Great British Railways (GBR) is being established as the new, publicly owned directing mind for Britain’s railways. Bringing together track and train, GBR will create a more integrated, accountable and customer-focused railway that better serves passengers, freight customers and the wider economy, through improved reliability, efficiency and customer service.

Every day, the railway connects millions of people to work, education, family, leisure and opportunity. It links towns and cities, supports thriving local communities, enables businesses to grow and move goods efficiently, and provides one of the most sustainable ways to travel and transport freight. As a national asset, the railway plays a vital role in the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the country. Its impact reaches into every region of Great Britain, helping to create opportunity, strengthen connectivity and support long-term growth.

The creation of GBR represents one of the most significant reforms of Britain’s railway in a generation. It is a unique opportunity to build a new national institution that will shape the future of one of the country’s most important public services. At the heart of this transformation is a simple but ambitious goal: to create a railway that is safe, easier to use, more reliable, more responsive to customers, better integrated and equipped to meet the evolving needs of passengers, communities, businesses and freight customers. GBR will play an important role in supporting the Government’s wider devolution agenda. Working in partnership with devolved administrations, mayors and strategic authorities, it will combine the benefits of a coherent national railway with a more place-based approach and deliver better outcomes for communities across Great Britain.

GBR is now seeking its founding Chief Executive. We are conducting an international search for an exceptional leader capable of establishing GBR as a world class national institution.

This is a role unlike any other in British transport. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to establish a new organisation, unite a complex industry around a shared vision and lead one of the most visible and consequential public services in the country through a period of profound change.

The Chief Executive will provide strategic leadership for a major national institution responsible for operational performance, significant public investment and long-term industry reform. Beyond leading a large and complex organisation, they will help shape the future direction of Britain’s railway, influencing how it contributes to economic growth, social mobility, regional development and environmental sustainability for decades to come. They will build a high-performing executive team, foster a culture that is customer-focused, collaborative and innovative, and inspire confidence among passengers, colleagues, government and industry partners.

Few leadership opportunities offer this combination of scale, complexity and public impact. The decisions made by the Chief Executive of GBR will affect millions of people’s daily lives and help determine how one of the nation’s most important assets serves future generations. This is a rare chance to create lasting change through public service and to leave a legacy that will be felt across communities throughout Great Britain.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a demonstrable track record of leading large-scale organisations and delivering transformational change in complex operating environments. Candidates will bring outstanding strategic judgement, commercial acumen and a strong customer focus, together with the ability to build high-performing teams and drive sustained organisational performance. They will be adept at working constructively with government, regulators and a broad range of stakeholders, and will possess the credibility, resilience and leadership presence to succeed in a highly visible role where expectations are rightly high.

Applications are welcomed from candidates within and beyond the rail sector. Experience of leading complex operational organisations in sectors where safety, reliability and public trust are paramount will be highly relevant.

This role will appeal to exceptional leaders motivated by purpose as much as performance. It offers the rare opportunity to apply world-class leadership skills to a national endeavour, improving a service relied upon by millions while helping to shape the future prosperity and connectivity of the country. Applications are welcomed from candidates within and beyond the rail sector who can demonstrate transferable leadership experience, a commitment to public value and the ability to deliver transformational change at scale. For those seeking the opportunity to make a profound and lasting contribution through public service, few roles can match the significance, challenge and impact of becoming the first Chief Executive of Great British Railways.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Great British Railways on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference OCAHA. Alternatively email belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Thursday 26th November.

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