Systems Thinking Specialist

ENGINEERINGUK; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in the transport sector as a Specialist, where you'll drive transformational change and improve railway operations. This full-time role involves working collaboratively with teams nationwide, focusing on innovative solutions and systems thinking. Enjoy competitive benefits, including flexible working and generous leave.

Benefits

28 days annual leave entitlement

75% subsidy on rail tickets

Defined benefit pension scheme

Interest-free travel loan

Qualifications

• Experience in managing cross-functional teams in a customer-focused environment.
• Demonstrable commitment to learning systems thinking to transform business operating models.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to tackle complex business challenges.
• Engage and influence leaders across the organisation to secure buy-in.

Skills

Analytical Prowess

Influencing Skills

Collaborative Spirit

Education

Business Improvement Qualifications

Job description

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View more categories View less categories Sector Transport and Logistics Role Specialist Contract Type Permanent Hours Full Time

About Network Rail

About Network Rail...

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. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. 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. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Brief Description

Vacancy Details

Duration: 9-monthSecondment/Fixed Term Contract with the potential to extend or go permanent. (Please note, secondments are subject to line manager approval, please discuss this with them before applying).

Location: Roles are based both nationwide (with travel expected 3 days per week including 2/3 overnight stays) and in London covering Southern region and Western route. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered. For Quadrant: MK, you must live within 90 minutes of the office or be willing to self-relocate.

Band & Salary: (Band 3C) £55,596 - £63,797 please note any salary offered will be within the advertised salary range and is dependent upon experience.



Who are we looking for?

We're recruiting for an exciting programme that will is supporting Network Rail and the industry on developing and deploying innovative trials to help build a better railway. You'll be working as part of a team on diagnosing the areas for improvement within a given system of work followed by rapidly co-designing, testing, and deploying solutions to the issues found. This includes areas such as stations, operations control, train performance management, timetable planning, and more.

There's no need for previous systems thinking experience, if you can answer yes to the following questions we'd love to hear from you:

Are you a visionary problem-solver with a passion for driving transformational change? Do you have the skills to coach matrix teams to analyse, design, and implement interventions that reshape the way we work? Would you enjoy traveling nationally to work collaboratively with frontline teams and leaders to deliver sustainable improvements? Do you want to springboard your career and gain exposure to senior and executive leaders through delivering high-priority business improvements?

About the role (External)

What does the average day look like?

In this role, you'll be right at the heart of Network Rail's transformation journey. No two days will be the same, but you'll regularly lead cross-functional teams to tackle complex business challenges-designing, testing, and refining new operating models that drive real improvement. You'll dive into data to uncover insights, assess performance, and identify opportunities for change. As a coach and collaborator, you'll empower teams to adopt systems thinking, building their capability to lead future improvements themselves. Engaging and influencing leaders across the organisation will be key to securing buy-in and sustaining momentum. From managing change activities to delivering hands-on project work, you'll ensure every intervention is delivered with precision-on time, to a high standard, and with lasting impact.

Essential Criteria

To excel in this role, you should have:

• Passion for Change: Successful experience and qualifications in business improvement approaches and business change (or willingness to gain them).

• Analytical Prowess: Proven ability to analyse and evaluate data to drive decision making.

• Influencing Skills: Proven ability to positively influence stakeholders at all levels to achieve desired outcomes.

• Collaborative Spirit: Advanced influencing, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Team Leadership: Experience in managing cross-functional teams in a customer-focused environment.

• Systems Thinking: Demonstrable commitment to learning systems thinking to transform business operating models.

Experience and understanding of rail operations would be an advantage.

For a full list of Key accountabilities, essential and desirable criteria. Please click apply and you will be redirected to the Network Rail external careers website where you can find the Job description.

How to apply (External)

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact recruitment support [e-mail]. Please ensure that you have the IREC number (IRC2317842) ready as you will be asked for this.

Additional Information...

Closing date: Sunday 1 st June. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted.

Next Steps: Interviews will be held W/C 9 th June, depending on business requirements.

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

Application Process:

1. First Sift - We will CV Sift all applications against the essential criteria for the role.

2. Assessment (including competency-based interview questions and an assessment task)

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Some of our great benefits:

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.

Defined benefit pension scheme

75% subsidy on train tickets.

️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Plus more....

Company

Every day, 4.8 million people use our network. Keeping Britain moving and building a better railway for the future is full of challenges – but also tremendous opportunities.

From our commitments to your development, our range of benefits and our approach to Diversity & Inclusion, we believe there are many reasons to join the team at Network Rail.

We’re proactive in empowering employees with the knowledge to help them progress. We encourage all our employees to be ambitious, and offer great training and career development opportunities. As the railway becomes bigger and more technologically advanced, it’s crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead.

We believe that investing in our people is one of the most effective ways of improving the safety, reliability and efficiency of the railway.

We also know that it’s vital to get each individual’s training programme just right. As well as helping us to meet our immediate needs, we believe this is an approach that encourages people to stay with us and develop their careers.

Your health, wellbeing and benefits

We believe that safety and performance go hand in hand and this doesn’t just mean safety on the railway! We are committed to the wellbeing of our employees and believe, that should come first.

We provide access to support services such as our employee assistance program to help you with finances, family, health and wellbeing. In addition to this, we offer excellent benefits, are sensitive to work-life balance and encourage our employees to use their 5 volunteer days for their favourite causes.

We have a range of benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave entitlement.
• My benefits – Our discounted online shopping site.
• A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, Healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits.
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets.
• A range of pension schemes.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community.

What Diversity and Inclusion means to us

‘Diversity’ means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. ‘Inclusion’ means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourages innovative and fresh ways of thinking.

Our aspiration is that the behaviours and actions that support diversity and inclusion will come from the conviction of everyone here at Network Rail – making diversity and inclusion a conscious part of how we run our business throughout Britain.

Disability Confident Leader

Network Rail is an accreditedDisability Confident Leader . This means, where a disabled applicant meets the essential criteria for any of our vacancies, they will receive an interview.

Find out more about our recruitment processhere

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