Digital & Data Engagement Lead

Network Rail is a vital organization dedicated to the safe and efficient movement of passengers and freight nationwide. We believe our people are central to our success, and every role contributes to building a better, more connected railway. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and value work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are dedicated to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process.

About the role

The railway industry is undergoing continuous transformation driven by Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT). As part of the DDaT directorate, you will be instrumental in enabling modern and transformative technology for our customers and industry partners. This role is at the forefront of shaping the railway for the next 200 years, leveraging technology as a catalyst for progress in an ever-demanding industry.

What does the average day look like?

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business leaders and central Digital & Data teams, acting as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for digital, data, and AI initiatives.
• Develop deep expertise in modern digital, data, and AI technologies, staying ahead of emerging trends and identifying opportunities to apply innovative solutions to key business challenges.
• Partner with stakeholders to understand business priorities, identify opportunities for improvement, and define measurable objectives that deliver tangible outcomes through digital, data, and AI solutions.
• Evaluate potential solutions by assessing technical feasibility, complexity, risk, and business value, ensuring the most appropriate delivery approach is identified across devolved business and central Digital & Data teams.
• Influence and negotiate priorities, scope, KPIs, and delivery expectations with stakeholders, balancing business needs with technical considerations and resource capacity.
• Provide strategic direction and guidance on digital and data solutions, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, data governance standards, cyber security requirements, and responsible AI principles.
• Lead demand planning and engagement activities, forecasting future digital and data requirements and proactively identifying opportunities to enhance business performance.
• Champion the adoption of digital and data capabilities across the organisation, embedding best practice ways of working and increasing confidence in the safe and effective use of modern technologies.
• Monitor delivery performance and business outcomes, maintaining a strong focus on value realisation and recommending improvements to maximise benefits and successful adoption.

Your experience and skills

Essential Criteria:

• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to articulate a vision with energy and passion.
• Commercial acumen and ability to work with business leaders and peers to establish and prioritise business critical work-streams and to establish benefits realisation mechanisms.
• Highly influential - ability to engage and work with peers to achieve the right customer outcome is central to the success of the role.
• Good technical understanding of the information systems industry, AI based technologies and digital / data based solutions.
• Understands, explains and able to present complex technical ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels in a persuasive and convincing manner.
• Demonstrable Safety Leadership capability. Positively encourage others to commit to the NR Safety vision and challenge unsafe practices and behaviours.
• Demonstrable ability to influence, negotiate and communicate at all levels across the organisation.
• Relevant experience in the management of diverse and complex infrastructure assets.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of leading behavioural change within a large organisation.
• Membership of a relevant professional body with chartered status.
• Significant experience in telecoms account management.
• Experienced in use of social platforms, to support business networking.
• Educated to degree level in a technical field or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of the rail industry and its regulatory framework.