Join Network Rail and play a key role in safely delivering the daily train service across the Wales & Western route. This senior operational leadership position is responsible for managing service delivery, responding to disruption, leading incident management and working closely with industry partners to keep passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently.
- A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees – quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.
- Individual rostering – enabling Network Rail to send the right number or people to fix a fault.
- Multi-skilling – investing in the knowledge and skills of their people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.
- Accelerated and improved technology deployment – Network Rail have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.
Their passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything they do. They help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. Network Rail are an organisation where people matter. When your part of their team, you matter to them and you matter to millions.
About their people and the recruitment process – Network Rail are an inclusive employer of choice and they welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor’s 2021 Best Places to Work.
We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here
About the role
Overview
You’ll manage the delivery of the daily train plan within the control to meet the differing needs of rail industry customers. You’ll maintain relationships with train operators and other key industry partners to minimise the impact of any disruption to both the timetable and passenger journeys and other customer operations.
Your Main Responsibilities will be to
- Lead the safe delivery of the daily train plan both during normal running and disruptive events and in the management of Very Short-Term Planning activity.
- In the event of a major incident or severe disruption to the service, act as Gold Command to provide strategic direction to control and other response personnel and set up and manage the major incident room.
- Lead the management of safety of the line incidents in accordance with safety standards and statutory requirements.
- Lead the control team dissemination of safety critical and other information and introduce and maintain a system of recording operational safety and performance incident information in accordance with the relevant company standards, procedures, and statutory requirements, to provide safety, performance and management reporting information at the required frequencies.
- Manage the development and application of appropriate contingency plans in times of disruption, to minimise delays and cancellations to customers.
- Lead incident reviews giving appropriate consideration to customer needs, Network Rail and train operators positions and establish a system to monitor and review the implementation of recommendations and the effect on future performance.
- Lead the development of process integration within the control environment, to develop more effective approaches to management of the train plan, incidents, and provision of customer information.
- Contribute to development and maintenance of up to date operational and safety policies and procedures, relating to train service delivery, control of operations and control personnel.
- Manage the integrity of sensitive operational and security documentation.
Pay and Rewards
Salary: This role is a band 3C, £55,596 – £75,348 per annum. (plus 20% operational allowance).
35 hours a week.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
- Privileged staff travel – Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
- A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
- GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
- Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
- A range of Pension schemes to choose from
- Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and enhanced family friendly support.
- 5 days paid volunteering leave.
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
- In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.
To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here.
Closing date: 2nd October 2026 Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 19 October, consisting of a competency based interview (including technical & safety questions) and a presentation.
This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week.
We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by contacting Hayley.Bird@networkrail.co.uk.
Your experience and skills
You will ideally have
- Experience of leading teams within a control, logistics or operations environment
- Experience of strategic decision-making
- Good negotiating skills and ability to make objective decisions.
- Able to manage conflict, influence others and work under pressure.
- Knowledge of Network Rail and Train Operating Companies within the Route and the key aspects of their business
- Knowledge of Train Operator performance regime and targets
- Understanding of operational rules and regulations
- Good geographical knowledge of applicable Route
- 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 within your application.
What could set you apart
- Previous experience of working within a safety critical communications environment
- Geographical knowledge of adjoining Routes
Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.
Contact Details
- Name: Hayley Bird
- Email: Hayley.Bird@networkrail.co.uk
- Web: www.networkrail.co.uk/
