East Midlands Railway (EMR)
IT Business Systems Manager
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking IT Business Systems Manager to lead a high-performing team of IT System Specialists. This is a key leadership role within our Systems, Applications and Data function, acting as both a people manager and technical authority.
You will shape and govern enterprise IT solutions, ensuring they align with business needs, digital strategy, and enterprise architecture standards. You will influence solution design across major programmes, ensuring robust, secure, and future-ready systems.
You will also maintain a hands-on element of system development, supporting delivery and providing expert guidance across complex IT landscapes.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading, managing, and developing a team of IT System Specialists
- Reviewing and assuring technical designs to ensure compliance with IT standards and strategy
- Supporting the Systems, Applications and Data team in shaping and delivering technical solutions
- Maintaining IT systems strategy, roadmap, standards, and architecture governance
- Overseeing technical requirements gathering and translating business needs into solution designs
- Managing system dependency maps, architecture diagrams, and technical documentation
- Providing input into programme planning, resource tracking, and workload prioritisation
- Producing technical scopes, implementation plans, and BAU transition materials
- Working closely with IT Business Partners, Project Managers, Infrastructure, and Service Delivery teams
- Identifying and mitigating technical risks across projects and programmes
- Engaging with suppliers and reviewing product roadmaps to ensure alignment with standards
- Ensuring system designs are scalable, secure, and aligned to future business needs
About You
You are a strong technical leader who combines architectural expertise with excellent people management skills. You are comfortable operating as a bridge between technical teams, suppliers, and senior business stakeholders.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience with system implementation and upgrades
- Experience working on multi-disciplinary, complex IT projects
- Strong understanding of enterprise technologies (e.g. data centres, enterprise storage, cloud platforms such as Azure and/or AWS)
- Ability to define technical standards and govern solution design
- Managing vendors and third-party providers
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including non-technical audiences
- Excellent organisational and time management abilities
- Experience producing technical documentation, roadmaps, and design artefacts
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Desirable
- Degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience)
- ITIL, PRINCE2, Agile, or similar management qualification
- Experience within the rail or transport sector
- Software development background
- Knowledge of enterprise integration and data architecture
Why Join Us?
You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our IT landscape, driving innovation and ensuring our systems are robust, secure, and aligned to business strategy. This is a high-impact leadership role with visibility across major programmes and stakeholders.
As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:
- Defined benefit Pension scheme
- Free standard leisure travel on the EMR network and Train Operating Companies under Abellio & LNER
- Friends and Family discounted tickets on the EMR network
- 75% discount on national leisure travel (inc partner and dependants)
- Up to 32 days annual per year
- …and many more!
