Job Description

At Network Rail, we\'re part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We\'re an organisation where people matter. When you\'re part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions.

The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.
Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we\'re empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

About our people and the recruitment process - We\'re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

\xc2\xb7 Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.

\xc2\xb7 A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.

\xc2\xb7 GWR ticket alliance - Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 5 friends and family to use across the GWR network (20 passes per year)

\xc2\xb7 Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.

\xc2\xb7 A range of Pension schemes to choose from

\xc2\xb7 Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, and enhanced family friendly support.

\xc2\xb7 5 days paid volunteering leave.

\xc2\xb7 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

\xc2\xb7 In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

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We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone.

Brief Description

Own, direct development of and specify regional products and Business Systems required to deliver efficient, customer focused, and effective data and digital services for maintenance, operations and the rest of the Region.

The region is shifting to a devolved model where products and solutions can be developed locally. This team sits within the wider Finance directorate along-side Commercial, Legal, Governance Risk & Assurance (GRA), Property, and Business Planning & Analysis (BPA) teams that serve the wider region. Within the BPA team the Digital & Data team will work closely with long term planning, financial controls & efficiencies, change & improvement, analysis & insights teams to:

• Manage the delivery of Digital and Data Products which help enhance the Wales & Western Region\'s business performance.
• Work with suppliers to deliver Possession Optimisation, a key priority within the first 12 months that is revolutionising how Engineering Access is planned and delivered through digital and data driven tools.
• Coordinate the needs of customers with the digital and data capability of the team you will lead, ensuring that value of any products can be determined.
• Line manage and develop a Digital and Data team in the Region, using agile and collaborative approach.
• Develop Digital and Data Strategies aligned to the Regional long term strategic goals.
• Act as Lead Product Owner on products built, supported and in-housed within the Region.
• Ensure that IT guardrails and safety review of products is undertaken within the business policies.

This means that this role has wide exposure across the Region\'s teams needing to build strong relationships with key internal customers, with the primary aim of enhancing business performance across a range of measures. You will work with your customers to establish their needs and opportunities as part of a strategic and structured \'Digital and Data\' product roadmap. You will ensure that appropriate data governance arrangements are established and maintained in the region to support robust development of new products.

You will act as Lead Product Owner as required by internal customers, based on the products created, ensuring the data validity and safety provisions are in place and understood on the products developed. You will be a key conduit for meeting regional business case demands for Data and Digital improvement for the business.

Through use of data and digital technology, solutions will be developed to address the root causes of issues and deliver benefits for regional teams and their customers.

With a large geographic spread across Wales & Western, there is the opportunity to work with teams all over the Region and travel will be required to attend offices, delivery units and track side to really understand how our diverse teams work to deliver the needs of the railway and how this role will enhance their capability.

The location is stated as Bristol, however, the job location is flexible for hybrid working within the Wales & Western Geographic Region.

About the role (External)

Your Main Responsibilities will be to:

1. Own, identify and specify business requirements for improvements to regional Business Systems linked to the product catalogue.

2. Identify, research and plan new system requirements for the business on behalf of regional teams and business cases.

3. Identify and define the outcomes required of a system and subsequently manage the tracking and realisation of those benefits.

4. Manage, in conjunction with the function and Business Systems, the resolution of system and service problems.

5. Develop and manage relationships with the Investment community, the function and the wider organisation to gain their support into the future development of regional Business Systems.

6. Identify, develop and implement regional Business Systems improvement initiatives with robust business cases.

7. Manage the engagement and development of individuals, customers and the team.

8. Manage and comply with company procedures to provide appropriate resources, communication strategies, training, and competency and evaluate fitness of staff to safely deliver their accountabilities.

9. Lead and sponsor new regional Products when required.

10. Deliver regular progress reports on a programme of change projects, including relevant risks and issues, to regional Directors.

11. Work with Network Rail stakeholders to define the strategic direction for the functions systems so that these systems are developed to meet ongoing business requirements.

12. Provide direction on the initiation and subsequent implementation of system improvements that are fit for purpose.

13. Act as interface between Network Rail Information Technology Services and stakeholders in the resolution of associated risk and issues to successfully implement system improvements.

You will ideally have

\xc2\xb7 Evidence of excellent communication skills - at all levels

\xc2\xb7 Understanding of I.T. and how it supports the Business

\xc2\xb7 Proven ability to influence at a strategic level including ability to formulate business strategies

\xc2\xb7 Proven experience in information technology, particularly regarding systems analysis, development and implementation

\xc2\xb7 Proven ability to engage with customers and build collaborative relationships with stakeholders at a senior level

\xc2\xb7 Proven experience in managing and developing a teams to achieve high performance

What could set you apart

\xc2\xb7 Experience of Project Management, preferably Agile Methods

\xc2\xb7 Experience of Support Management

\xc2\xb7 Good understanding of the functions activities and current Business Systems

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide.

How to apply (External)

\xc2\xa371,163 to \xc2\xa380,060 per annum.

Closing date: 15th September 2023.

Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click \'apply now\' to apply.

Please note this is a 12-month fixed term contract opportunity, with potential to become permanent.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words for us. We\'re constantly striving to make sure we provide a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within our team and we\'re working closely with our regional diversity and inclusion networks to make sure we support these groups as best as we can.

We are working in conjunction with the Cultural Fusion team. If you would like support with your application or interview please contact or visit the connect page: . For all other support please contact your HR Business Partner.

Network Rail is a and we\'ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit for advice on accessibility support if you\'re unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

Network Rail