Head of Digital & Data Engagement

The railway has seen nearly 200 years of technology and innovation that has transformed how we provide services to passengers and freight customers.

Technology is continuing to transform the railway industry. Imagine an exciting environment where Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) are not just buzzwords but the driving force behind every operation, every decision, and every solution.

As part of the DDaT directorate, you have a unique opportunity to enable our customers and industry partner with modern and transformative technology. From the day-to-day IT operations that keeps a national railway running, to the extensive delivery programmes that our helping to reshape the railway - we are at the forefront of all of it. We operate with a talented and passionate workforce, fostering empowered individuals and teams who understand that technology is not just a tool - it’s the catalyst for progress, especially in an ever-demanding industry where change is a constant.

Get ready to embark on a journey where your skills will not just be utilised; they’ll be honed and expanded. You’re not just joining a team; you’re becoming part of a collective force helping to build and operate a railway fit for the next 200 years!

What does the average day look like?

You will be a strategic leader with a proven ability to build trusted partnerships, influence senior stakeholders and translate complex digital and data opportunities into meaningful business outcomes. You’ll combine strong leadership capability with a passion for customer engagement, innovation and the transformative potential of data and AI technologies

• Define and lead the strategic approach to Digital and Data engagement across the organisation, ensuring alignment with functional strategy and enabling consistent, value-driven engagement that supports business priorities.

• Lead, develop and inspire the Digital & Data Engagement team, empowering colleagues to act as trusted advisors while establishing clear expectations, performance standards and measurable outcomes.

• Build and maintain influential relationships with senior business leaders, acting as the executive point of contact and escalation route for complex, high-profile or sensitive digital and data initiatives.

• Partner with Digital and Data leadership to shape and prioritise demand, balancing customer requirements, organisational objectives, resource capacity and risk considerations.

• Provide strategic oversight of engagement activity, fostering a customer-centric culture and ensuring opportunities are clearly defined, value-focused and directed to the most appropriate delivery teams.

• Drive the resolution of cross-functional and high-risk issues, removing barriers, managing dependencies and ensuring momentum is maintained on critical initiatives and outcomes.

• Stay at the forefront of emerging digital, data and AI technologies, assessing their potential impact and translating insights into practical guidance that informs engagement strategies and future capability investment.

• Influence the strategic direction of the Digital and Data function by using customer insight, engagement feedback and technology trends to shape capability development, operating model evolution and investment roadmaps.

• Champion customer-focused, data-driven and AI-enabled ways of working, promoting outcome-based delivery, benefits realisation and the responsible adoption of modern technologies.

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of engagement activities, tracking performance, stakeholder satisfaction and business value to drive continuous improvement and maximise impact.

• Proven experience of enterprise customer strategy and service ownership
• Knowledge of the Data market, best practice and industry standards
• Significant experience of working with, developing and managing scalable systems¿
• Proven experience of managing the delivery of solutions across a hybrid cloud and on-premise landscape
• Experience of working with OBIEE, Power BI and Hyperion (or similar)
• Proven ability to manage and influence Executive level stakeholders in complex environments (C-Suite?)
• Demonstrable leadership skills to drive a vision for the service
• Proven successful senior management experience in a matrix and/or heavily governed organisation
• Proven ability to lead teams through Digital & Data transformations

Desirable

• Member of a relevant professional body with chartered status (e.g. the Chartered Institute for IT)
• Experience of enterprise business systems including HR, Procurement and Payroll systems¿
• Knowledge of the UK Rail Industry

Pulled from the full job description

• Annual leave
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Company pension
• Paid volunteer time, * We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
• Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
• Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
• Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact

Plus more….