At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to ensure safe and competent train drivers across Southern and Gatwick Express.
- Company: Join GTR, the UK's largest rail operator, committed to great journeys and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy free travel for you and your family, competitive salary, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with clear pathways for progression and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer journeys while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified train drivers with people management experience and knowledge of the Southern network preferred.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Get your career on track with a team where you can grow, belong and make an impact from day one.
About GTR
Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the UK's largest rail operator, connecting millions of people through Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services. Through our vision of Creating Great Journeys, we are committed to delivering safe, reliable and customer-focused travel, supporting local communities, and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. At GTR, your career is a journey. We offer clear development pathways, progression opportunities and support to help you grow, whether you are starting out or taking the next step in your railway career.
Our Commitment to DEI
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve, creating a culture where everyone feels welcome, respected, safe and able to be themselves at work.
What You'll Do
We have re-evaluated how we can best support our drivers' competency management here at Southern and Gatwick Express. To deliver our best possible service, we need to maximise the availability of competent, safe, engaged and productive train drivers. We will support our drivers by ensuring our management teams are proactive and focused on their development and performance. To do this, our Competency Development Managers and Driver Instructor Development Managers need talented people managers to lead and inspire them. The two Regional Competency Managers hold substantial areas of responsibility across wide geographical areas. You will be based in your own office at Selhurst, but your teams will be located across the 13 driver depots, and you'll ensure that you travel regularly to support all drivers and their managers, within your area. You'll therefore need to proactively manage and engage your CDM/DIDM team across the business by being a visible leader and prioritising the performance of your direct team, so they in turn can drive the performance of their driver teams. Achieving a high degree of personal reputation and engagement with the driver community across Southern is essential to the success of you and your team. This is a significant leadership role, suitable for a conventional working week and not suitable for remote working, as physical availability to drivers and managers is essential. There is a requirement to act as senior second line on-call on a roster for operations.
How you'll make a difference:
- Accountable for the safety performance of all Southern and Gatwick Express drivers in the area team, by leading and managing the allocated Competency Development Managers.
- Ensure all Competency Development Managers and Driver Instructor Development Managers are in competence to undertake all required activities, through regular audit, quality assurance and observation.
- Proactively manage absence within direct team by ensuring deputy arrangements are in place.
- Lead and develop direct team's personal continuous professional development and ensure high standards of engagement with local and business objectives.
- Report on the performance of safety within direct team on a regular basis, identifying operational trends and developing improvement plans.
What You'll Bring
This role is suitable for qualified train drivers with a minimum of four years' driving experience on the mainline railway network. This does not include driving experience on Metro, light rail or preserved railways. Previous demonstrable experience in people development, ideally of managers, is essential. Knowledge of Electrostar fleets and valid route competency on the Southern network is highly advantageous. Competence as an A1 assessor is essential and competence as a V1 verifier is highly advantageous, although training could be supplied to the right candidate.
What We Can Offer You
At GTR, we are committed to supporting our colleagues both professionally and personally. In return for your skills and dedication, we offer a competitive benefits package including:
- Final salary pension
- Free travel on GTR and sister groups for you and your family
- 75% off travel on other train operating companies for you, and leisure for your family
- Discounted Oyster Card
- Family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
- Access to StarHub – our employee benefits platform offering discounts with a wide range of retailers and services
- Career development and progression opportunities across the UK's largest rail networks
- The opportunity to make a real difference to millions of customer journeys every year.
We will keep candidates informed throughout the process and aim to complete hiring decisions in a timely manner. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage. Please refer to the ‘Recruitment Process and Timelines' document attached to this role. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Regional Competency Manager in London employer: GTR
At GTR, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises both professional and personal development. As an Integration Change Lead at our Monument Place location, you will benefit from a competitive salary package, generous holiday allowance, and unique perks such as free travel for you and your family, all while playing a crucial role in transforming the railway experience for millions of customers. Join us to not only advance your career but also to make a meaningful impact in the rail industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Competency Manager in London
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
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✨Get Behind the Wheel of Job Boards
Look for job boards specific to transportation and logistics, like Logistics Job Site or TransportJobs. These platforms often have listings that you won’t find on general job boards, so they’re worth checking out regularly!
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✨Apply Directly with Us!
When you find openings at great companies, make sure to apply directly through our website. It not only shows your initiative but also helps us to help you get noticed by GTR. Every application gets us one step closer to landing that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Competency Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at GTR, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at GTR and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into GTR. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at GTR
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at GTR.
✨Show Off Your Attention to Detail
In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to GTR.
