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- Tasks: Lead rolling stock maintenance and depot operations, driving safety and performance excellence.
- Company: Chiltern Railways, a leader in rail transport with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, 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 maintenance operations and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Join us to drive cultural change and enhance operational maturity in a supportive setting.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
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.
Responsibilities
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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 employer: Chiltern
Contact Detail:
Chiltern Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Depot Manager
✨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 employees at Chiltern Railways. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Understand what makes Chiltern Railways tick and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see you shine, so practice answering common interview questions and have some examples ready that showcase your leadership and operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Mention something specific from the interview to remind them of your conversation. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows you’re genuinely interested in the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Chiltern Railways. So, get your application in and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Depot Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in rolling stock maintenance and leadership. We want to see how your skills align with our depot's strategic direction and culture shift.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, share examples of how you've driven cultural change and engaged teams in previous roles. We love to see candidates who can inspire and lead a high-performance workforce!
Highlight Compliance Knowledge: Since safety and compliance are key for us, be sure to mention your understanding of railway safety standards and any relevant regulatory experience. This will show us you’re serious about maintaining high standards.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chiltern
✨Know Your Depot Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the strategic direction of the depot and how it aligns with the overall goals of Chiltern Railways. Be ready to discuss how you would develop and execute a strategy that drives safety, quality, and performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to provide inspirational leadership and drive cultural change. Think about specific instances where you've established clear expectations and championed continuous improvement in your previous roles.
✨Understand Compliance and Safety Standards
Brush up on railway safety standards and regulatory requirements relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance and maintain safe systems of work at the depot, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Prepare to share your experiences in engaging with teams, contractors, and unions, as well as how you would chair meetings and influence negotiations effectively.