Senior Systems Thinking 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.

Senior Systems Thinking Manager

Help shape the future of Britain's railway

The rail industry is entering one of the most significant periods of change in its history.

As Great British Railways starts to take shape and the industry evolves towards greater integration and public ownership, Network Rail Southern Region is building a new Systems Thinking capability to help solve complex challenges, improve performance and drive lasting organisational change.

We're looking for an experienced Systems Thinking leader to help shape and grow this capability, working with senior leaders across the railway to influence how the organisation responds to some of its biggest opportunities and challenges.

About the role

As Senior Systems Thinking Manager, you'll be one of the leading Systems Thinking practitioners within the organisation, helping shape how the railway approaches complex operational, strategic and organisational challenges.

You’ll lead the design and delivery of high-impact Systems Thinking interventions across regional and national programmes, working closely with Executive Directors, Functional Directors and senior stakeholders to improve performance and achieve transformational outcomes.

This is not a traditional programme management or business improvement role.

Success comes from understanding complexity, seeing connections that others miss, and helping leaders understand challenges from a whole-system perspective. You’ll coach senior stakeholders, develop organisational capability and support the delivery of meaningful change across the railway.

You’ll also lead and develop systems thinking capability within the region, including managing the Lead Systems Thinking Managers and Systems Thinking Specialists, helping to build a high‑performing team and ensuring consistent, high‑quality application of Systems Thinking methodologies.

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing team at a pivotal moment for the railway.

The work you undertake will influence how the industry responds to future challenges, helping shape operating models, improve organisational performance and support the development of Great British Railways.

You’ll work on complex and varied programmes, collaborate with senior leaders across the industry and help build Systems Thinking capability that creates lasting impact.

About you

We welcome applications from Systems Thinking professionals who have operated within complex, highly regulated and asset‑intensive environments such as infrastructure, utilities, transport, aviation, defence, manufacturing, emergency services, public sector organisations and large‑scale consultancy. Rail experience is not an essential criteria to be considered for this role.

You might be working in:

• Systems Thinking
• Business Transformation
• Business Improvement
• Consulting

You'll bring:

• Significant experience applying Systems Thinking methodologies to complex organisational, operational and strategic challenges
• Experience leading major change, transformation or improvement initiatives
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and relationship‑building skills
• Experience working with executive leaders and senior decision‑makers
• Strong coaching, facilitation and leadership skills
• Experience building capability and developing high‑performing teams
• T…