Operative

Overview

Maintenance to keep the railway running safely and smoothly for passengers and freight users. Our operative community comes from a variety of different backgrounds, and this might be the first time that you\\\’ve considered a career in rail. We\\\’re focused on transferable skills and behaviours, and if you can demonstrate them, we will provide the necessary training to work safely and competently on the network. If you make the grade, you can look forward to a rewarding career with a company that recently joined the top 50 in Glassdoor\\\’s 2021 Best Places to Work. Please note: if successful, there may be a requirement to work on call in this role.

About the role

Operatives can specialise in a range of disciplines, but for this role you\\\’ll become a specialist in Track. You\\\’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing the track network (Permanent Way or P-Way) to keep the railway safe and efficient. This is a very manual role, as you\\\’ll be working with rails, sleepers and ballast that support the trains, together with their associated drainage and ancillary structures.

Your operatives work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day or night. You\\\’ll be involved in demanding manual work, often with the need to transport kit across tricky terrain. Being safety focused, respectful of rules and a team player will be critical as you\\\’ll often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed.

Your role and values

The team depends on you. You\\\’re the one who shows up first and leaves last, who makes sure the van and equipment are checked and ready for every shift, and who drives the team from site to site. Every day you\\\’ll support your team in maintaining equipment and will provide lookout duties to keep the whole team safe. Your commitment to self-development and continuous learning is hugely important; we\\\’ll provide training to develop both technical and non-technical skills. If you\\\’re joining from another industry, structured training will give you the skills and confidence to move into a rewarding career in rail. Today\\\’s operatives are tomorrow\\\’s technicians and team leaders, and we offer a clear career path.

Your skills matter

• Team-working — our maintenance teams depend on each other and you\\\’ll work closely with the team to deliver safe and efficient work delivery.
• Communication — you\\\’ll have good communication skills to work safely and effectively.
• Proactive planning — being punctual, having the van and equipment ready, and anticipating the needs of the team are essential to keeping our passengers and freight moving.
• Working under pressure — outdoors in all conditions, with trains passing close by, you\\\’ll need to remain calm under pressure.
• Following rules and instructions — it\\\’s important to understand and respect the rules, but also feel confident to challenge when a situation is unsafe.
• Willingness to learn — you\\\’ll continually develop your skills and competencies relevant to your discipline, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures, and instructions.

Additional information

• Shifts — Operative roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights, and weekends.
• Outdoor working — Operatives work outside in all weathers, so you\\\’ll be comfortable in different conditions.
• Safe working — offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks, including a hearing and eyesight examination.
• Driving — A valid driving licence (category B) is required to drive Network Rail vehicles.
• Commute times — You\\\’ll need to be within a 60-minute commute of the location you\\\’re applying for.

Equal opportunity and diversity

At Network Rail, we\\\’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. We\\\’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we\\\’ll do everything we can to accommodate needs throughout the recruitment process. If you\\\’re ready to make a real difference, we\\\’d love to hear from you!