Job Description

It is not just a celebration, though - it's a commitment to continue delivering a simpler, better, greener railway. Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system.
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7, 365 days a year. From the first passenger railway in 1825 to today's AI-driven predictive maintenance, the rail industry has continuously evolved. Now, as we enter Network Rail's Control Period 7 (CP7), the focus is on modernisation, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
We're passionate about great service and commit to our service equation vision by "Putting Passengers First". Performance, safety and getting the fundamental basics right is something we strive for, as well as asking ourselves - what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do?
Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit for advice on accessibility support.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
28 days annual leave - with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days
Access to a range of contributory pension schemes and the potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train
Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75%
We can offer you a season ticket loan; annual season tickets are discounted.
A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
Hybrid working and enhanced family-friendly support
Take advantage of childcare vouchers, healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
5 days of paid volunteering leave
2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community
Discover more at
Brief Description
The Operations and Customer Services function operates the railway day-to-day. It delivers train paths, timetabling and train movements to enable safe performance and meet the needs of our customers. The function owns and manages our business relationships with the passenger and freight operators and external commercial stakeholders. The functional customer focused organisation provides clear ownership of operating responsibilities for all customers and stakeholders. The area delivery units are the building blocks of engineering and operations excellence.
The Operations Managers role is part of the Area General Manager team. This team is responsible for leading and directing the management of the operations and signalling community in the Route.
Visit the East Midlands page to discover how Network Rail is committed to delivering a safe, reliable, and sustainable railway for everyone in the region -
About the role (External)
As Operations Manager, you'll manage and direct a team of Local Operations Managers in delivering the professional management of the route's operations workforce and provide effective leadership of operational safety and train service delivery.
You'll start the day by reviewing the previous days control log and TRUST incidents in preparation for the morning breakfast conference which focuses on the previous day's train delay and infrastructure incidents. This enables both the route's operations and maintenance teams to discuss and understand the incidents, allowing further actions to be taken where necessary.
The Operations Manager takes the lead for all operational safety within their area of responsibility; carrying out operational assurance checks, compiling and agreeing special methods of working as well as leading and directing the investigations process into safety related incidents.
Do you have....?
Experience of leadership and development of people?
Experience and competence in operational management?
The ability to attain rules and regulations level 2 competency?
The ability to attain Rail Incident Officer?
Experience of dealing with Employee Relations?
The ability to understand financial systems and budgetary tools?
IT skills in relation to report writing, corporate IT packages?
Experience in managing customer needs and requirements?
A full, clean UK driving license?
Are you....?

• A strong leader able to appraise and challenge business decisions?
• Driven and determined to continually strive for improvement?
• A people manager well versed in performance management of a professional team?
• Energetic and charismatic with the ability to engage and influence non financial customers?
• Visionary, a strategist who thinks and operates proactively?

How to apply (External)
: Band 3C 55,596 - 65,966 depending on experience
Closing date: 13th October 2025. Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications may not be accepted.
We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. We pride ourselves on creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourage innovative and fresh ways of thinking. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by .
What does our recruitment process look like?
Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist & the hiring manager will look at your CV.
If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be contacted by our Resourcing Team and invited to an interview.
We're a employer 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 visit 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.
To apply for this role, click 'apply now.
Drugs and Alcohol Standard:
All prospective candidates offered a prospective role 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 drug and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on the 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.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Skills Required