Rail Systems Operations Director

This is Worldline. We are the innovators at the heart of the payments technology industry, shaping how the world pays and gets paid. The solutions our people build today power the growth of millions of businesses tomorrow. From your local coffee shop to unicorns and international banks. From San Francisco to Auckland. We are in every corner of the world, in every part of commerce. And just as we help our customers accelerate their business, we are committed to helping our people accelerate their careers. Together, we shape the evolution.

The Opportunity

Worldline MTS (Mobility and e-Transactional Services) provides end-to-end digital transactional services leveraging our products, data, and payment for a stronger customer engagement. We support our customers’ digital transformation with the creation of innovative solutions, leveraging our products and similar experiences across sectors, and committing on joint business cases. Inside MTS, the “Transport and Mobility” pillar has objectives to facilitate powering journeys and movement worldwide, connecting people whilst prioritising customer satisfaction and social empowerment of our people. The Transport and Mobility pillar covers the following segments:

• Transport Operations: delivering The Time Promise, by connecting the right operational people to the right assets at the right time, to enable an on-time railway.
• Transport Retail: connecting people to transportation systems to improve their daily lives.
• Mobility Orchestration: Integrating transport modes to make MaaS a reality.
• Settlement and Specialist services: providing large scale critical platforms to keep transport on the move.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Director to join our senior management team and lead the strategic direction and operational excellence of our rail-focused transport operations team, with a key focus on product development and its integration into our services. You will have a global perspective and the ability to navigate complexity, while also demonstrating excellent people skills to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and locations.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive operational strategy for rail transport, aligned with the company’s overall business objectives and incorporating the development and implementation of innovative software solutions. Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the rail sector, leveraging technology to enhance service offerings. Stay abreast of industry trends, regulations, government policy and best practices, particularly within the UK rail network and emerging technologies relevant to the sector. Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Network Rail, rolling stock providers, software development partners, and other industry leaders. Develop opportunities outside of the UK to develop our international presence in Operational Rail.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee all aspects of the Transport Operations teams within Worldline, directing them to deliver solutions that ensure that our customers are able to operate their railway safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all relevant regulations. Support and encourage innovation, utilising new and emerging technologies to develop the systems of tomorrow, helping our clients to meet their obligations to the travelling public. Manage and optimize resource allocation, including both people and infrastructure. Develop and implement robust performance management systems to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and drive continuous improvement across operational and software development teams. Lead and motivate a team of operations managers, software development professionals, and support staff in key onshore, nearshore and offshore delivery sites, fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and high performance. Monitor Customer Satisfaction with Rail Operations, and ensuring that action is taken as necessary to maintain delivery of high quality services to our customers.
• Software Development and Delivery: Provide strategic direction for the scheduling and prioritisation of work across the team, ensuring that customer deliveries and R&D activities are delivered in parallel in line with company targets and strategic objectives. Take overall responsibility for the delivery and service processes, compliance with industry norms and best practice, including ITIL and DevOps. Provide strategic direction for the development and implementation of software solutions in line with the strategic aims of the group. Stay informed about the latest advancements in software development methodologies and technologies relevant to the rail industry & ensure that these are incorporated as appropriate in the group strategy.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage operational budgets, encompassing both operational expenses and software development costs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability. Identify and implement cost-saving measures without compromising safety or service quality. Analyze financial data and prepare reports for senior management, providing insights into both operational and software development investments. Deliver growth in line with company targets, focusing both nationally and internationally for opportunities.
• Safety and Compliance: Champion a safety-first culture throughout the organization, ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations, particularly in relation to software development and implementation. Develop and implement robust safety management systems and procedures, incorporating software solutions to enhance safety protocols. Investigate incidents, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions, including software updates and improvements.

Who Are We Looking For

We look for big thinkers. We are looking for people who can drive positive change and support our growth ambition. In practice this means:

• Personality: Committed and engaged. Curious, open-minded, and a strong drive for finding solutions. Global thinking with the ability to navigate complexities in an international organisation. Excellent people skills to collaborate effectively with customers, partners and across the internal organisation.
• Management: Inspiring Leadership: as a team, reach incredible achievements because a team is more than the sum of individuals. P&L accountability: be able to view opportunities and the current operating position from a financial accountable perspective. Balanced between supporting growth revenue and continuous improvement.
• Market and Business Knowledge: Extensive experience in the UK rail industry, including both operational management and software development initiatives. In-depth knowledge of UK rail regulations, safety standards, and emerging technologies.
• Technology: Enthusiasm for new technologies and the ability to understand their potential business impacts on the transport market. Familiarity with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web 3.0, SoftPos, and other relevant platforms.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English is essential.

Apply now and become a part of our exciting journey to transform the future of our transport systems. Shape the evolution. We are on an exciting journey towards the next frontiers of payments technology, and we look for big thinkers, people with passion, can-do attitude and a hunger to learn and grow. Here you’ll work with ambitious colleagues from around the world, take on unique challenges as a team, and make a real impact on society. With an empowering culture, strong technology and extensive training opportunities, we help you accelerate your career - wherever you decide to go. Join our global team of 18,000 innovators and shape a tomorrow that is yours to own.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or any applicable legally protected characteristics.