Technical Strategy Lead
Job title: Technical Strategy Lead
Salary: Up to £85,000.00 (dependant on experience)
Grade: Pay Band 4
Contract type: TfL Reference: 4932
Team: Technical Strategy & Governance Directorate: TfL Engineering & TfL Asset Strategy
Contract details: Permanent Location: Stratford / Southark / Hybrid
Application closing date: Friday 14th of August at 23:59
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
*Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.
Overview of role
This role is responsible for directing the development of technical strategies across TfL to enhance business performance and inform long-term asset planning. Working in collaboration with subject matter experts, the role sponsors research, development, and technological innovation to address key organisational challenges.
Operating at a strategic level, the post holder defines and coordinates the future technical direction for all TfL assets within the governance of Engineering & Asset Strategy. This includes setting a long-term vision over a 10–50 year horizon, anticipating technological change, and ensuring TfL is positioned to adopt emerging solutions that optimise asset performance, resilience, and value.
Key Accountabilities
- Develop long-term strategies for the next-generation assets (e.g., signalling, power systems, cooling solutions) working closing with Engineering teams and other industries and organisations for best practice in relation to the deployment of innovative technological solutions and asset technical strategies
- Identify and prioritise organisational challenges requiring technical solutions through defining and coordinating the development of future technical strategy for engineering assets ensuring adoption across projects and reducing technical costs year-on-year.
- Monitor emerging technologies (AI, quantum computing, automation) and carryout external benchmarking against industry best practices (e.g., Network Rail, global rail operators).
- Consolidate input from heads of profession and technical disciplines and articulate technical strategies to the business to secure stakeholder buy-in.
- Build partnerships with third parties for trials and innovation projects and explore joint ventures and commercial collaborations.
- Sponsor research, development and innovation, prioritising strategies that deliver measurable cost, safety, and sustainability benefits. Aligning strategies with capital plans and producing clear benefits profiles for all initiatives.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Skills
- Skilled at engaging senior leaders, technical experts, and external partners to gain buy-in and alignment.
- Strong capability to frame complex challenges, identify options, and drive innovative solutions.
- Ability to bring together diverse inputs from heads of profession, technical disciplines, and external organisations.
- Excellent written and verbal skills to clearly present technical strategies and challenges to non-technical audiences.
- Ability to evaluate emerging technologies, benchmark practices, and assess feasibility of solutions.
Knowledge
- Understanding of transport infrastructure assets (e.g., signalling, power systems, cooling solutions).
- Awareness of emerging technologies such as AI, automation, quantum computing, and their application in transport.
- Familiarity with approaches used by other major transport organisations (e.g., Network Rail, global rail operators).
- High-level understanding of safety, reliability, and compliance requirements in transport engineering.
Experience
- Proven experience in developing and implementing technical or asset strategies.
- Experience coordinating across multiple technical disciplines and business units.
- Track record of working with external partners, suppliers, or research institutions on innovation projects.
- Experience managing complex programmes or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
- Exposure to introducing new technologies or solutions within a large organisation.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.
Benefits
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:
Final salary pension scheme
Free travel for you on the TfL network
Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home
30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
Discounted Eurostar travel
Vetting Process
At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.