Deputy Company Secretary

Network Rail is undergoing a period of significant transformation as the railway industry evolves towards Great British Railways. As Deputy Company Secretary, you'll play a central role in ensuring the organisation maintains the highest standards of corporate governance while helping to shape the governance arrangements of the future railway. This is a high-profile leadership role offering the opportunity to work directly with the Board, Chair, Executive Leadership Team and Group General Counsel & Company Secretary.

About the role

You'll provide expert advice, constructive challenge and strategic guidance on governance matters, influencing key decisions that impact the organisation and the wider rail industry. You'll lead the development and implementation of governance frameworks that support organisational transformation, legislative change and railway reform, ensuring Network Rail remains robust, compliant and effective in an evolving environment.

What you'll be doing

• Supporting and delivering the corporate governance strategy for Network Rail, while contributing to the development of governance arrangements for future Great British Railways.
• Leading the design and implementation of modern governance frameworks and operating models that respond to organisational transformation and industry reform.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to the Board, Chair, Committees and Executive Leadership Team on governance best practice, statutory requirements and decision-making.
• Overseeing statutory and regulatory compliance across all Group companies, ensuring corporate records, constitutional documents, statutory registers and Companies House filings remain accurate and compliant.
• Leading and developing a high-performing Governance & Secretariat team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and customer focus.
• Building influential relationships with senior leaders, government departments, regulators, shareholders and external stakeholders to shape and strengthen governance arrangements.
• Driving continuous improvement in Board and Committee effectiveness, helping to enhance governance maturity, accountability and organisational decision-making.
• Setting and maintaining best practice standards for Board and Committee processes, governance reporting, information management and decision records.
• Leading governance activities associated with the Annual Report & Accounts, Annual General Meeting and statutory reporting requirements.
• Harnessing technology and innovation to enhance governance data, reporting capabilities and control frameworks.

Your experience and skills

Who are we looking for? You will be a credible and authoritative governance professional who combines technical expertise with sound judgement, integrity and discretion. You can simplify complex issues, influence at the highest levels and build confidence with a broad range of stakeholders. You will also be an inspiring people leader who creates clarity, raises standards and develops a resilient, high-performing function.

Essential Criteria

• Associate or Fellow Member of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.
• Proven experience leading a governance, company secretarial or equivalent corporate governance function within a large, complex and highly regulated organisation.
• Significant experience advising Boards, Chairs, Non-Executive Directors and Executive teams on corporate governance, board effectiveness and organisational decision-making.
• Demonstrable experience developing and implementing governance strategies, frameworks and operating models across a complex organisational environment.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between governance, organisational effectiveness, risk management, accountability and corporate decision-making.
• Proven ability to influence, challenge and build credibility with senior leaders, government stakeholders, regulators, shareholders and external advisers.
• Authoritative expertise in company law, corporate governance frameworks, statutory reporting requirements and governance best practice.
• Highly developed judgement, integrity and discretion, with a strong commitment to corporate ethics and confidentiality.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in a government, public sector, regulated infrastructure or Arm's Length Body environment.
• Experience working with shareholder, ministerial or government governance arrangements.
• Experience supporting governance arrangements associated with major organisational reform, integration or transformation programmes.