Lead IT Business Partner at East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is a proud One Team, passionate about safety, customer delight, ethical practices, and a sustainable railway. With over 2,600 employees, our people drive our success, and the IT team plays a crucial role. Nine times accredited as a Top Employer and Gold accredited for Inclusive Employers Standards, we value our employees and their authentic selves.

Lead the Digital Evolution of East Midlands Railway

We seek an experienced and strategic Lead IT Business Partner to bridge technology and business. This role will shape EMR’s IT service delivery, supporting business transformation.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will own the business-IT relationship, ensuring our technology roadmap drives value, supports our people, and propels us forward.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor and IT representative for EMR’s senior leadership team.
• Build strong relationships with directorates to understand operational needs and future plans.
• Lead business engagement, ensuring IT strategy and services align with corporate goals.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of IT Business Partners.
• Foster a high-performing culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Technology Roadmap & Change Governance

• Own the EMR IT roadmap and drive the Digital Change Board process.
• Translate business needs into technology solutions, ensuring feasibility, scalability, and value.
• Manage initiative prioritisation based on business benefit, readiness, and resource availability.

Programme Support & Service Improvement

• Partner with PMO, IT Operations, and external suppliers for successful project delivery.
• Champion service improvement initiatives and identify opportunities for innovation.
• Track customer satisfaction and provide insights for service enhancements.

Risk & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure alignment with ISO standards, GDPR, and EMR’s data governance framework.
• Identify and mitigate technology risks, ensuring services remain secure and compliant.

What You’ll Bring

• Significant experience in senior IT business partnering or stakeholder engagement roles.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, ideally with team-building experience.
• Proven track record in supporting large-scale change, systems transformation, or technology integration.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
• A clear understanding of technology lifecycles, enterprise architecture, and service delivery frameworks.
• Rail industry experience is desirable, but not essential.

Why East Midlands Railway?

We’re committed to using technology to improve the experience of our customers and colleagues. You’ll be a key voice in shaping our digital future—working alongside a passionate team where your ideas and leadership will make a tangible impact.

At EMR, we proactively embrace diversity and recognize underrepresentation of females and ethnic minority groups. We’re taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture; we welcome applications from those who identify with these groups.