Operations Trainer

Who we are

First Rail London (FRL), part of First Group, is the train operating company responsible for running the London Overground network under a concession agreement with Transport for London (TfL). The eight-year concession commenced on 3rd May 2026. London Overground is one of the capital's most vital and well‑used transport services, connecting millions of customers to work, education and communities across the city. Working in partnership with TfL, FRL strives to deliver improvements for London Overground customers through more frequent services, new trains and improved interchanges, as well as developing stations and lines to meet increasing demand and to support new homes and jobs. FRL is part of FirstGroup, one of the leading rail operators and one of the largest bus operators in the UK. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen to promote the company's vision through driver courses and conversion training. The role will involve delivering and assessing both theory (classroom-based) and practical or on‑site training across a range of operational locations, including Head Office and other company sites, with the requirement to compile training portfolios.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

• Promote the company's vision through the delivery of trainee driver and qualified driver conversion training, including classroom-based, practical, on‑site and simulator-based training, alongside one‑to‑one coaching to support development needs.
• Deliver, assess and quality assure training programmes, compiling and maintaining training portfolios, including progress reports, training evidence and experience logs.
• Operate and assess on Class 378 and 710 cab simulators, delivering structured simulator‑based training to support driver competence and performance.
• Maintain personal occupational competence in train driving, traction knowledge and designated routes.
• Plan, coordinate and manage training activities, including front‑end turns, simulator sessions, visits to signalling centres and specialist training (e.g. fire training), ensuring effective programme delivery.
• Act as the primary point of contact for trainee drivers, providing guidance, support and information, while consistently promoting high professional standards and behaviours.
• Liaise with Driver Managers, Operations Managers and the Operations Standards Manager to provide updates on trainee progress and driver performance, identifying concerns and recommending appropriate remedial actions.
• Monitor driver performance, including post‑incident reviews, and support the development and implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence of sub‑standard performance.
• Work collaboratively with Trade Unions, Driver Representatives and drivers to support business change, improve productivity and implement initiatives through recognised consultation and negotiation processes.
• Engage with Recruitment and HR teams to support the selection, onboarding and training of trainee and experienced drivers, ensuring sufficient resource to meet operational requirements.
• Liaise with Fleet, Customer Experience and Train Care teams to ensure effective cross‑functional working and operational alignment.
• Monitor and support the effectiveness of driver training, assessment and competence management processes, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting continuous development.
• Undertake additional operational and cross‑functional training as required (e.g. dispatch, shunting, yard operations, retrieval from the line), maintaining a broad operational competence.
• Be flexible to work varied hours in line with business needs, including weekends and occasional night shifts.
• Undertake second line on‑call responsibilities as required.
• Maintain personal development by attending relevant training courses and continuous professional development activities.

You’ll need to be:

• Confident and competent to use adult learning styles, an integral component of FRL experienced and inexperienced driver training programmes.
• Someone with a positive outlook, highly organised, and disciplined to deliver training that meets operational and company standards whilst maximising the learning experience.
• Confident to train, mentor and coach senior managerial staff in relevant rules and traction requirements relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

As a minimum you’ll need to have:

• Three years driving experience, ideally having held the position of Driver Trainer / Instructor and possess the relevant training and assessing qualifications equivalent to these roles.
• Competence in all nominated traction and routes relevant to their depot location.
• Strong IT skills, including being computer literate and confident in the use of Microsoft Office applications such as PowerPoint, Word and Excel, to support training delivery, reporting and administration.

About the location

The role is based across several locations, including but not limited to Head Office, Willesden Depot, New Cross Gate Depot and Chingford Depot. You will be working within a team of 5 Operations Trainers.

Working pattern

This is a full‑time 37 hours per week. The core hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

We all belong at FRL. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment. We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent. We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive. We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details. If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please let us know so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.