Group Head of Data and Insights

About 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. 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 Group Head of Data and Insights is responsible for setting and delivering DFTO’s group‑wide data and insight strategy, ensuring that high‑quality, trusted and timely data is used to inform decision‑making, improve performance, and deliver better outcomes for passengers, taxpayers and government. The role leads the development of DFTO’s enterprise data capability across corporate and operating companies, embedding consistent standards for data management, analytics, insight and governance. With the transition towards Great British Railways already underway, the role plays a critical part in bringing greater coherence to industry data and insight, influencing joined‑up approaches across organisational boundaries. It is instrumental in shaping and guiding DFTO’s group‑wide data and insight strategy as public ownership expands, shared services mature, and the rail system moves towards a more integrated, whole‑system operating model. The postholder will work closely with DFTO executives, TOC leadership teams, DfT, Network Rail and sector partners, acting as the senior authority on data and insight and championing a culture of evidence‑based decision‑making across the Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define, own and deliver the DFTO Group Data and Insights Strategy, aligned to DFTO’s business plan, government data strategy and preparations for GBR. Position data as a strategic organisational asset, balancing transparency, accessibility, innovation and control in a complex, public‑sector environment.
• Data Governance, Quality and Assurance: Establish and maintain robust group‑wide frameworks for data governance, data quality, metadata, lineage, ethics and compliance, working closely with security, information governance and data protection leaders. Ensure consistent standards and assurance across DFTO and TOCs, enabling comparability, trust and auditability of data used for management, operational and policy decisions.
• Insight, Analytics and Performance: Lead through influence a federated insight and analytics capability across DFTO and the TOCs, supporting and guiding embedded analysis functions to deliver high‑quality, decision‑ready insight for management and operational stakeholders. Coordinate and influence group‑wide approaches to forecasting, benchmarking and performance insight, working with multiple analysis teams to ensure consistency, comparability and practical use in decision‑making.
• Enterprise Data Platforms and Enablement: Work in partnership with the CIO, Architecture and Technology teams to shape requirements for enterprise data services, integration, reporting and analytics tooling. Drive adoption of common, scalable approaches that reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and enable self‑service insight where appropriate.
• Leadership, Capability and Culture: Build, lead and develop a high‑performing multidisciplinary data and insight function, including analytics, engineering, insight and data management roles. Improve data literacy across DFTO and TOCs, supporting leaders and teams to confidently use data and insight in their day‑to‑day work and strategic decisions.
• Stakeholder Engagement and System Leadership: Act as DFTO’s senior data and insight representative with DfT, Network Rail, RDG and other public‑sector partners, contributing to sector‑wide alignment and collaboration. Provide expert advice to DFTO executives and boards on data‑related risks, opportunities and investment choices, particularly during organisational change and TOC transitions.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications

• Essential: Significant senior‑level experience leading data, analytics or insight functions in a complex organisation. Proven track record of defining and delivering enterprise‑wide data strategies that improve decision‑making, performance management and organisational outcomes. Strong understanding of data governance, data quality, information management and ethical data use, including relevant standards and legislation. Experience operating at executive and board level, with the ability to communicate complex data issues clearly to non‑technical audiences and influence senior stakeholders. Demonstrable leadership capability, including building teams, developing talent, and leading through ambiguity and change. Experience working across federated or group structures, with multiple operating entities and legacy systems. Familiarity with modern analytics, data platforms and emerging techniques (e.g. advanced analytics, AI‑enabled insight), with a pragmatic understanding of their risks and benefits in the public sector.
• Desirable: Knowledge of transport, infrastructure or large‑scale operational environments, or experience supporting major organisational transitions or mergers.

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong judgement and a focus on outcomes rather than outputs.
• Highly credible leader able to build trust with technical specialists and senior non‑technical stakeholders alike.
• Comfortable operating in complex political, commercial and delivery environments, balancing pace with assurance.
• Clear commitment to public‑service values, integrity, and evidence‑based decision‑making.

Organisational Context:

Reporting to the Group CIO, this role operates at senior leadership level across DFTO and works closely with DFTO business units, TOC leadership and analysis teams, and industry partners including Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group and the Department for Transport. The role will have direct line management responsibility for a small engineering team.

Vacancy Details:

• Duration: 2‑year FTC
• Location: London Waterloo
• Salary: up to £126,300
• Closing date: 16th June 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 days (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.