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- Tasks: Lead depot operations and drive a culture of safety and performance excellence.
- Company: Chiltern Railways, a leader in rail transport with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £80,000, career development, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the rail industry while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing rolling stock maintenance and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a forward-thinking company with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 64000 £ per year.
Location: Aylesbury
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum
Job Purpose
Provide senior leadership for all rolling stock maintenance, servicing, and depot operations at Chiltern Railways. Own the strategic direction of the depot, driving a transformational culture shift focused on safety, quality, performance, and operational excellence. Align depot performance with wider business goals while ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and company standards.
Key Accountabilities
- Act as the senior-most authority on site, accountable for achieving all safety, performance, quality, and customer service metrics.
- Develop and execute the depot strategy in alignment with long-term business and fleet plans.
- Provide inspirational leadership, establishing clear expectations, driving accountability, and championing continuous improvement.
- Drive a positive culture change program, embedding proactive safety behaviours, engagement, and collaboration.
- Lead cultural change to embed proactive safety behaviours and promote a high-performance, engaged workforce.
- Ensure safe systems of work are established, maintained, and followed for all depot activities, providing assurance through audits and feedback to individuals.
- Investigate and lead audits, inspections, and investigations to drive compliance, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Manage depot workload delivery to meet maintenance plans for Chiltern Railways and other customers, ensuring high-quality output and compliance with standards.
- Maintain appropriate staffing levels, skill competencies, and training plans to deliver operational needs now and in the future.
- Own the full depot budget, including staffing, tooling, facilities, materials, and revenue generation opportunities.
- Build strong strategic relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g. Safety Team, HR, Performance, Operations) and external partners (e.g., Network Rail, ROSCOs, contractors, suppliers) to achieve depot and fleet targets.
- Oversee contractor compliance, safety practices, and delivery quality.
- Maintain accurate asset condition data to support asset management planning and long-term fleet performance.
- Support depot improvements by providing input on infrastructure changes from an end-user perspective.
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and railway standards by collaborating with relevant team.
- Chair and represent the depot for local consultations, influence engagement, and negotiation meetings with staff representatives and trade union.
- Undertake general and statutory inspections as required.
- Participate in the engineering on-call rota, providing senior support for unplanned events.
- Cover other roles in the engineering team, and deputise for Head of Fleet Delivery as required.
Personal Specification
- Essential - ONC NVQ Level 4 or higher.
- Desirable - Degree in engineering, management, or a relevant discipline.
- Significant experience in managing traction and rolling stock maintenance operations, including budget and team leadership.
- Demonstrated success in leading cultural change programs and improving operational maturity.
- Strong understanding of railway safety standards and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent communication skills for engaging effectively at all levels, both internally and externally.
- Analytical skills with the ability to solve complex technical and operational challenges.
- Strong experience with union engagement, chairing meetings, consultations, and negotiations.
- Proficiency with IT systems relevant to fleet maintenance and depot management.
- Commitment to continuous personal and team development.
Depot Manager in Aylesbury employer: Chiltern Railways
Contact Detail:
Chiltern Railways Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Depot Manager in Aylesbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to current Depot Managers or those in similar roles. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own leadership style. Practice common interview questions, especially those related to safety and operational excellence, so you can showcase your experience confidently.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When discussing your past roles, focus on specific examples where you led cultural change or improved performance metrics. Use data to back up your claims – numbers speak volumes and show you mean business!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who can drive transformational change. Make sure your application reflects your leadership skills and commitment to safety and quality – that’s what we love to see!
We think you need these skills to ace Depot Manager in Aylesbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Depot Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing rolling stock maintenance and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can drive cultural change at our depot. We love seeing candidates who can connect their personal values with our mission.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved performance or led successful projects in previous roles. We’re all about continuous improvement, so show us what you’ve done!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chiltern Railways
✨Know Your Depot Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly research the depot's operations and recent developments at Chiltern Railways. Understand their safety standards, performance metrics, and any ongoing projects. This will show your genuine interest and help you align your answers with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully driven cultural change in previous roles. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to inspire teams, promote safety, and achieve operational excellence. This is crucial for a senior role like Depot Manager.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think of scenarios where you've had to manage compliance issues or lead audits. Practising these responses will help you demonstrate your analytical skills and experience in handling complex challenges.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since building strong relationships is key for this role, be ready to discuss how you've engaged with various stakeholders in the past. Highlight your experience with union engagement and negotiations, as well as how you've collaborated with internal teams and external partners to achieve common goals.