Head of Digital Transformation

Position: Head of Digital Transformation (Permanent)
Candidate Opportunity Brief

Position:
Head of Digital transformation

Reporting to:
Managing Director

Confidentiality:
Open. No requirement for confidentially

Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading Executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors:

Rail & Transportation
Civils & Construction
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Technology & Cyber Security
Logistics & Intermodal Freight
Defence
Our search directors, search consultants and in house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest level of organisational leadership and management.

Our success is based upon a blend of trust-driven relationships, robust market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the best possible alignment of organisational need with experience and personal ambition.

Working with business leaders on bespoke assignments for over a decade, we understand exactly what our customers expect from an executive search and talent advisory service – whether there is a pressing business need for an executive interim or that of a long-term permanent appointment - Ford & Stanley Executive Search provide the solution.

We have been exclusively appointed by our client on a retained search for a Head of Digital Transformation.

Below you will find a ‘Candidate Opportunity Brief’ developed from notes taken during the scoping meeting (Situational Discovery) held between the Head of Executive Search & Senior Consultant + and Key stakeholders.

This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification

Client Company Overview

We are continuing to expand its UK footprint through new fleet deliveries, long- term maintenance contracts, and digital fleet-performance initiatives, creating clear opportunities for partners who can support operational efficiency, workforce capability, and service reliability. As We grows its network of depots and services centres, there is increasing demand for specialists’ technical talent, scalable maintenance support and solutions that improve asset availability and reduce lifecycle cost.

This creates a strong opening for organisation that can provide high-quality engineering resource, training, and operational support aligned to our long- term service agreements with UK operators.

We are commitment to sustainability modernisation and customer focused rail services also opens opportunities for collaborations in areas such as digital transformation, predictive maintenance, and workforce development. With multiple net fleets entering service and ongoing refurbishment programmes, We requires partners who can deliver flexible staffing models, projects delivery capability

Challenges expected within the first 12 months include:

Unifying digital, IT and cyber functions into one coherent operating model.
Embedding major transformation programmes (Digital Depot + SAP) without disrupting operations.
Driving cultural and behavioural adoption of new digital processes across a regulated, engineering‑heavy organisation.
Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

Establish a clear UK digital transformation roadmap with governance, priorities, and milestones.
Implement an integrated digital & cybersecurity framework, including an upgraded ISMS aligned to ISO
27001.
Deliver early, measurable improvements in system stability, cyber resilience, and digital service performance.
Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

A Degree or relevant discipline within (IT, Systems, Cyber Security, Software, Data or Electrical Engineering)

Experience of working with and toward ISO
27001

Proven experience in leading an IT, digital, Cyber Security or transformation functions in a complex, regulated technical environment

Experience of OT or transport related digital systems

Skilled in leading IT operations, incident response, service delivery, and ensuring system stability and scalability.

Proven ability to maintain, evolve, and audit an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Essential Soft Skills…