At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the optimisation of materials for our rail fleet and enhance maintenance performance.
- Company: Join a leading global provider in safe and reliable nuclear transport solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, hybrid working, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: We value potential and attitude just as much as experience.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on rail operations while developing your skills in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in rail vehicle maintenance and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Crewe / Carlisle / Motherwell
Reporting to: Reliability and Continuous Improvement Engineer
About the role
We are looking for a Technical Materials Lead to play a critical role in ensuring the availability, reliability and optimisation of materials across our rail fleet. You will be responsible for maintaining accurate and standardised Bills of Materials (BOMs), managing critical spares, and supporting reliability improvements through data-driven insights. Acting as a key interface between Engineering, Procurement and suppliers, you will ensure materials are sourced efficiently, comply with regulatory standards, and support safe and reliable rail operations. This role is central to improving maintenance performance, reducing downtime and enabling continuous improvement across the business.
What you'll be doing
- Ensuring availability of critical spares to support planned maintenance and reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
- Owning the accuracy and completeness of Bills of Materials (BOMs) for rail vehicles, aligned to maintenance schedules and overhauls
- Acting as the link between Engineering, Procurement and Material Handling teams to enable effective material sourcing
- Building strong supplier relationships to mitigate supply chain risks and secure critical components
- Monitoring reliability trends and analysing component performance to identify recurring issues
- Supporting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) by sharing data on usage, lead times, and costs
- Managing warranty processes, including claim validation and recovery from suppliers
- Optimising inventory levels using reliability data and implementing Just-In-Time (JIT) or critical spares strategies
- Developing and maintaining obsolescence strategies, including alternative sourcing and redesign options
- Driving continuous improvement by identifying better materials, suppliers or processes
- Providing cost insights to support business cases for reliability and performance improvements
- Ensuring compliance with UK/EU legislation, rail standards and company processes
Training & development
At NTS, we are committed to supporting your growth and development. This role includes:
- Core safety training (e.g. Fire, Manual Handling)
- Systems training (ERP systems, SharePoint, HR systems)
- On-the-job training in maintenance systems, asset management and inventory processes
- Opportunity to work towards Lead Auditor certification (ISO 9001 / 14001)
- Exposure to continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma
Who we're looking for
Experience
- Experience in rail vehicle maintenance or a similar engineering environment
- Proven track record of improving processes in technical or operational settings
- Experience working with supply chains, procurement processes and supplier management
- Strong stakeholder engagement experience across multiple functions
Knowledge
- Engineering maintenance practices and reliability principles
- Analytical techniques for performance and reliability monitoring
- UK/EU regulatory frameworks and rail industry standards (e.g. RISAS, ISO)
- Inventory management, obsolescence planning and lifecycle management
- Continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma)
Skills & behaviours
- Strong data analysis and reporting skills (e.g. Excel, Power BI)
- Excellent communication and influencing skills
- Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail
- Commercial awareness and ability to support cost-based decisions
- High standards of integrity, safety awareness and compliance
Why NTS?
At NTS, our people are trusted to perform, supported to grow and encouraged to be curious and innovative. We create an environment where you're given the freedom to do your job well, the support of a strong team, and the opportunity to help shape the future of safe and reliable rail operations.
The Kind of People We're Looking For
We're interested in who you are, not just what's on your CV. You're likely to thrive at NTS if you:
- Take ownership of your work and enjoy being trusted to deliver
- Are collaborative, approachable and naturally supportive of others
- Care about doing the right thing, in the right way
- Are curious and motivated to learn, improve and grow
- Communicate openly and act with integrity and respect
- Are comfortable working in a purpose-driven, safety-critical environment
You don't need to tick every box on day one - we value potential, attitude and alignment with our culture just as much as experience.
Benefits
- 30 Days holidays plus 8 bank holidays
- Buy / Sell annual leave
- Health shield
- Nuclear Pension scheme
- Hybrid working
- Family friendly
- Bonus
The company
We are the leading global provider of safe, secure and reliable nuclear transport solutions that make the world safer and more sustainable. As part of the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, we support the largest environmental restoration programme in Europe, and we use our specialist transport and logistics expertise to help customers and partners around the world solve their own complex challenges.
Locations
Technical Materials Lead - Crewe / Carlisle / Motherwell employer: Nuclear Transport Solutions
At NTS, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that empowers our employees to take ownership of their roles. With a strong commitment to professional development, including opportunities for training in safety, systems, and continuous improvement methodologies, we ensure our team members are equipped to thrive in a dynamic environment. Located in Crewe, Carlisle, and Motherwell, we provide a meaningful career path in the rail industry, alongside competitive benefits such as generous holiday allowances, hybrid working options, and a focus on family-friendly policies.
Contact Details:
Nuclear Transport Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Materials Lead - Crewe / Carlisle / Motherwell
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
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We think you need these skills to ace Technical Materials Lead - Crewe / Carlisle / Motherwell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Nuclear Transport Solutions:This is your chance to really connect with the team at Nuclear Transport Solutions. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nuclear Transport Solutions
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with Nuclear Transport Solutions.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show Nuclear Transport Solutions that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at Nuclear Transport Solutions. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!
