The rail industry is moving towards greater integration, bringing infrastructure and train operations closer together to deliver a safer, simpler and higher-performing railway for customers.

This is a unique opportunity to join at a pivotal moment for the industry, helping to shape the future of railway operations and realise the benefits of a truly integrated network. Serving more than one million customers on its busiest days, GTR operates one of the UK’s largest and most complex rail businesses. As Network Operations Director, you will play a critical leadership role in ensuring operations remain resilient, customer-focused and high-performing.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will provide joint leadership across GTR and Network Rail Sussex, bringing together Control, Real Time Information and operational response teams to deliver safe, efficient and coordinated railway operations.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Network Operations Director, you will lead a diverse operational function spanning both organisations, ensuring the railway responds effectively to daily challenges while delivering long-term operational improvements.

You will:

• Lead the joint Network Operations function across GTR and Network Rail Sussex.
• Drive operational performance, disruption management and service recovery.
• Develop and implement joint operational strategies and resilience plans.
• Work closely with Planning & Performance, Fleet, Customer Services and Network Rail colleagues to improve reliability and customer outcomes.
• Lead business continuity planning and operational readiness.
• Build and develop a high-performing, inclusive culture across a team of approximately 245 colleagues.
• Manage a budget of circa £16m while delivering operational and customer improvements.
• Represent GTR and Network Rail Sussex with senior industry stakeholders, regulators and government partners.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will also participate in the executive on-call rota, providing leadership and decision-making during significant operational incidents.

About You

You will be an experienced operational leader with a proven track record of leading complex functions within a safety-critical and customer-focused environment.

You will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of railway operations and the interfaces between Train Operating Companies and Network Rail.
• Strong understanding of railway performance regimes, operational planning and service recovery.
• Experience leading large-scale operational, control or performance functions within a 24/7 environment.
• A track record of successfully managing significant disruption, recovery and resilience planning.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across organisational boundaries.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams through change and transformation.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, including responsibility for significant budgets.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage senior executives, regulators, industry partners and government stakeholders.
• A systems-thinking approach, balancing the priorities of multiple organisations to achieve the best outcomes for customers.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the UK’s most significant integrated railway operations functions.

You will work at the heart of a pioneering partnership between GTR and Network Rail Sussex, helping to define how an integrated railway operates, performs and delivers for customers.

If you are an inspiring operational leader with the strategic vision, resilience and collaborative approach to drive performance across a complex rail network, this is an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact.