National Operations Standards Manager

Overview

As National Operations Standards Manager, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding and elevating GB Railfreight’s operational excellence. This position is at the heart of ensuring that our practices not only meet, but exceed industry standards and regulatory requirements. You will lead the continuous development of operational procedures, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance across the entire network. Through your expertise, you will drive innovation in safety culture, strengthen regulatory compliance, and deliver measurable improvements that shape the future of GB Railfreight’s operations.

We are looking for an influential and collaborative professional who thrives on driving positive change. In this role you’ll partner with teams across the business and support colleagues to embed best practices, shape robust procedures, champion a culture of continuous improvement and play a key part in strengthening our shared safety culture across the network.

The salary on offer for this role is up to £80,000. A company car will be provided due to the on-call requirements of the role.

Closing date: 8th September. We may close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and ensure compliance with UK rail regulations, such as those from the ORR, Network Rail, and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Champion operational standards that meet regulatory requirements and operational efficiency needs across GB Railfreight.
• Lead the identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational risks to ensure safe and efficient freight operations.
• Drive continuous improvement in operations through feedback, audit results, and best practice sharing.
• Plan, conduct, and oversee internal audits and safety inspections to ensure adherence to standards and identify areas for improvement.
• Act as the primary point of contact for operational standards with external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, customers, and contractors.
• Produce regular performance reports on operational standards, safety compliance, and risk management, and present findings to senior management.
• On-call duties on a rotational basis & requirement to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

Qualifications

Skills and Experience

• In-depth knowledge of UK rail regulations, including those from the ORR, RISQS, ROGS, and Network Rail.
• Proven experience in conducting audits, inspections, and ensuring compliance with national and international safety standards.
• Strong expertise in identifying, managing, and mitigating operational risks in complex, safety-critical environments.
• Thorough understanding of operational safety standards, safety management systems (SMS), and safety case development.
• Experience managing complex projects, including operational changes, safety improvements, and standards development.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with external stakeholders, such as regulators, contractors, and customers.

Personal Profile

• A team-oriented approach, willing to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing regulations, operational needs, and technology advancements within the rail industry.
• A proactive approach to identifying potential issues and implementing preventative measures before they arise.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex standards to diverse audiences.
• Willingness to challenge
• Ability to work with different people
• Passionate about safety & standard

Essential Qualifications

• Qualified train driver
• Mentor & Assessor qualifications

Desirable Qualifications

• Ground staff competence or knowledge
• Instructing and verifying qualifications

Our Values

Professionalism – Safety and security is paramount in our business, and we feel that this embodies the foundation of a high achieving safety culture

Support – We look after our people and they in turn are encouraged to look after each other

Communication – The transparency of our is business is valued by our colleagues and customers

Trust and Empowerment – We believe that openness and honesty make for the best relationship because it leads to trust and confidence

Enjoyment – Taking pleasure in coming to work at GBRf is actively encouraged right from the top

At GB Railfreight we recognise that having a more diverse range of people leads to greater innovation. We want to create a diverse workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds with the aim to have a workforce representative of wider society. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace in line with our values.

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