Thameslink Growth Corridor Director

GTR; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

GTR is seeking a Thameslink Growth Corridor Director to shape the future of Britain’s rail network in London. You will set the strategic direction for the corridor and lead long-term development across our integrated railway, coordinating with government, regulators and industry partners.

You will act as a senior adviser to the Managing Director and Executive Leadership Team, turning ambition into deliverable, financially sustainable plans while building a high-performing Strategy &

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience developing and delivering strategy.
• Proven track record leading major programmes within a large, regulated organisation.
• Ability to influence at executive levels and across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Set and lead the transformational strategy for the Thameslink Growth Corridor, aligning future demand with opportunities.
• Lead strategic planning and business development across the integrated railway, translating ambition into credible plans.
• Identify future investment and revenue opportunities, developing compelling business cases and value propositions.
• Work with Finance to ensure plans are fully costed and support reductions in net subsidy.
• Lead design and implementation of major transformation programmes, managing interdependencies, risks and benefits.
• Build relationships across GTR, Network Rail, government, regulators, and industry partners.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Strategy & Transformation team and foster a high-performing culture.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Business development

Tools

Financial modelling

Governance frameworks

Job description

Shape the future of one of Britain's most important railway corridors.

Britain's largest railway is about to get even bigger. Huge investment is planned at Gatwick and Luton Airports and Universal United Kingdom Resort (opening in 2031).

As Thameslink Growth Corridor Director, you will sit at the heart of our integrated leadership team, setting the strategic direction for the business while leading the long-term development of the Thameslink growth Corridor.

With a significant passenger growth expected across the corridor, the role will consider how the railway responds: from infrastructure and rolling stock capacity through the customer outcomes, commercial opportunities and the way track and train work together. You will turn that ambition into a clear, deliverable, and financially sustainable strategy coordinating this agenda across our railway and other partners.

Working across our Integrated Railway, GBR Division and Network and with government, regulators, and the wider industry, you will identify opportunities to unlock investment, improve capacity, performance and customer outcomes, and reduce net subsidy through a genuinely whole-system approach.

Alongside the Growth Corridor remit, you will lead our Strategy & Transformation Directorate, bringing together strategic planning, business development, and innovation.

What You'll Be Doing

You will act as a strategic adviser to the Managing Director and Executive Leadership Team, providing insight and direction on organisational performance, growth opportunities, transformation, and the future development of the railway.

You Will

• Set and lead the transformational strategy for the Thameslink Growth Corridor, ensuring we are ready to respond to future passenger demand and maximise the opportunities created by greater integration.
• Lead strategic planning and business development across the integrated railway, translating long-term ambition into credible, costed, and deliverable plans.
• Identify future investment, customer, and revenue opportunities, including opportunities to attract funding beyond direct government funding, developing compelling business cases and value propositions.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure strategic plans are fully costed and support the delivery of sustainable reductions in net subsidy.
• Lead the design and implementation of major transformation programmes, using systems thinking to manage complex interdependencies, risks, and benefits.
• Build strong relationships across GTR, Network Rail, government, regulators, and industry partners, creating alignment around shared strategic priorities.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Strategy & Transformation team, creating a collaborative and high-performing culture through a period of significant industry change.

About You

This is a senior leadership role requiring someone comfortable operating across strategy, transformation, commercial thinking, and complex stakeholder environments.

You will bring significant experience of developing and delivering strategy within a large and complex organisation, alongside a strong record of leading major programmes or organisational transformation.

You Will Also Have

• Strong executive leadership capability and the credibility to influence at the highest levels.
• Experience of developing business cases, investment propositions and strategies that translate into tangible outcomes.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience of complex, high-value commercial or contracting environments.
• Experience establishing effective programme governance and successfully delivering complex change.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across organisational boundaries and bring together stakeholders with different priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and credibly.

Experience within rail, transport, infrastructure or another complex, regulated and asset-intensive environment would be advantageous. More important is your ability to understand complex systems, work across organisational boundaries and turn long-term strategic ambition into practical delivery.

The opportunity

The railway is entering a period of fundamental change. Greater integration between track and train creates an opportunity to think differently about how we plan, invest, and operate, as well as how we deliver better outcomes for passengers, taxpayers, and the communities we serve.

This role will be central to that journey. You will have the opportunity to influence both the immediate transformation of our business and the long-term development of the Thameslink corridor, working at executive level across an increasingly integrated railway.

If you are an accomplished strategic leader who can combine ambitious long-term thinking with the commercial judgement and delivery focus needed to make change happen, we would like to hear from you.