Lead Systems Thinking Manager

NETWORK RAIL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 71,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private medical insurance

Training & development

Career progression

Rail travel discounts

Pension scheme

Job summary

NETWORK RAIL leads a new Systems Thinking capability in the Southern Region, guiding transformation across a major rail network. You will apply Systems Thinking to improve performance, support organisational change, and deliver lasting improvements with senior leaders.

This hands-on leadership role focuses on facilitating workshops, coaching leaders, and delivering programmes that translate complex insights into practical actions across multiple teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience applying Systems Thinking to complex organisational challenges.
• Experience leading interventions, workshops and business change activities.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including senior leaders.
• Experience coaching others in Systems Thinking approaches and methodologies.
• Ability to analyse complex challenges and translate insight into practical action.
• Experience managing and developing specialist teams.
• Track record of delivering sustainable business improvement and organisational change.
• Strong facilitation, consulting and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Systems Thinking programmes and interventions across the region.
• Facilitate workshops and coach leaders to apply Systems Thinking principles.
• Build trusted relationships with Executive Directors and senior stakeholders.
• Develop and supervise a team of Systems Thinking Specialists.
• Drive sustainable improvements and organisational change across programmes.
• Partner with senior leaders to translate insights into practical actions.

Skills

Systems Thinking

Business Transformation

Business Improvement

Organisational Development

Change Management

Operational Excellence

Consulting

Job description

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

Lead 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 the industry evolves towards Great British Railways and greater public ownership, Network Rail Southern Region is building a new Systems Thinking capability to help leaders tackle complex challenges, improve performance and deliver lasting organisational change.

We’re looking for an experienced transformation expert to help establish and lead this capability across the region. This is a rare opportunity to join at the beginning of the journey and influence how one of the UK's largest and most complex organisations responds to a changing railway landscape.

About the role

As Lead Systems Thinking Manager, you’ll help Network Rail’s Southern Region tackle complex challenges by applying Systems Thinking methodologies to improve performance, support organisational change and deliver better outcomes.

Working closely with Executive Directors, Functional Directors and senior stakeholders, you’ll lead Systems Thinking programmes and interventions that help teams understand complex issues, identify opportunities for improvement and implement sustainable solutions.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll spend time facilitating workshops, coaching leaders, supporting intervention activity and helping stakeholders apply Systems Thinking principles in practice.

Success comes from building trusted relationships, understanding how organisations operate in the real world and helping people see challenges from a different perspective.

You’ll also lead and develop a team of Systems Thinking Specialists, providing coaching, guidance and support to ensure high‑quality delivery across multiple programmes.

As we establish a new Systems Thinking team, we’re recruiting multiple Lead Systems Thinking Managers to play a key role in embedding systems thinking across the organisation.

Why join now?

You’ll be joining a new team at a pivotal moment for the rail industry.

The work you undertake will influence how the railway responds to major industry reform, helping create more effective ways of working and supporting long‑term organisational performance.

This is an opportunity to help build a new function, work alongside senior leaders and make a visible contribution during a period of significant change for Britain’s railway.

Your experience and skills

About you

You might be working in:

• Systems Thinking
• Business Transformation
• Business Improvement
• Organisational Development
• Change Management
• Operational Excellence
• Consulting

Experience within rail is not essential.

We’re keen to hear from candidates from sectors such as utilities, infrastructure, transport, aviation, defence, emergency services, manufacturing and other large, complex or highly regulated organisations.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience applying Systems Thinking methodologies to complex organisational challenges
• Experience leading interventions, workshops and business change activities
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leaders
• Experience coaching others in Systems Thinking approaches and methodologies
• The ability to analyse complex challenges and translate insight into practical action
• Experience managing and developing specialist teams
• A track record of delivering sustainable business improvement and organisational change
• Strong facilitation, consulting and communication skills

Location and travel

This is a hybrid role, but success in this position depends on being present within the business.

You’ll regularly travel across the Southern Region, spending time on site with operational teams, senior leaders and stakeholders to understand local challenges and support transformation activity.

Depending on the programme, you may spend several consecutive days at a location facilitating workshops, leading interventions and coaching leadership teams. Regular attendance at Puddle Dock and overnight stays will form a routine part of the role rather than an occasional requirement.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys working directly with people, building relationships face‑to‑face and immersing themselves in the environments they are helping to improve.

What you’ll get in return

Alongside a competitive salary and benefits package, you’ll benefit from:

• £6,000 annual car allowance
• Family private medical insurance
• Industry‑leading training and development
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• Exposure to Executive Directors and senior industry leaders
• The opportunity to build and lead a new Systems Thinking capability
• Annual performance‑related bonus scheme
• 75% discounted leisure rail travel
• A competitive pension scheme and a wide range of employee benefits

Join us and help shape the future of rail, developing the capability, leadership and organisational thinking needed to tackle some of the industry's most complex challenges.

Salary: £71,163 to £86,801 plus £3,270 London location allowance plus £6,000 car allowance

Vacancy type: Permanent

Location: London Blackfriars

Closing date: 26th August 2026

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

Small actions lead to big impact. The way we collect and use data helps keep our teams safe and our network resilient. Find out more in this short video: Why we need diversity data

We’re proud to champion a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To explore our ED&I commitments, https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/diversity-and-inclusion/.

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.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

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