Head of Asset [Track]

Network Rail; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Defined benefit pension

Rail season ticket subsidy

Leisure travel discounts

Carer's leave

Healthcare scheme

GymPass discounts

Maternity/paternity/adoption leave

Job summary

Network Rail, Southern Region, seeks a Route Head of Asset [Track] to lead asset management plans, provide strategic engineering leadership, and ensure safe, reliable outcomes for passengers. You will work with route, asset management and maintenance teams to shape investment decisions and renewals.

The role requires strong technical knowledge, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to developing others across the route. Experience in a regulated, project-based environment is essential.

Qualifications

• Member of relevant professional body (e.g. CEng)
• Educated to degree level or relevant equivalent experience
• Understanding of technical, safety and performance standards relating to railway engineering
• Demonstrable knowledge of safety management systems and risk assessment techniques
• Full chartered membership of relevant professional body (e.g. CEng)
• Experience leading and managing business assurance activity
• Experience managing a large complex and diverse asset base, particularly renewals and enhancements
• Experience in a project/programme orientated and regulated industry
• CDM regulations understanding

Responsibilities

• Lead the Route Asset Management Plan with a three-year horizon
• Monitor and improve asset plans to support reliability, CRI and SAF outcomes
• Provide engineering leadership to Maintenance teams and act as a route-based POC for Track assets
• Manage investment and renewals including minor Capex and deferred renewals
• Shape future work programmes with achievable annual volumes
• Coordinate renewal proposals across engineering disciplines
• Develop engineering capability and succession planning across the Route team
• Lead budget management for Asset Management and Maintenance
• Provide technical assurance to the Infrastructure Director and ensure engineering standards
• Oversee handback and handover arrangements across the route

Education

Degree level or equivalent experience

Job description

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.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

Are you an experienced engineering or asset management leader looking for an opportunity to shape the performance and future of railway infrastructure?

We're looking for a Route Head of Asset [Track] to lead the delivery of our route asset management plans and provide strategic engineering leadership across the route.

This is a senior and influential role where you'll work closely with route, asset management and maintenance teams to make informed investment decisions, improve asset performance and make sure our plans deliver safe, reliable outcomes for passengers and the railway.

What will you be doing?

As Route Head of Asset [Track], you'll:

• Lead the Route Asset Management Plan, looking ahead over a three‑year horizon and working with key stakeholders to agree targeted interventions that improve asset performance and deliver for passengers.
• Monitor and improve asset plans, making sure they remain appropriate and support required reliability, CRI and SAF outcomes.
• Provide engineering leadership and support to Maintenance teams, acting as a key route‑based point of contact for [Track] assets.
• Manage investment and renewals, including minor Capex activity, renewals identified through the Route Asset Management Plan and the deferred renewals process.
• Shape future work programmes, building annual volumes that are achievable and helping increase the proportion of planned versus unplanned work.
• Coordinate and prioritise renewal proposals, collaborating across engineering disciplines to optimise activity across the railway and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Develop engineering capability, coaching colleagues and supporting training, development and succession planning across the Route team.
• Lead effective budget management, overseeing Asset Management and Maintenance budgets while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Provide technical assurance and leadership, supporting the Infrastructure Director, implementing the engineering framework and making sure engineering standards and specifications are clearly understood.
• Oversee handback and handover arrangements across the route, helping ensure effective and consistent engineering practices.

What are we looking for?

We're looking for someone who can combine strong technical understanding with collaborative leadership and sound decision‑making.

You’ll be comfortable working across teams, balancing competing priorities and using your expertise to influence decisions that support safe, reliable and high‑performing assets. Just as importantly, you’ll have a genuine commitment to developing others and strengthening technical capability across the route.

You don't need to have followed one particular career path to succeed in this role. We welcome applications from people with different experiences and backgrounds who can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and leadership needed to make an impact.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping how [Track] assets are managed across the route, with the influence to improve performance today while helping develop the capability and investment plans needed for the future.

You’ll work collaboratively across Asset Management, Maintenance and Route leadership, with the opportunity to make decisions that have a meaningful impact on our railway and the passengers who rely on it.

If you’re passionate about engineering leadership, improving asset performance and developing people, we’d love to hear from you.

Your experience and skills

• Member of relevant professional body (e.g. CEng)
• Educated to degree level or relevant equivalent experience
• A sound knowledge of technical, safety and performance standards relating to [discipline]
• Demonstrable knowledge of technical, safety and performance standards and maintenance requirements for railway or similar engineering assets
• Demonstrable experience of leading and managing business assurance activity
• Experience of managing a large complex and diverse asset base, particularly related to renewals and enhancements
• Good interpersonal skills, possessing the ability to interact and maintain credibility with people at all levels across the business and industry stakeholders
• Full chartered membership of relevant professional body (e.g. CEng)
• Successful experience of working in a project/programme orientated and regulated industry
• An understanding of safety management systems and risk assessment techniques
• Understanding of CDM regulations

Band & Salary: £85,395 - 104,160 per annum

• 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 duringsignificant life moments

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***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****

For further information please contact Andrew Malcolm - 07515627077

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Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

Closing Date:

24-NOV-2026

Job Category:

Engineering and Asset Management

Function:

Southern Region

Organisation:

RW Wessex Infrstructure / Asset Management (880004) G1