Franchise & Access Manager

Join the Southern Region where your work truly matters.

Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day.

This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail.

From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.

We're looking for a collaborative and commercially minded Franchise & Access Manager to join our team for a two-year opportunity. This is a unique role at the heart of the railway, where you'll act as the key relationship manager and contractual expert between Network Rail and our Train Operating Company (TOC) partners.

You'll play a vital role in ensuring strong, productive partnerships, helping deliver excellent outcomes for passengers, customers, and stakeholders. Combining commercial expertise, negotiation skills, and relationship management, you'll help optimise contractual performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and support the continued success of the railway.

What you'll be doing

As Franchise & Access Manager, you'll:

• Act as the primary interface with Train Operating Companies on all contractual matters, providing expert advice and guidance.
• Build and maintain positive, effective relationships with TOCs to support Network Rail's strategic and operational objectives.
• Manage contractual obligations covering performance, access agreements, invoicing, claims, and compliance.
• Lead negotiations on changes to access contracts and seek opportunities to improve commercial and operational outcomes.
• Resolve disputes and challenges through constructive collaboration, balancing commercial interests with long-term relationships.
• Oversee the delivery of improvement plans and projects that benefit both Network Rail and TOC partners.
• Ensure compliance with contractual agreements across all parties.
• Identify and deliver income-generating opportunities while optimising financial outcomes from performance regimes and contractual arrangements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, sharing best practice and delivering lasting benefits.
• Support the Franchise & Access Executive in meeting customer and business requirements.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent
• Significant experience in a commercial environment
• Commercially astute, persuasive and customer focussed
• Proven ability to negotiate in a complex commercial environment
• Knowledge of relevant contracts and contractual environment
• Substantial experience of managing contractual relationships
• Literate, analytical and numerate
• Effective team leader with proven presentational and inter personal skills
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in the railway business
• Comprehensive understanding of the railway industry structure and contractual relationships.
• Generous annual leave with the option to buy/sell days.
• Defined benefit pension scheme.
• 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
• Up to 75% off leisure travel.
• Carer's leave to support those who matter.
• Healthcare Scheme, Gym Pass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.
• We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments

Discover all our benefits and what life is like at Network Rail.

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Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Fixed-Term

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

Geographical Area:

London (Inside M25)

Closing Date:

13-AUG-2026

Job Category:

Finance

Function:

Southern Region

Organisation:

OE Head of Franchise Management (103214) G1