To apply please click ‘Enquire Now’ below
Job ID:IRC2330468
Department Name: Eastern Region
About Network Rail
Join our team in Anglia
In Anglia, we have an exciting time ahead as we approach integration and support the future of the industry. We strive for excellence in performance and work hard to deliver every day for all our customers, passengers and freight users. We work collaboratively with our partners, experts and regional colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes.
The Head of Maintenance role
The successful candidate will act as the key maintenance lead, working closely with stakeholders to align priorities and deliver high-quality service to Network Rail’s customers. A strong emphasis is placed on safety, environmental excellence, and continuous performance improvement.
We are looking for a proven leader with significant experience managing teams in complex, dynamic environments. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of railway infrastructure maintenance, health and safety compliance, and financial management. This person needs the ability to influence decisions and foster cross-functional collaboration. This role is a member of our senior leadership team, reporting directly to our Infrastructure Director and the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their people leadership, decision-making and influence particularly with other senior leaders, front-line teams and trade unions.
Our Anglia Route Maintenance Team is delivering a major programme of infrastructure upgrades—from modernising signalling systems and enhancing station accessibility to improving safety at level crossings and supporting greener freight, ensuring that our infrastructure network is safe, reliable and performing at its best.
We operate across three delivery units in Romford, Tottenham, and Ipswich, covering a wide range of disciplines including Track, Welding and Grinding, Off Track, Signalling & Telecoms (S&T), Electrification & Plant (E&P), and Distribution & Plant (D&P).
Our Maintenance teams are responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of the network, ensuring that critical infrastructure—like signals, power supplies, tracks, and bridges—is safe, reliable, and performing at its best.
Please note that this role is a permanent opportunity based in London and the Anglia geography.
Brief Description
Within a geographical area direct a maintenance team that supports the safe, sustainable and efficient provision and operation of fixed rail infrastructure services. Lead the maintenance team to meet defined safety, performance and financial objectives, balancing the interests of all customers. Act as maintenance lead for the geographical area in agreeing key priorities with stakeholders
About the role (External)
Key Accountabilities
- Direct the team to achieve business and functional objectives and meet key performance measures. Create an engaging and motivating working environment in accordance with company values.
- Create a culture to enable customer and frontline employee feedback to be reflected in policies and procedures to deliver continuous performance improvement.
- Achieve financial, technical and safety targets agreed with the Chief Operating Officer. Monitor business performance of delivery units through periodic reviews.
- Lead delivery of maintenance in compliance with policies, procedures and standards and direct the effective management of contracts.
- Manage the development and implementation of safety, asset performance, reliability, productivity and efficiency initiatives. In conjunction with Head of Operations Delivery create plans to address customer needs and performance issues.
- Input to the development and implementation of national maintenance reliability, productivity and efficiency improvement initiatives.
- Provide input to business plans, policies, standards and network strategies.
- Act as the Designated Competent Person (DCP) for both formal and local investigations. Report on accidents/incidents and undertake investigations as required.
- Undertake safety tours and set the framework for safety, work quality and asset condition checks within the team.
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- Chartered member of relevant professional body or equivalent experience
- Significant successful experience in management in a dynamic complex environment
- Recognised maintenance leadership capability
- Able to demonstrate in depth knowledge and experience of health and safety management and compliance management processes
- Proven ability to influence decision making and build cross functional / cross company relationships
- Able to demonstrate in depth knowledge of railway infrastructure maintenance processes and techniques
- Significant knowledge of rail industry
- Successful experience of managing business unit financials
- Able to demonstrate understanding of NR safety management system
Desirable
- In-depth understanding of the railway industry and its needs and interfaces.
- Knowledge of relevant standards and procedures
How to apply (External)
We follow a structured pay framework Band 1B: £97,850 to £116,101
Please note that this role is a permanent opportunity based in London and the Anglia geography.
Closing Date: 23rd November 2025
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including:
- 75% off the cost of a season ticket for travel to work
- £3270 Inner London Working Allowance
- £8000 car allowance
- 75% off leisure travel for you and your family
- Flexible working arrangements
- 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- A choice of contributory pension schemes
Please be aware this role holds a mandatory requirement for the incumbent to hold valid security vetting clearance. Any offer will be conditional on the successful candidate obtaining clearance prior to a start date being agreed.
If you have lived outside of the UK in the last 3 years and have been invited to interview for this role, please notify us.
About our people and the recruitment process –
We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!
Network Rail encourages applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other relevant factor. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We positively support flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and home life.
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. Applicants should demonstrate their personal dedication to safety in their application!
We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don’t always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we’ll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.
We’re also a Disability Confident Leader employer 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.
