Joint Network Operations Director

Joint Network Operations Director (3742)

Shape the Future of an Integrated Railway

We are bringing GTR and Network Rail Sussex closer together to create a more integrated railway, aligning infrastructure and train operations around a shared ambition to deliver a safer, simpler and higher-performing railway for our customers.

This is a unique opportunity to join at a pivotal moment for the rail industry, helping to shape the future of railway operations and deliver the benefits of a truly integrated network. Serving more than one million customers on our 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 our 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. Key responsibilities include:

• 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 deliveringoperational and customer improvements.
• RepresentGTR 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, customer-focused environment.

You'll 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 in 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 of 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 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 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, we would love to hear from you.

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first-hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first-hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

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