Section Manager - Ashford Old Railway Works

This is a role with huge responsibilities. Accountable for managing a section of the rail network, you'll manage and develop a large maintenance team. You'll drive safety and efficiency across diverse works.

About the role (External)

In this key role, you will be accountable for managing a section of the rail network. Leading a large maintenance team, you will enjoy significant responsibilities. Managing in-house teams and contractors alike, you'll make a vital contribution to the success of our ambitious plans. From signalling to track and electrification, you'll proactively direct the work of teams delivering inspections, renewals and maintenance of diverse infrastructure assets. You'll be personally responsible for planning, inspecting and implementing important tactical works. This is role is operational and there will be an element of on call and out of hours contact needed.

Championing safety as a top priority, you'll have the authority to recommend any necessary renewals. Managing budgets and driving engagement and development across the team, you'll see that work is consistently delivered to performance, cost and quality targets.

Due to the importance of your role, we'll expect you to respond to issues that arise, even when off duty.

· Experience of managing the production and delivery of a comprehensive and compliant work programme

· Able to demonstrate, promote and embed safe working behaviours within the team

· Able to coach, influence and develop others

· Knowledge of discipline-specific maintenance, inspection, faulting and renewal techniques

· Able to lead and implement change and improvement initiatives

· Excellent communication and influencing skills, both in person and in writing

· Comfortable working shifts including days, nights and weekends

Desirable Criteria

· Hold or be working towards an NVQ level 3 or 4 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or have attained an appropriate level of knowledge through equivalent relevant experience

· Able to promote and demonstrate safe working behaviours

· Knowledge of budget management and cost/waste control processes and techniques

· Able and willing to drive vehicles as required by business need

This role involves days, nights and weekend working, and is a safety critical role so subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment., 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

At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.

We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don't always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.

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.

The Sussex route, which includes the Brighton Main Line and its branch lines, is among the busiest and most congested in the country, carrying just under 4,000 scheduled passenger and freight services each day.

Principally a commuter route to and from London, the route is critical to the regional and national economy, transporting high volumes of travellers from the south coast to the capital, as well as Gatwick Airport, the country's second busiest international airport and a key gateway to the United Kingdom.