Operations Delivery Manager - Rugby in Willington

Location: Rugby

Reporting to: Senior Service Delivery Manager

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and driven Operations Delivery Manager to lead our Traincrew operations at a key Rail Division location. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of rail services, while meeting customer expectations and commercial objectives. You will manage a large team of Traincrew, ensuring they are competent, engaged and available to support 24/7 operations. You will play a key role in driving performance, leading safety and compliance activities, and working cross-functionally to deliver operational excellence in a complex, safety-critical environment.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and managing Traincrew at the location, ensuring high performance and compliance with policies and procedures
• Ensuring sufficient Traincrew capacity, availability and competence to deliver 24/7 service requirements
• Delivering safe, secure and reliable operations in line with regulatory, customer and commercial expectations
• Accountable for service delivery performance against KPIs and business objectives
• Managing relationships with Engineering, Planning, Control and Commercial teams to deliver the operational plan
• Overseeing terminal operations, train flows and third-party activities
• Providing operational on-call cover and responding to incidents when required
• Leading safety management activities, including risk assessments, safety briefings and compliance with safety systems
• Driving the Competence Development Plan (CDP) process in collaboration with Standards and Training teams
• Managing recruitment, performance, development and wellbeing of Traincrew
• Coaching and mentoring team members to build capability and succession pipelines
• Supporting investigations, audits and continuous improvement initiatives
• Driving operational efficiency and cost improvements across service delivery
• Representing the location at internal and external meetings and deputising for the Senior Service Delivery Manager when required
• Championing NTS culture, including Freedom, Helpfulness and Drive, alongside equality, diversity and inclusion

Training & development

At NTS, we support our leaders to grow and succeed:

• Leadership development programmes and professional qualifications (e.g. CILM, CIRO, CIPD)
• Ongoing training in operational delivery, safety management and rail standards
• Development in people management, coaching and leadership capability
• Opportunities to lead transformation and continuous improvement initiatives
• Exposure to senior stakeholders across the Rail Division and wider NTS business

Who we’re looking for

Experience

• Proven leadership experience in a safety-critical, operational environment
• Track record of managing and developing high-performing teams
• Experience working within a regulated environment (e.g. rail, transport, nuclear or similar)
• Experience engaging with Trade Unions, regulators and key stakeholders
• Experience leading change and improving operational efficiency

Knowledge

• Understanding of Traincrew terms and conditions and rail operational standards
• Knowledge of Safety Management Systems and regulatory compliance
• Working knowledge of rail operations, networks and rolling stock (desirable)
• Understanding of performance management and operational KPIs

Skills & behaviours

• Strong leadership and people management capability
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to influence and make decisions in complex environments
• Strong organisational, planning and problem-solving skills
• Commercial awareness and ability to balance cost and performance
• High level of integrity and commitment to safety and compliance
• Resilient, proactive and results-driven mindset
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop others

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 holiday plus 8