Rolling Stock Policy and Specification Manager

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), Southeast, 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 while improving 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 Train Service, Rolling Stock and Depots policy team will lead the centre of excellence that develops the Government's agreed approach to providing trains and services that meet passenger needs while driving efficiency in the whole railway system.
• The team will, in conjunction with stakeholders, develop the future scenarios of train services and associated fleets and depots that meet the strategic objectives set out in the emerging Long-Term Strategy for Rail that is being developed by the Rail Reform Team.
• The Rolling Stock Policy and Specification Manager has a critical role in the development of the strategy, identifying with stakeholders and industry partners the choices around rolling stock that mean they can best meet the needs of passengers while improving overall industry efficiency and performance.
• The role-holder will develop proposals for future specifications and changes to rolling stock policy, working closely with the Today's Railway rolling stock hub, DfT-O and Network Rail.
• The role-holder will also work with the rest of the Train Service, Rolling Stock and Depots policy team to develop potential rolling stock approaches for an interim and future full Whole System Strategy, balancing pragmatism with challenge of existing practices to improve outcomes.
• They will also support the Whole System Strategy Team develop alternative approaches to the supply of rolling stock, including examining procurement, contracts and maintenance, and provide input to emerging Rail Reform policy on rolling stock.
• This role will require strong analytical and operational focuses and excellent cross-working capability to ensure the effective involvement of the Region teams, the Rolling Stock Capability Hub and the Policy Delivery team.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to a combined view of train service and rolling stock requirements based on information gathered from region teams, operators, DfT-Operator, Rail Analysis and Network Rail.
• Working with the rail industry and the Rolling Stock Capability Hub, development of a policy for future specification of rolling stock that aligns with the Long-Term Rail Strategy, and drives overall efficiency, performance and passenger focus in the industry.
• Working alongside the System Strategy Lead and others in the industry, ensure the deliverability of the Rolling Stock aspects of the Whole System Strategy.
• Provide input to rolling stock policy for future Rail reform.
• In conjunction with the Rolling Stock Capability Hub, provide clear communication with region teams and stakeholders over emerging train service, rolling stock and depot policy changes.
• Support the Train Service, Rolling Stock and Depots Policy Lead in the management of the team, and ensuring a consistent approach across all policy and planning issues.
• The role holder will manage a team of 2 staff.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications 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 with numerous stakeholders where credibility will be important.
• Experience of the rail industry and the links between train services, rolling stock and depots is essential.
• Detailed technical knowledge of rolling stock characteristics and contracts is not required but the role requires understanding of the financial impacts of decisions at tactical and strategic levels to ensure the Whole System Strategy genuinely covers all areas.
• The role holder will also be expected to handle and analyse operational and financial data confidently.

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