DO
Head of Functional Integration
- Salary
- £115.5K–£128.3K
- Hiring from
- United Kingdom
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
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About DFT Operator
Join Our Team at DFTO
DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.
DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 11,000 services a day and delivers over 930 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year
Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia, WM Trains, GTR. and Chiltern.
We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.
Primary Purpose Of Job
Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of business function integration activities that support the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). Acting as a strategic business partner to DFTO functional directors, the role will translate emerging policy, operating models and organisational design into practical, deliverable implementation plans that protect business continuity while enabling successful reform.
The postholder will provide leadership and direction so that people, processes, systems, governance and culture are effectively integrated across organisations, creating a coherent pathway from current-state operations to the future GBR model. They will play a critical role in balancing reform delivery with the safe and effective continuation of existing obligations and business plan commitments.
Key Deliverables
Success In The Role Will Be Demonstrated Through
Join Our Team at DFTO
DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.
DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 11,000 services a day and delivers over 930 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year
Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia, WM Trains, GTR. and Chiltern.
We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.
Primary Purpose Of Job
Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of business function integration activities that support the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). Acting as a strategic business partner to DFTO functional directors, the role will translate emerging policy, operating models and organisational design into practical, deliverable implementation plans that protect business continuity while enabling successful reform.
The postholder will provide leadership and direction so that people, processes, systems, governance and culture are effectively integrated across organisations, creating a coherent pathway from current-state operations to the future GBR model. They will play a critical role in balancing reform delivery with the safe and effective continuation of existing obligations and business plan commitments.
Key Deliverables
Success In The Role Will Be Demonstrated Through
- Delivery of agreed functional integration strategies and implementation plans.
- Achievement of key GBR transition milestones.
- Maintenance of DFTO business continuity throughout reform activities.
- Effective management of integration risks and dependencies.
- Positive stakeholder engagement and collaboration across organisations.
- Measurable efficiency and performance improvements resulting from continuous improvement initiatives.
- Successful translation of policy and organisational design into operational delivery.
- High-quality contribution to the GBR Implementation Plan and wider rail reform programme.
Key Responsibilities
Functional Integration Strategy
Functional Integration Strategy
- Lead the development of integration strategies for DFTO business support functions as part of the establishment of GBR.
- Develop clear, actionable and appropriately resourced implementation plans to support the integration of functional teams, processes, systems and capabilities across organisations.
- Translate emerging GBR design decisions, policies and operating models into practical plans that can be understood and delivered by functions across DFTO and partner organisations.
- Provide leadership and oversight so that integration activity aligns with wider rail reform objectives while maintaining operational effectiveness.
- Design and deliver preparatory integration activity between DFTO and rail reform partners ahead of GBR vesting.
- Identify opportunities for early collaboration, alignment and standardisation that will support a smoother transition to GBR.
- Establish governance, reporting and assurance arrangements to monitor progress and manage risks.
- Act as a trusted adviser and business partner to DFTO Functional Directors.
- Work closely with senior leaders, exercise influencing and leadership so that integration plans fully consider people, capability, organisational design, systems, procedures, governance and cultural implications.
- Provide strategic challenge and support so that reform activity is deliverable alongside business-as-usual responsibilities.
- Develop and maintain continuity plans so that all existing DFTO obligations are fulfilled throughout the transition period.
- Build and lead cross-organisational coalitions to secure alignment and commitment to continuity arrangements.
- Identify and mitigate risks arising from reform and integration activities, raising awareness and managing responses so that impacts on DFTO, Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Infrastructure Routes (IRs) are fully understood and managed.
- Contribute significantly to the design and development of the GBR Implementation Plan so that all relevant DFTO considerations are appropriately reflected within wider implementation planning.
- Work collaboratively with implementation teams across the rail industry to develop a coherent, integrated and risk-managed delivery programme.
- Create practical work packages, implementation products and delivery tools that can be deployed across DFTO and its subsidiaries.
Support the mobilisation and delivery of these work packages, driving consistency of approach and delivery outcomes.
Operating Model and Accountability Framework
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:
Operating Model and Accountability Framework
- Lead the translation of the GBR Accountability Framework into operational products, processes and governance arrangements that align with DFTO responsibilities.
- Design and implement new processes or frameworks required to support successful reform where ownership has not been established elsewhere.
- Define and embed accountability structures across relevant stakeholders.
- Develop and implement a continuous improvement methodology across DFTO.
- Drive measurable improvements in organisational performance, efficiency and effectiveness that can be sustained and transferred into GBR.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and learning across teams and functions.
- Capture emerging government, industry and organisational strategy and policy positions and translate them into actionable plans with measurable outcomes.
- Convert ambiguity and evolving design concepts into clear implementation activities that support delivery while minimising disruption to business plan commitments.
- Support senior stakeholders through complex change by providing clarity, structure and delivery focus.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:
- Significant experience leading large-scale organisational change, transformation or integration programmes.
- Proven ability to operate effectively in complex, ambiguous and politically sensitive environments.
- Strong programme and implementation planning expertise, including development of integrated delivery plans.
- Experience influencing and partnering with senior stakeholders and executive leaders.
- Demonstrable track record of translating strategy into practical delivery activity.
- Strong understanding of organisational design, change management and business transformation principles.
- Experience of developing governance, assurance and risk management frameworks.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to build consensus and alignment across multiple organisations with differing priorities.
Desirable criteria
Duration: Fixed Term up to 31st March 2028 contract/secondment
Location: We currently have offices in London Waterloo, Leeds, Birmingham
Salary Bandings : £115,503 to £128,337
Closing date: 18th Novemeber 2026
DFTO Locations:
DFTO currently have office locations in London, Birmingham and Leeds and individuals can be based from any of the three locations. Whilst we do offer hybrid working there are sometimes demands to travel to the other office locations.
DFTO Benefits
Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)
DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution
Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry
Additional Information…
Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.
Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact Dean.palmer@dftoperator.co.uk
Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.
- Experience within the rail, transport or public sector environment.
- Knowledge of GBR reform, rail industry structures and operating models.
- Understanding of business support functions including HR, Finance, Commercial, Procurement, Digital and Corporate Services.
- Professional programme, project or change management qualifications.
Duration: Fixed Term up to 31st March 2028 contract/secondment
Location: We currently have offices in London Waterloo, Leeds, Birmingham
Salary Bandings : £115,503 to £128,337
Closing date: 18th Novemeber 2026
DFTO Locations:
DFTO currently have office locations in London, Birmingham and Leeds and individuals can be based from any of the three locations. Whilst we do offer hybrid working there are sometimes demands to travel to the other office locations.
DFTO Benefits
Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)
DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution
Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry
Additional Information…
Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.
Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact Dean.palmer@dftoperator.co.uk
Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.
