Business Development Manager Freight

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 watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here .

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!

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 maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer reasonable adjustments to support people with disabilities in accessing, applying, and interviewing for roles.

Brief Description

Anglia Route has an exciting opportunity for someone to identify and develop new Freight Route business and income opportunities in line with our business objectives. The role will develop and own the strategic growth portfolio for freight; building relationships with the Ports on the route and other wider freight stakeholders. This is a great opportunity to support the UK's social and economic growth and contribute to wider sustainability benefits.

The role will also involve developing Rail Freight market intelligence, identifying business development opportunities, exploring and securing new external funding streams, and driving solution delivery.

This position is based in our London Stratford Office and is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity with the potential to be made permanent.

About the role (External)

Every day will be different, but key responsibilities will include:

1. Meet all the commercial development investment targets as agreed by the Principal Programme Sponsor.
2. Identify and develop strong relationships with clients and sector players to achieve mutually beneficial relationships that enable effective project delivery.
3. Develop strategy for the Business Development team that will allow the business to generate third-party funding from wider markets.
4. Undertake analysis and identification of future opportunities that are financially beneficial to the Freight route, obtain funding to develop opportunities, and make detailed recommendations and risk assessments upon these.
5. Work with and advise the Business Development and wider Anglia route team, regional and national teams on any strategy or decision-making relating to the bid process.
6. Identify and engage with potential clients to generate external funding and influence their approach.
7. Identify and develop strategic relationships with sector players that may facilitate future collaborative ventures between both parties.
8. Work closely with the Principal Programme Sponsor to provide specialist advice and guidance necessary to understand and exploit potential opportunities within the market.
9. Maintain processes, systems, and quality standards for the management of market intelligence and market analysis.

We are looking for someone who meets the below criteria:

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent
• Excellent influencing skills
• Proven senior management & leadership experience

It's not essential, but we would love it if you have:

• Previous experience of brand development & management
• Experience in the design and delivery of new rail freight services and/or facilities
• Previous ownership & implementation of high-level international marketing strategies
• Knowledge of Project Management techniques

How to apply (External)

Network Rail encourages applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other relevant factors. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We positively support flexible working, recognizing that employees may wish to balance work and home life.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do; safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should demonstrate their personal dedication to safety in their application!

We follow a structured pay framework: Band 2B: Salary range: £71,163 - £81,661

Please note that this role is a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential to be made permanent.
Closing Date: 9th May 2025

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including:

• 75% off the cost of a season ticket for travel to work
• Inner London allowance of £3,270
• 75% off leisure travel for you and your family
• Flexible working arrangements
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• A choice of contributory pension schemes

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!

We're continuing to build a diverse organisation which is representative of the people we serve. We want to harness the skills and expertise of our people and attract the best talent to enable a safe and accessible railway for everyone. To learn why inclusion is important to us, please click here.