Appointment details

Network Rail Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Network Rail, Chair only
• Sponsor department: Department for Transport
• Location: London
• Sectors: Transport
• Skills: Business, Change Management, Communication, Major Projects
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 3 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £250,000 to £300,000 per annum
• Length of term: 2 years
• Application deadline: 5pm on 23 July 2025

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   25 June 2025

2. Application deadline

   5pm on 23 July 2025

3. Sifting date

   7 August 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   11 September 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Applicant, 

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair to the Board of Network Rail. 

This is an important time for our country. We are focused on improving performance on the railways, driving forward rail reform, transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, delivering greener transport and better integrating transport networks. All of which are fundamental to the Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth. 

We will deliver the biggest overhaul to the railways in a generation. A new organisation - Great British Railways (GBR) - will be established, which will deliver our railway services. This will mean a unified and simplified rail sector with a relentless focus on customers, communities and value for the taxpayer and passengers. Network Rail needs strong leadership to ensure that it is operationally and culturally ready to move to GBR. 

We are recruiting for a Chair to lead the current Board of Network Rail. This is a time limited role, to lead the organisation as it prepares for the creation of GBR. Network Rail currently owns, maintains and develops the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales with the broad objectives of rail infrastructure owner, operator and developer to provide safe, reliable and growing infrastructure in an efficient manner.

I expect the Chair to work across the sector from day 1 to ensure the British public get a better-performing railway before, during and after the creation of GBR. The successful candidate will oversee Network Rail’s preparation for transition to GBR.

The Chair will maintain a close and transparent relationship with the Secretary of State and the Scottish Ministers, advising them on matters relating to Network Rail. The Chair will ensure the policies and actions of Network Rail have a customer and commercial focus and support my wider strategic policies and those of Scottish Ministers.

We strongly welcome applications from an array of sectors and all backgrounds. We are fully committed to diversity and believe our public appointments should reflect our customers - the travelling public - who come from all walks of life and have different experiences. We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support better decision making for all. This includes people who may never have applied for a public appointment - but could bring new ideas, insights and energy.

If you are interested in the role, I would like to encourage you to apply. GatenbySanderson are happy to talk through the process and answer your questions. 

Heidi Alexander 

Secretary of State for Transport 

Appointment description

Your function is to provide external advice and expertise to inform the Ministers decision-making process. You will add value by offering independent constructive challenge to the operation of the Board, contributing towards the Board’s primary aims, which include:

Providing oversight and scrutiny of the performance and financial position of the body. 

Advising on body policies, projects, and programmes. 

Agreeing the bodies annual report and accounts and governance statement. 

Monitoring progress against Business Plan commitments and corporate planning objectives. 

Reviewing key risks and effectiveness of risk management processes. 

Readying Network Rail for, and driving it into, Great British Railways. 

You will assist the Chief Executive in taking forward the strategic direction of Network Rail and provide expertise. You will be responsible for: 

Guiding, advising, and providing scrutiny on strategy and supporting the CEO in delivering Network Rail’s strategic plan. 

Report to Ministers. 

Setting the Board agenda and chairing the Board. Carrying out annual performance reviews of the Non-Executive Directors. 

Acting as an ambassador for Network Rail to promote its work. 

You will chair the meetings of the Network Rail Board, held in person.

Organisation description

Network Rail is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Transport. 

Network Rail’s purpose is to get people and goods to where they need to be, and in turn to support the UK’s economic prosperity. Its role is to run a safe, reliable and efficient railway, serving our customers and communities, overseeing the running of the railway as an entire system. 

Network Rail own, operate and develop railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. This covers approximately 20,000 miles of track; 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts; and thousands of signals, level crossings and stations.

The rail network spans the country, providing a service for passengers and freight users that underpins daily life and economic growth. 

The rail network consists of five highspeed main lines (the West Coast, East Coast, Midland, Great Western and Great Eastern), which radiate from London to the rest of the country, plus regional rail lines and dense commuter networks within the major cities. Network Rail also operate High Speed 1, the line from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel. 

Network Rail work closely with train operators to deliver train services as safely, reliably and punctually as possible. Network Rail lead the industry’s planning for the future of the railway, and are committed to a running a sustainable railway. Network Rail plays a vital role in the UK’s transport infrastructure and will be key to delivering a greener transport system. 

Network Rail’s income is a mix of grants from the UK and Scottish Governments; payments from train and freight operators that use the railway; and income from its real estate portfolio, e.g., rental income from shops at stations. Network Rail also work closely with organisations willing to pay for projects that benefit them, passengers and freight users. 

Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewal of its railway infrastructure is funded via 5-year Control Periods. The current Control Period, CP7, began on 1 April 2024. The process to reach the settlement and finalise Network Rail’s objectives and funding for the control period is known as the Periodic Review and is run by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. 

The Periodic Review process allows Government to set out what it wants to achieve from the day-to-day operation of railway infrastructure and sets expectations and funding for key issues that matter for passengers and freight customers – significantly impacting ontrain reliability, safety and the use of existing capacity. It is also important for taxpayer value for money and for jobs in the rail supply chain, given that it establishes much of the forward pipeline in the coming years. 

The UK and Scottish governments are making a significant investment of over £45bn in CP7. 

Network Rail’s Delivery Plan details how this funding will be spent to benefit their customers and the communities across the country.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

1.Experience of leading complex organisations and major programmes at Board or equivalent level and the ability to prepare an organisation for major change. 

2.Experience of operating in a safety-critical environment, ensuring that the safety of workforce and service users is paramount. 

3.Understanding of the importance of driving revenues and reducing costs, driving efficiencies and long-term whole-system thinking. 

4.The ability to support the rail reform agenda confidently in the context of ensuring infrastructure and services work together. 

5.Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to manage complex partnerships, secure confidence of Ministers, Mayors and nations and build consensus around high priority interventions. 

6.Experience of building and maintaining a workforce with an inclusive and diverse culture, breaking down barriers to opportunity, improving productivity, engaging with employees and their trade unions to foster a productive relationship, in which they are valued and respected as partners for the positive changes required.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Any applications submitted after the closing date, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted. 

A CV or equivalent biographical information (maximum two sides A4, minimum 12 font) setting out your career history and including details of any professional qualifications. 

Provide a summary of why you are interested in the role and how you meet the specification and essential criteria. This can be in a form that allows you most ably to present your interest and credentials, for example a short, bullet-point slide presentation, a short video (no more than 2 mins) or supporting letter (no more than two A4 pages, minimum 12 font). Make sure you refer to the contents of this document and provide specific examples. 

You will also be asked to provide diversity data, and to declare any potential conflicts of interest or reputational issues. 

Please apply at Job - GatenbySanderson

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Richard Goodman - Director General Rail Reform, Department for Transport

Alison Irvine - Chief Executive Officer, Transport Scotland

Robert Swannell - Senior Independent Panel Member

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to have or be willing to obtain security clearance to Security Check (SC). Pre-appointment checks will also be undertaken on immigration and criminal convictions. It usually takes between 4-6 weeks to obtain the security clearance. The role will be offered on a conditional basis until the successful candidate has passed all checks. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the Department for Transport public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at dftpublicappointments@dft.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 20 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

GatenbySanderson takes your privacy seriously and maintain an Information Security Management System and Privacy Information Management System to fulfil our obligations defined by the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK GDPR. Our privacy statement sets out how we will handle your personal data securely and in accordance with your rights.

Contact details

For a confidential conversation about this role, please contact our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson: 

Principal Researcher, Zoe Bennett zoe.bennett@gatenbysanderson.com 

Consultant, Olivia Robinson olivia.robinson@gatenbysanderson.com Partner 

Julie Myers julie.myers@gatenbysanderson.com

Attachments

• Candidate pack