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 8,500 services a day and delivers over 640 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 and WM Trains. 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: The Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Whole System Strategy team is responsible for producing an overarching strategy for the specification and supply of trains on the network and the infrastructure needed to support them. The strategy will focus on passenger needs whileimproving rail industry efficiency and environmental performance and improving visibility and certainty to industry supply chains. The new team brings together consideration of the financial, economic, commercial and operational aspects of the rolling stock and infrastructure in the long-term. It includes policy teams on train service, rolling stock, depots and infrastructure, and will work closely with stakeholders in Network Rail, DfT-Operator and others elsewhere in DfT and wider government. Key Deliverables: The Network Infrastructure Interfaces team will lead engagement with Network Rail and RSG’s Environmental Policy team to manage the interface between the train service and rolling stock strategy and the development of the rail network infrastructure. The interface works in both directions: ensuring that decisions on upgrades such as electrification and power supply upgrades are considered alongside rolling stock decisions, and at the same time ensuring that decisions on rolling stock are efficient from a network perspective, so that trains are helping to reduce infrastructure maintenance costs, make the most of investment in digital signalling and contribute to overall system resilience. The role-holder will lead a small team that has strong relationships with Network Rail, as the owner and planner of UK rail infrastructure, and with policy and Region teams within RSG who sponsor individual projects and programmes. As with many rail projects, knowledge of both strategic and detailed factors that affect feasibility and cost are critical to the whole system strategy development. The team will work closely with other parts of the RSISS team, including economists and finance experts, to develop a robust and consistent business case for the infrastructure elements of the overall strategy. Key Responsibilities: The role-holder’s main areas of responsibility are: Working with NR to develop and maintain a baseline view of committed, planned and proposed infrastructure that affects rolling stock operation and provision across the network over the next 25 years – in particular on electrification, power supply and charging points. Provision of support to Rail Analysis and Rail Finance in their development of a Rolling Stock strategy model that includes operational infrastructure maintenance, and liaise with Network Rail over its validation. Working with the Head of Train Services, Rolling Stock and Depot strategy and NR, development of a system strategy towards upgrade of infrastructure (including stations and other systems) to maximise the net financial and passenger benefits of introducing new rolling stock. In addition, provide input to future rolling stock specification policy from an infrastructure perspective, to ensure whole industry benefits. Development of business cases for the infrastructure investments, consistent with the overall business case for the System Strategy. Provision of input to associated workstreams around supply chain management, cost /value maximisation and alternative funding approaches. Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications: Behaviours You will need to be able to demonstrate the following behaviours: Seeing the Bigger Picture: Ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies. Bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding policies and activities. Making Effective Decisions: Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions. encourage both innovative suggestions and challenge from others, to inform decision making. Leadership: Welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them. Stand by, promote or defend your own and your team’s actions and decisions where needed. Communicating and Influencing: Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions, whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others. Developing self and others: Identify areas individuals and teams need to develop in order to achieve future objectives. encourage discussions within and between teams to learn from each other’s experiences and change organisational plans and processes accordingly. Experience This role will be developing policy in a highly technical environment but with multiple policy interfaces. Detailed technical knowledge will not be required however a willingness to constructively challenge stakeholders is needed. Much of the technical work will be led by Network Rail (System Operator), however this role will be critical to ensuring a Whole System Strategy that considers both infrastructure and rolling stock. The role holder will also be expected to handle and analyse operational, financial and economic data confidently. Please ensure that in your application you submit evidence of the following: Developing policy in a technical area which you are not expert in. Experience of analysing operational, financial and economic data. Vacancy Details: Duration: Permanent or Secondment Location: London Waterloo Salary: up to £59,686 Closing date: 10th May 2026 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 Amra .Hurley@dftoperator.co.uk. Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.