Senior Commercial Policy & Negotiation Lead (GBR)

469631 Senior Commercial Policy & Negotiation Lead (GBR)

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 20th July 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London

💷 Salary: National: £57,515; London: £62,034 – A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕘️ Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

🏆️ Available Positions: 1

Lead the strategic design, negotiation and approval for GBR’s non-legislative financial framework; including the tools, delegations and controls required to underpin its financial operation, manage budgetary and financial pressures, pursue opportunities, and deliver meaningful benefits for passengers and taxpayers. Collaborate across DfT, industry (including Network Rail, the ORR and DfTO) and external stakeholders (including UKGI and HMT), to interrogate framework options, inform decision-making, develop a negotiation strategy, and gain support for cross-Whitehall approvals.

Top Responsibilities

Lead the design and approval of GBR’s non-legislative financial framework, chairing cross-government and industry engagement, resolving complex policy and stakeholder issues, setting negotiation priorities, and aligning delivery with the Railways Bill and necessary approvals processes.
Support the successful passage of the Railways Bill through Parliament by leading funding and finance input, managing senior stakeholder relationships across Whitehall and industry, and ensuring the Bill’s funding provisions are effectively developed, understood and implemented.
Lead the next phase of development of GBR’s Integrated Business Plan (i.e. GBR’s future business planning process and how it supports funding), driving cross-industry alignment, securing stakeholder buy-in, and ensuring integration with wider rail reform, existing financial settlement, and DfTO/Network Rail integration.
Ensure the timely and quality development of other workstreams, including but not limited to: insurance and debt.
Support other parts of DfT (RRD, GBR Design, NR Shareholding, NR Sponsorship, Future DfT) as they input work in support of the set-up of GBR.
Lead a team consisting of x2 SEOs. Ensure their wellbeing, provide mentoring/coaching and leadership, solve problems on the team’s behalf. Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
Access to the staff discount portal.
Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

Significant rail industry experience, with strong negotiation skills and a proven track record of leading complex policy development across commercial, operational and financial areas.
Experience leading through change and uncertainty, demonstrating resilience and the ability to support teams to adapt and thrive within a fast-paced and evolving environment, particularly in the context of Rail Reform.
Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working collaboratively with senior leaders across organisations such as DfT, HM Treasury and Network Rail to drive outcomes and build consensus where differing views exist.

Essential qualifications/licenses

A valid passport for international travel
A full UK driving license

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

How to Apply

👉 Read the full description and apply here: https://bit.ly/44lz4RW

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Monday 20^th July 2026