Lead Systems Thinking Manager

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Lead Systems Thinking Manager to guide interventions, support teams, and help the business solve complex, real-world problems across the railway network.

You will map systems with frontline teams and collaborate with senior leaders to test options, unblock critical decisions, and ensure benefits are realised in the long term. Travel nationally is required.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to apply Systems Thinking to complex problems.
• Experience leading large change programmes.
• Ability to coach and develop cross-functional teams.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with executive and senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Systems Thinking Partnership's Business Plan and grow capability.
• Manage programmes to time, quality and cost while achieving objectives.
• Monitor budgets and ensure value delivery and benefits realization.
• Coach Directors and senior stakeholders in Systems Thinking.
• Lead and develop Systems Thinking Specialists across multiple programmes.
• Establish governance and progress tracking for interventions.

Skills

Systems Thinking

Leadership

Change Management

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Decision Making

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. 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.

We've built a proven systems thinking methodology that empowers the colleagues closest to the work to understand problems, test solutions, and deliver exceptional results for customers and the business. It's already driving major results, and systems thinking is rapidly becoming the organisation's preferred approach for meaningful, sustainable change.

A dynamic group transforming how the railway operates. We work with business leaders on complex organisation and industry wide change. As we move towards Great British Railways, the team are playing a pivotal role in embedding systems thinking into future operating models.

From executive leaders to frontline teams, our Systems Thinking teams drive improvement across the network - supporting all parts of our industry, including Integrated Business Units, maintenance, operations, control, stations, and more. We're at the heart of transforming how the railway works.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

About the role

What does the average day look like?

As a Lead Systems Thinking Manager, no two days are the same. You'll be right where the work happens - guiding systems¿thinking interventions, supporting teams, and helping the business solve complex, real¿world problems.

Your day will mix hands¿on analysis and practical delivery. You might be mapping a system with frontline teams in the morning, then working with senior leaders in the afternoon to test options or unblock a critical decision.

Collaboration is constant. You'll work closely with stakeholders across regions and functions to keep programmes moving, aligning work, clearing risks, and making sure interventions deliver the outcomes they're meant to.

A central part of your day is leading and coaching your Systems Thinking Specialists or intervention team members. You'll help them shape their interventions, build capability, and maintain high standards across multiple programmes.

You'll also take responsibility for your intervention's governance and progress tracking - ensuring work stays on course, benefits are realised, and change embeds for the long term.

In short: you'll analyse, support, coach, coordinate and drive delivery - enabling teams across the railway to solve problems systematically and deliver real improvements.

Key Accountabilities

• Delivery of the Systems Thinking Partnership's Business Plan, including continuing to develop and grow the service offering and team capability.
  Build effective relationships with Functional Directors, Executive Directors and other seniors takeholders to enable successful delivery of Systems Thinking Programmes.
• Delivery of Systems Thinking programmes to time, quality and cost to achieve strategic objectives.
• Monitor the budget to successfully deliver programmes to cost.
• Coach Functional Directors, Executive Directors and other senior stakeholders in Systems Thinking methodology, enabling practical application of Systems Thinking in their area of the business.
• Develop, lead, and manage Systems Thinking Specialists who are responsible for the delivery of projects to the established quality and timescales.
• Manage resource plans across a programme, enabling each project to be successfully resourced.
• Deliver the business change across the programme enabling successful benefits realisation.
• Establish appropriate governance for programmes, enabling effective reporting, control and decision making is in place.
  

Closing date: TBC - Late applications will not be accepted.

Location: Base locations can be subject to further discussions with the hiring manager. Please provide your home location when submitting your CV. Being able to travel is a requirement, with some overnight stays depending on individual assignments. For roles based from our Milton Keynes office you will need to live within 90 minutes of The Quadrant office in Milton Keynes.

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

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

Your experience and skills

Who are we looking for?

• We're looking for bold, capable leaders who thrive in complexity and have the ability to apply systems thinking, build trust, cut through noise, and help teams solve problems that really matter.
• You're curious, energetic and hands¿on. You listen, question, challenge and uncover what's really driving performance. You're comfortable influencing senior leaders and supporting frontline teams in equal measure.
• You'll be a motivating leader for your Systems Thinking Specialists - someone who can coach, guide and lift capability across multiple programmes.
• Most of all, you're driven by impact. You want to make things better, help people think differently, and deliver improvements that last.

In order to be successful in this role, you will need:

• Be able to travel nationally on a regular basis, often staying overnight
• Relevant experience in the successful management of major and complex change programmes
• Proven experience in applying Systems Thinking methodology
• Proven experience in business improvement and business change management approaches
• Highly developed influencing, negotiation and relationship building / partnering skills with experience working with Executive Directors, Functional Directors and 3 rd party senior colleagues.
• Proven ability to analyse and evaluate complex data to drive decision making from executive level to local leadership.
• Experience in managing (directly or indirectly) cross-functional teams in a customer-focused environment with evidence of enabling teams to meet their challenges.
• Knowledge of the principles of investment processes and procedures.

We would also like, but it isn't crucial:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Completion of Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) qualification
• Professional project or programme management membership
• Experience with industrial relations during change programmes
• Formal qualifications in change management
• Knowledge of/experience in the UK rail industry
• Experience and understanding of transport organisations - but don't be put off if you have deep knowledge of systems thinking but not the sector.
• Experience with industrial relations during change programmes