HOW YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of fleet production and maintenance activities on a 24/7 basis. Leading production teams and working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, the role focuses on maximising fleet availability, reliability and train presentation while embedding a strong safety culture, delivering contractual KPIs, developing high‑performing teams and driving continuous improvement across all operational and engineering activities.
Role Overview
This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of fleet production and maintenance activities on a 24/7 basis. Leading production teams and working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, the role focuses on maximising fleet availability, reliability and train presentation while embedding a strong safety culture, delivering contractual KPIs, developing high‑performing teams and driving continuous improvement across all operational and engineering activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and inspire the Production team to deliver safe, reliable and efficient fleet operations that meet contractual performance and availability targets.
- Drive a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with quality, environmental and operational standards.
- Manage day‑to‑day production activities to maximise fleet reliability, availability and train presentation.
- Build, develop and coach high‑performing teams through effective leadership, performance management and succession planning.
- Act as the key customer and stakeholder interface for production performance, service delivery and warranty matters.
- Monitor and improve operational performance through KPI management, reporting, root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, optimise maintenance activities and improve operational efficiency.
- Lead investigations into safety, quality and performance issues, ensuring timely resolution and sustainable improvements.
- Foster effective collaboration across operational, engineering and performance teams to achieve business objectives.
- Provide leadership support to the wider site, including deputising for the Head of Location when required and participating in on‑call arrangements.
HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE Experience
- Significant experience within rolling stock maintenance, fleet operations or a large engineering environment.
- Proven track record of leading and developing teams, with at least five years’ people management experience.
- Experience managing production, maintenance or operational activities within a transport, rail or engineering setting.
- Strong background in stakeholder engagement, customer management and cross‑functional collaboration.
- Experience driving operational performance through KPI management, continuous improvement and root cause investigations.
- Demonstrable experience identifying, assessing and mitigating operational and safety risks.
Skills And Qualifications
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop high‑performing teams.
- Excellent decision‑making and problem‑solving abilities, particularly in fast‑paced operational environments.
- Sound understanding of fleet maintenance, production processes and through‑life support principles.
- Strong knowledge of health, safety, quality and risk management practices.
- Ability to analyse complex technical information and translate this into effective operational actions.
- Skilled communicator with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Customer‑focused mindset with a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, 5S and other modern production improvement methodologies.
- Competent IT user with good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering, technical or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Technical and managerial qualification(s) or demonstrable experience operating at a comparable level within a production, engineering or rail environment.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…