Senior Systems Thinking Manager

NETWORK RAIL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading training

Career progression

Executive exposure

Rail travel discount

Pension scheme

Healthcare

Gym & wellness benefits

Job summary

Network Rail is recruiting a Senior Systems Thinking Manager in London. You will lead the design and delivery of high-impact interventions, coaching senior leaders and building a regional Systems Thinking capability. The role demands collaboration with executives, programme delivery, and travel across the network to influence transformational change.

The position is hybrid, working with senior leaders to shape operating models and drive performance improvements across the railway.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of high-impact Systems Thinking interventions across regional and national programmes.
• Coach senior stakeholders and develop organisational capability.
• Lead and manage the Systems Thinking capability within the region, including managing Lead Systems Thinking Managers and Specialists.
• Support programme delivery and drive transformational outcomes across the railway.

Skills

Systems Thinking

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Coaching & facilitation

Strategic decision-making

Change/transformation

Team development

Analytical thinking

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

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.

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.

Your experience and skills

About you

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

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.

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/

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

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.****