Location
London, GBDepartment Name
CQ STME Croydon Indirect (871501) G1About Network Rail
Join the Southern Region – where your work truly matters.
Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day. This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key—and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail. From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.
Brief Description
🚦 Section Manager – Signalling: Lead the Future of Rail Safety! 🚦
Location: Streatham S&T Depot
Salary: Starting from £64,291 - £68674
Hours: Full-Time
Shift Pattern: Days, Nights & Weekends (Safety-Critical Role)
This is a role with huge responsibilities. As Section Manager – Signalling, you'll be accountable for managing a section of the rail network and leading a large maintenance team. You'll drive safety, efficiency, and performance across signalling works, making a vital contribution to the reliability and safety of the railway.
Managing both in-house teams and contractors, you'll oversee inspections, renewals, and maintenance of signalling assets. You'll also take ownership of planning, inspecting, and implementing tactical works. This is an operational role, so you'll need to be flexible with on-call duties and out-of-hours contact.
Championing safety as your top priority, you'll have the authority to recommend renewals, manage budgets, and ensure work is delivered to performance, cost, and quality targets. Due to the importance of your role, you'll be expected to respond to issues even when off duty.
About the role (External)
🌟 What you'll do
· Manage the production and delivery of a comprehensive and compliant signalling work programme.
· Lead and develop a large maintenance team, embedding a culture of safety and performance.
· Oversee inspections, maintenance, faulting, and renewal of signalling assets.
· Plan and implement tactical works, ensuring compliance with standards and procedures.
· Manage budgets, resources, and contractor performance.
· Drive engagement, development, and continuous improvement across the team.
· Respond to operational issues promptly, including out-of-hours emergencies.
✅ What you'll need
· Experience managing the delivery of complex signalling maintenance programmes.
· Ability to demonstrate, promote, and embed safe working behaviours.
· Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, influence, and develop others.
· Knowledge of signalling maintenance, inspection, faulting, and renewal techniques.
· Ability to lead and implement change and improvement initiatives.
· Excellent communication and influencing skills, both verbal and written.
· Comfortable working shifts, including days, nights, and weekends.
✅ Even better if you have
· NVQ Level 3 or 4 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or equivalent experience.
· Knowledge of budget management and cost/waste control processes.
· Ability to promote and demonstrate safe working behaviours.
· Full driving licence and willingness to drive as required.
⚠️ Important Information
This is a safety-critical role, which means you'll need to pass a medical assessment and be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Flexibility is essential as the role involves working days, nights, and weekends.
🎁 Perks That Pack a Punch:
· We offer excellent benefits, including:
· 🌞 Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
· ✨ Defined benefit pension scheme.
· 🚂 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
· 🚂 Up to 75% off leisure travel.
· 🌍 Flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
· 🕊️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.
· Carer's leave to support those who matter.
· ❤ Healthcare Scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.
· 🧸 We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees.
· Plus, more….
🌈 We're All About Inclusion
· We believe diversity drives innovation. Whoever you are, however you identify, wherever you're from — if you've got the skills and the spark, we want you on our team. No suits required. Just bring your authentic self.
How to apply (External)
Location: Streatham S&T Depot
Salary: Starting from £64,291 - £68674
Hours: Full-Time
Shift Pattern: Days, Nights & Weekends (Safety-Critical Role)
Closing date: 24th April 2026 - late applications will not be accepted.
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Network Rail Benefits – To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Please note the recruitment process for this role is a Competency based interview.
Click ‘apply now' to apply. -
We're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone!
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visitEvenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.
Network Rail Benefits – To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.
Drugs and Alcohol Standard:
All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced