Ford & Stanley – The Rail Recruitment Experts are recruiting an experienced operations manager with a background in freight/logistics to ensure the smooth day to day running of various hubs across the South of England.

The Opportunity

Working within a recognised Rail Freight Operator, our client is seeking an individual to contribute to the achievement of safe day-to-day UK rail operations. There is an overarching responsibility for the ongoing management and development of the rail operations team, consisting predominantly made up of train drivers and ground staff.

This newly created position is ideal for a man manager who thrives on getting the best from their employees with a passion and vision of delivering health and safety initiatives in a proactive way.

Recognised as a senior figure within the business you will ensure a consistent approach is adopted to ensure best practice policies/procedures are adhered to ensuring robust operational management and control of the UK Rail operations business.

Location: Various sites in South of the UK, Bristol, Southampton, Ipswich, Cardiff, Hereford, Tilbury, Wembley, Reading, Thamesport

Role and Responsibilities:

• Act as strategic business partner to the Rail Operations Director, and the Rail MD, to optimise the UK’s operational performance and strategic position.
• Support the Rail Operations Director and the Rail MD, to develop and implement strategies and measures that optimise rosters to maximise resource and staffing utilisation to reduce costs and inefficiencies;
• Act as the key conduit with the various Rail Trade Unions, ensuring a constructive, open and forward-looking relationship is maintained for the best advantage of the UK Rail Operations function;
• Contribute to the preparation and submission of budgets for the Rail Operations area, as required from time to time;
• Develop and establish operating policies for the UK business, consistent with the Group’s broad policies and objectives, and ensure their adequate execution within Rail Ops.
• Effectively manage the UK Rail Operations team to nurture and develop talent, ensure capable management succession.

The Candidate

Our client is seeking a man manager who has demonstrable operations experience and a willingness to gets hands on with the role. As this is a position in which you will be managing different personalities and working ethics, you need to have compassion whilst ensuring the safe and smooth running of the operations on a day to day basis.

With such, requires a “lead from the front” approach, you will be a key driving figure in maintaining the health and safety of all staff under your reporting line. It is important you can be flexible as well as adaptable as this is a 24-hour operation which means some degree of flexibility is required for the role.

Essentials / desirables

• Rules & Regulations/Railway standards
• NVQ Level 3 competency assessment
• Traction training
• Route risk assessments / Route Briefing
• Training and Briefing
• Data recorder collection and analysis post incident
• Ride assessments (CDP / PQA)
• Manage investigations (SPAD/Collisions/Derailment)
• Strong customer service focus - Good level of commercial understanding, balancing customer and business requirements

Closing Date: 22^nd July 2019

Likely Job Titles: Operations Manager, Route Control Manager, Train Manager, Drivers Manager, Senior Production Manager