Operations Manager

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<strong>Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre<br><br></strong>Porterbrook is on an exciting journey at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire, and we're looking for outstanding people to be a part of our team at the 135-acre site.<br><br>We're investing £75m into the future of rail at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre - a major commitment that includes the development of the UK's only continuous test loop. This investment will see the site play a pivotal role in the future of the UK's railway, as an exceptional facility to test and trial new traction technologies, securely store rolling stock and provide training in a live environment.<br><br>The UK's first hydrogen-powered passenger train was built and is being tested by Porterbrook here, and we're also the home of the country's largest outdoor rail exhibition, Rail Live.<br><br>Our small, close-knit and passionate team based at the site ensures that everything runs smoothly across Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre each day, and we have some exciting opportunities to join them.<br><br>The Porterbrook group of companies is wholly owned by supportive long-term institutional investors, fully committed to the future of the UK rail sector.<br><br><strong>About The Role<br><br></strong>A great opportunity for an exceptional Operations Manager, to join the Porterbrook team.<br><br><strong>Role Purpose<br><br></strong>To lead the safe delivery of on-time rail operations carried out at Long Marston RIC (LM RIC) through effective planning and management of the site rail operations team.<br><br>To deliver strong operational leadership and embed a strong safe delivery culture within the rail operations team, ensuring risk-based compliance with relevant operational standards, procedures, and rules at all times.<br><br>To be a highly visible people focused manager, enabling high performance and strong levels of employee engagement to drive continuous improvement and deliver best-in class rail operations.<br><br><strong>Key Responsibilities<br><br></strong><ul><li>Management of the LM RIC rail operations team, ensuring effective utilisation of competent resource to safely deliver rail operations plans</li><li>Development of rosters for the rail operations team, ensuring sufficient available resource to deliver operations plans at all times</li><li>Management of welfare of rail operations team members in line with company procedures</li><li>Lead the planning of all rail operations carried out at LM RIC, ensuring plans are suitably prioritised, and effectively visualised & communicated to the rail operations team and all other affected stakeholders on a daily basis</li><li>Chair daily and weekly rail operations planning meetings</li><li>Work with the Operations Trainer & Assessor to ensure that rail operations team members have the required competence to carry out the full range of their duties and that such competence is maintained at all times</li><li>Work with the Operations Safety & Standards Manager to implement the fatigue risk management system (FRMS) to proactively monitor levels of fatigue within the rail operations team, and enable timely intervention to mitigate associated risk</li><li>Work with the Operations Safety & Standards Manager to ensure that operational standards, procedures, and rules are fit for purpose and are effectively implemented, regularly reviewed, and updated to incorporate best practice</li><li>Carry out operational audits and quality checks to proactively monitor levels of compliance with operational standards, procedures, and rules - and to identify areas of good practice</li><li>Develop and implement a suite of KPIs to enable proactive monitoring of operational delivery performance - delivering or exceeding against agreed targets</li><li>Management of capacity planning within all yards and sidings across the site to support pipeline planning</li><li>Act as the main point of contact for external rail operations customers/ stakeholders and third-party suppliers </li><li>Gain, and maintain depot driving and shunting competence to enable such duties to be performed as a contingency measure as required</li><li>Ensure all operational safety events and near misses are reported and investigated in a timely manner </li><li>Assist the Operations Safety & Standards Manager with the production, review, and update of risk assessments to cover the full scope of rail operations at LM RIC to ensure associated safety risk is managed to a level As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP)</li><li>Ensure operations notices, bulletins, and urgent safety alerts are produced and briefed to all affected parties in a timely manner - and displayed on the operations notice board</li><li>Provide coaching and mentoring to the Operations Team Leader to support continued development and enable robust operations management cover capability during periods of absence</li><li>Responsible for the delivery of operations team actions and recommendations following audit, inspections, and investigation findings</li><li>Attend rail operations meetings with and/ or on behalf of the General Manager - Operations & Safety as required</li><li>Carry out projects as required by the General Manager - Operations & Safety as required</li><li>Source external rail operations support as required <br><br></li></ul><strong>Skills / Experience<br><br></strong><strong>What you'll need to have<br><br></strong><ul><li>Thorough knowledge of training driving, and shunting techniques within depots, yards & sidings</li><li>Previous line management of rail operations teams - including train drivers and/ or shunters</li><li>Formal management qualification (Desirable)</li><li>IOSH Managing Safely (Desirable)</li><li>Trained Accident Investigator</li><li>Personal Track Safety (Desirable)</li><li>Behavioural Based Safety training (Desirable)</li><li>Excellent knowledge of railway operations (Mainline & Depot) </li><li>Conversant with the Railway Rule Book </li><li>Familiar with relevant Health & Safety Legislation and Rail Industry Standards</li><li>Knowledge of ORR guidance document 'Managing Staff Competence - Railway Safety Publication 1'</li><li>Excellent knowledge of non-technical skills in a railway operational environment<br><br></li></ul><strong>It would be great if you also had <br><br></strong><ul><li>Extensive experience in performing rail operations including train driving (mainline & depot), and shunting </li><li>Previous experience in leading/ managing rail operations teams</li><li>Demonstrable experience of delivering a positive and sustaining safe delivery culture in an operational environment</li><li>Excellent verbal and written communication skills</li><li>Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to inspire teams<br><br></li></ul><strong>A great place to work<br><br></strong>People are the heart of Porterbrook. Our close knit team is diverse, supportive and flexible. We have a collaborative work ethic both within the company and with our customers and suppliers. In recognition of this we have been awarded:<br><br><ul><li>Investors in People Gold accreditation</li><li>Investors in People 'We Invest in Wellbeing' Gold accreditation</li><li>National Rail Awards 2023 Fleet Achievement of the Year</li><li>National Rail Awards 2023 Safety Achievement of the Year<br><br></li></ul>These accolades reflect the company's dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees are empowered to thrive.<br><br>To learn more about why Porterbrook is a great place to work please visit our website and follow us on social media.<br><br><strong>Our Benefits<br><br></strong>We are seeking the very best talent to join the team, and offer an excellent salary, along with bonus and benefits. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a great organisation with outstanding people and a road map for the future to grow and develop the business. Some of our benefits are listed below:<br><br><ul><li>1.5x employer contributory pension scheme</li><li>Financial wellbeing support</li><li>Flexible working</li><li>Enhanced family friendly policies</li><li>Adoption & Shared Parental Leave benefits</li><li>Enhanced Armed Forces policies</li><li>Ongoing support with professional and personal development</li><li>Long service awards</li><li>Porterbrook Star awards</li><li>Healthcare cash plan</li><li>25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays + option to buy and sell up to 5 days' additional leave</li><li>Additional days annual leave for long service </li><li>Season ticket loan <br><br></li></ul>Should you be suitable for the role, the full benefits package will be discussed in more detail during your screening call.<br><br><strong>Equal Opportunities<br><br></strong>We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us on our journey.<br><br><strong>Accessibility<br><br></strong>We're committed to helping you perform at your best throughout the recruitment process. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please get in touch with us at recruitment@porterbrook.co.uk We'll be happy to discuss how we can assist.<br><br><strong>To apply<br><br></strong>Please follow the link at the top of this page to send your CV and a covering email with full details of why you would be a great addition to the Porterbrook team, along with details of your current salary and notice period.<br><br>This vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.<br><br><strong>What happens next?<br><br></strong>Once your application has been reviewed, our recruitment team will be in contact.<br><br>Our interview process is typically two stages to ensure a thorough evaluation while providing a chance for you to showcase your skills and fit for our team. This approach allows us to engage in meaningful discussions, assess your qualifications more comprehensively, and ensure a mutual alignment with our company values. If you're ready to take the next step in your career, we look forward to meeting you!<br><br><strong>Our people<br><br></strong>To find out more about our people and partnerships click the following link https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/about/our-people

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