stakeholders and teams to understand challenges, lead interventions and support programme delivery.
Depending on the programme, this may involve spending several consecutive days on site facilitating workshops, coaching leaders and supporting major transformation activity.
What You'll Get In Return
Alongside a competitive salary and benefits package, you'll benefit from:
- Industry-leading training and development
- Excellent career progression opportunities
- Exposure to Executive Directors and senior industry leaders
- The opportunity to shape and grow a key Systems Thinking capability
- Annual performance-related bonus scheme
- 75% discounted leisure rail travel
- A competitive pension scheme and a wide range of employee benefits
Get help with your application
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Join us and help shape the future of Britain's railway, applying Systems Thinking to some of the industry's most complex challenges and helping create lasting improvements for colleagues, customers and communities.
Salary:
£85,395 to 104,160 per annum plus £3,270 London office location allowance as well as £6,000 car allowance.
Closing date:
30th August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Vacancy type:
Permanent
Location:
London Blackfriars
We're an organisation where people matter. We matter to millions.
We offer excellent benefits, including:
- Generous annual leave with the option to buy/sell days.
- Defined benefit pension scheme.
- 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
- Up to 75% off leisure travel.
- Carer's leave to support those who matter.
- Healthcare Scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.
- We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
Discover all our benefits and what life is like at Network Rail.- click here
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