Head of Data Quality & Performance

Who We Are

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here .

We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader , we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

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.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

Click here to learn about our vision for a simpler, better, greener railway, and here to learn about our approach to safety and how it's at the heart of everything we do.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

About the role

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway, to learn more, please click here to watch our video.

This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO) , an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customers moving - making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule.

Watch our video Working in Supply Chain Operations

Working with us is More than a Salary

About The Role

Vacancy type: This role is permanent

Location: This position can be based in The Quadrant, Milton Keynes, Baskerville House, Birmingham, Waterloo, London or RTC Business Park, Derby.

Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working 3 days a week in the office and travel to other SCO location as required. Flexible working can be considered.

Salary range: Band 2 B - £71,163 to £86,801 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 13 November 2026. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

You will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria, please complete this as part of the application process and add this to your CV in ONE document . Applicants who do not complete this statement are less likely to be shortlisted. Please see attached guide - How to complete Supporting Statement.

If you cannot access the guide, please contact RSResourcing@networkrail.co.uk and we will send you a copy.

At Network Rail you will have a clear development path, access to training and enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as; up to 28 days annual leave, rail travel subsidies, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more. Find out more about our benefit s.

Click 'apply for this job' to apply. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team, please contact RSResourcing@networkrail.co.uk.

If you would like some reasonable adjustments support during your application or the recruitment process , please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist. For further information https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/how-we-recruit/

Below are some examples of adjustments we can make:

• Changing a provision, practice or 'the way things are done'

For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed.

• Changing a physical feature of our workplace

For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.

• Providing extra equipment or assistance

For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.

There are lots of other adjustments we can consider - please just ask!

The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following.

• Competency Based Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.

You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.*

Your experience and skills

What are the key accountabilities in this role?

Will have experience in the following:

• Direct the production and maintenance of the strategy, policy and plan for enhancing the company's visualisation and reporting capability in relation to performance as an input to decisions regarding performance improvement and sustainability, satisfying the needs of the customers as defined in the Service Catalogues.
• Drive continuous improvement across SCO by scheduling a series of facilitated deep dives into agreed performance issues, implementing ensuing actions and holding senior managers accountable to improve lead indicators.
• Develop and maintain a programme to automate the majority of performance reporting within SCO with associated resource saving.
• Own the development and delivery of a Master Data Management strategy (with emphasis on data quality) to measure accurately the performance of SCO and rigorously eliminate multiple sources of data and duplicated activities.
• Create and lead a team of engaged professionals who are motivated to lever the latest technology in performance management including automation.
• Establish a culture of data transparency and openness of information which extend to suppliers and subcontractors of SCO where that transparency does not compromise commercially sensitive data.
• Design and deliver long term projects which improve the quality of data, enhanced qualification on data entry and integration with other databases.
• Represent SCO in internal and external forums in respect of data quality and performance management.

What are the essential skills and experience we're looking for?

Essential

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Foundation and Service Delivery qualification or equivalent
• Significant experience in data quality improvement.
• Extensive change and project management experience
• Extensive practical experience of performance improvement activity in large organisations
• Experience of systems rollout in an ITIL framework and familiarity with SCO Management Information Systems.
• In-depth knowledge of services similar to those provided in supply chain.

We would also like, but it's not essential:

Desirable

• Higher Business Degree & commercial acumen.
• Lean Green or Black Belt qualification or equivalent

Key Information

Vacancy Details

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Salary:

£71,163 - £86,801

Location:

The Quadrant:MK, Milton Keynes

Geographical Area:

South East England (Not inside M25)

Closing Date:

13-NOV-2026

Job Category:

Operations

Function:

Route Services

Asset:

SCO - Strategic Programmes

Organisation:

EW Head of Programme Performance OPEX (920008) G5

Attachments

Attachments

How to Complete a Supporting Statement.docx

How to Complete a Supporting Statement.docx

More than a Salary.pdf

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