London (with hybrid flexibility)

To apply please click ‘Enquire Now’ below

About GBRX
GBRX is the strategic innovation body for Britain’s railway. Our purpose is to overcome the barriers to the adoption of technology across the track and train to improve how the railway works for people and create more sustainable skills for the future.

About the role

The Portfolio Director will lead the GBRX portfolio. It is made up of a diversity of initiatives, engagements and programmes working to overcome the barriers to adoption of advanced technologies that create a better system for people.  It requires purposeful leadership, emotional intelligence, nuance, and craft to navigate complexity to create new possibilities and create capabilities that improve how the system works in the field.

The post is based in London, with hybrid flexibility. We lead a national team so it could be based elsewhere. It will involve working closely with partners across the sector and government. If you are motivated to help shape the future of rail through purposeful leadership and strategic innovation, we would love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

We are looking for someone who can:

  • Provide pioneering leadership across a diverse portfolio
  • Shape strategies and investments that unlock adoption
  • Build alignment across government, industry, and investors
  • Create clarity in ambiguity and make progress in real-world conditions
  • Build capability and learning by path finding and collaborating across track and train to overcome barriers to adoption

About you

We are looking for a leader who can work in complexity to generate clarity and momentum. You will bring:

  • Experience in complex portfolios or programmes with accountability for outcomes
  • Understanding of business planning, investment cases, and decision-making processes for complex endeavors
  • Skilled communication and relationship-building, with credibility across government, industry, and investors.
  • Ability to navigate complex organisational environments, collaborate and convene people from across many fields
  • Ability to overcome barriers and deliver change in business and commercial models and outcomes

And you will embody GBRX’s values in how you lead:

  • The ability to see situations from different perspectives and balance them fairly.
  • Stay grounded in your own values and convictions, while engaging openly with others.
  • Be self-aware and reflective, noticing your own assumptions and adapting when needed.
  • Handle emotions, your own and others with openness and composure.
  • Stay effective when answers aren’t clear or outcomes are uncertain.
  • Ask questions that open new insight and possibilities.
  • Work with tensions and contradictions, turning them into opportunities for learning and progress.

Desirable

  • Chartered or professional membership in a relevant field (e.g. engineering, innovation, portfolio management).
  • Knowledge of the UK rail sector or similar infrastructure-based industries.
  • Experience of innovation-led adoption or system-level change in regulated environments.

Why join GBRX

At GBRX, we value diverse perspectives and capabilities, support flexible and hybrid working, and enable purposeful leadership. Brilliant leaders and pioneers come from all walks of life. Here, your contribution matters, and your growth is supported. We look forward to meeting you.

To apply please click ‘Enquire Now’ below