Operative, York Holgate Depot

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 your transferrable skills and behaviours and if you can demonstrate that, then we will provide you with all the necessary training to have you working safely and competently out on the network. And if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that recently joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor\\\’s 2021 Best Places to Work. Please Note: If successful, there may be a requirement to work on call in this role.

Overview

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 (also known as the 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. Our 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 difficult 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 in the team

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 provide lookout duties to keep the whole team safe.

What we look for

• 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 so you can 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: Working outdoors in all conditions, and with trains passing close by means you\\\’ll need to remain calm under pressure.
• Following rules and instructions: It is important that you understand and respect the rules, but also feel confident to challenge if you see a situation is unsafe.
• Willingness to learn: You\\\’ll consistently 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: Our operatives work outside in all weathers and so you\\\’ll be comfortable working in different conditions.
• Safe working: Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
• Driving: You\\\’ll also need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.
• Commute times: You\\\’ll need to be within a 60-minute commute of the location you\\\’re applying for.

At Network Rail, we\\\’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you\\\’re not just part of a team – you\\\’re part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We\\\’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments 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 any needs throughout the recruitment process. If you\\\’re ready to make a real difference, we\\\’d love to hear from you!