Head of Data Quality & Performance

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Rail in Milton Keynes is hiring for a senior role in Route Services, focusing on data quality, performance reporting, and data management within SCO. The role supports the organisation’s strategy to improve performance and sustainability.

It requires strong ITIL experience, data discipline, and leadership in large-scale change initiatives. This permanent position offers hybrid working 3 days a week in the office, with location flexibility across MK and other SCO sites.

Qualifications

• ITIL Foundation and Service Delivery qualification or equivalent
• Significant experience in data quality improvement
• Extensive change and project management experience
• Extensive experience of performance improvement in large organisations
• Experience with ITIL framework and SCO MIS familiarity

Responsibilities

• Direct the strategy, policy and plan for enhancing performance reporting for SCO customers.
• Drive continuous improvement across SCO with scheduled deep dives and action follow-up.
• Develop and maintain a programme to automate performance reporting within SCO.
• Own the Master Data Management strategy to ensure high data quality across SCO.
• Lead a team leveraging latest technology for performance management and automation.
• Promote data transparency with suppliers while protecting commercially sensitive data.
• Design and deliver long-term data quality and data integration projects.
• Represent SCO in internal/external forums on data quality and performance management.

Skills

ITIL Foundation

Data quality

Change management

Project management

Performance improvement

Education

Higher Business Degree

Lean Green/Black Belt (desirable)

Tools

SCO MIS

Data analytics tools

Job description

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments.

We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader , we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us ,whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

to learn about our vision for a simpler, better, greener railway, and to learn about our approach to safety and how it's at the heart of everything we do. If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

About the role

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway, to learn more,

This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customersmoving - making sure they are on-site when neededso work cango ahead as planned and on schedule.

Location: This position can be based inThe Quadrant, Milton Keynes, Baskerville House, Birmingham, Waterloo, London or RTC Business Park, Derby.

Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working 3 days a week in the office and travel to other SCO location as required. Flexible working can be considered.

Salary range: Band 2 B - £71,163 to £86,801 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 13 November 2026. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

Your experience and skills

What are the key accountabilities in this role?

Will have experience in the following:

• Direct the production and maintenance of the strategy, policy and plan for enhancing the company's visualisation and reporting capability in relation to performance as an input to decisions regarding performance improvement and sustainability, satisfying the needs of the customers as defined in the Service Catalogues.
• Drive continuous improvement across SCO by scheduling a series of facilitated deep dives into agreed performance issues, implementing ensuing actions and holding senior managers accountable to improve lead indicators.
• Develop and maintain a programme to automate the majority of performance reporting within SCO with associated resource saving.
• Own the development and delivery of a Master Data Management strategy (with emphasis on data quality) to measure accurately the performance of SCO and rigorously eliminate multiple sources of data and duplicated activities.
• Create and lead a team of engaged professionals who are motivated to lever the latest technology in performance management including automation.
• Establish a culture of data transparency and openness of information which extend to suppliers and subcontractors of SCO where that transparency does not compromise commercially sensitive data.
• Design and deliver long term projects which improve the quality of data, enhanced qualification on data entry and integration with other databases.
• Represent SCO in internal and external forums in respect of data quality and performance management.

What are the essential skills and experience we're looking for?

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Foundation and Service Delivery qualification or equivalent
• Significant experience in data quality improvement.
• Extensive change and project management experience
• Extensive practical experience of performance improvement activity in large organisations
• Experience of systems rollout in an ITIL framework and familiarity with SCO Management Information Systems.
• In-depth knowledge of services similar to those provided in supply chain.

We would also like, but it's not essential:

• Higher Business Degree & commercial acumen.
• Lean Green or Black Belt qualification or equivalent

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

The Quadrant:MK, Milton Keynes

Geographical Area:

South End England (Not inside M25)

Closing Date:

13-NOV-2026

Job Category:

Operations

Function:

Route Services

Asset:

SCO - Strategic Programmes

Organisation:

EW Head of Programme Performance OPEX (920008) G5

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

Below are some examples of adjustments we can make:

• Changing a provision, practice or 'the way things are done'
  For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed.
• Changing a physical feature of our workplace
  For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.
• Providing extra equipment or assistance
  For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.

There are lots of other adjustments we can consider - please just ask!

The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following.

• Competency Based Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.

You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.