About DFT Operator
Join Our Team at 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 23,000 employees, runs over 6,000 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 26% of total UK passenger journeys and 30% of passenger miles.
Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR),c2c, Greater Anglia and WMT.
Primary Purpose of Job:
Provide expert guidance on reward and benefits policies, manage complex projects, and collaborate with key stakeholders to promote competitive and equitable reward practices.
The Key Deliverables include:
- Develop a modern Pay and Grading Framework by establishing a fair, consistent and market-aligned pay structure using Korn Ferry reference levels to ensure clarity, equity and organisational coherence.
- Enhance the Employee Benefits Offering by launching a broad and competitive benefits package—including retail discounts, technology schemes, flexible annual leave, dental and fitness options—to increase the overall value of employment and support employee wellbeing
- Implement a Recognition Programme which delivers a structured scheme that celebrates employee contribution through both monetary and non-monetary mechanisms, reinforcing desired behaviours and organisational values.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide expert advice on reward policies, including reviewing, consulting with key stakeholders, managing communications and to meet the needs of the business.
- Work closely with nominated business areas to develop, drive and implement reward strategies, initiatives and solutions that support business objectives and foster a high-performance culture.
- Provide expert advice on executive remuneration, working with key stakeholders to create competitive remuneration packages and adhering to the Department for Transport’s remuneration framework.
- Develop and deliver compelling content tailored to various stakeholders, using a range of platforms such as social media, print, live and recorded presentations, and briefings to effectively communicate key messages and drive engagement.
- Lead on or contribute to major / complex reward projects, as defined by the Head of Reward that align to business objectives
- Lead on the analysis of complex data sets that meet business needs, translating findings and insights into actionable business recommendations, and presenting these to stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner,
- Monitor and manage supplier performance, including delivery times, quality of products and services, and adherence to terms of contracts, and agree corrective actions and improvements when necessary.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:
- CIPD qualified or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence
- Substantial experience in a reward role with a good understanding of core issues and employee benefits
- Knowledge and experience of implementing best practice HR / reward solutions
- Highly numerate with strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data trends and make data-driven decisions
- Proven track record of operating in a complex working environment.
- Experience in engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, employees, trade unions and external partners
- Strong attention to detail and highly developed verbal and written communication skills with ability to provide advice on reward issues.
Vacancy Details:
Duration: 2 year Fixed Term contract/secondment
Location: London Waterloo
Salary: up to £66,000
Closing date: 11th March 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 (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.
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 you have a healthy work life balance.
Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact jason.blakemore@dftoperator.co.uk.
Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.