Job Description

At Network Rail, we\'re part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network.

Now is a fantastic time and join our team in Wales and Western region as we finalise the reforms to our maintenance organisation which will deliver:

\xc2\xb7 A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees - quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.

\xc2\xb7 Individual rostering - enabling us to send the right number or people to fix a fault.

\xc2\xb7 Multi-skilling - investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.

\xc2\xb7 Accelerated and improved technology deployment - we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We\'re an organisation where people matter. When you\'re part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.

About our people and the recruitment process - We\'re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor\'s 2021 Best Places to Work.

We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone.

Brief Description

You\'ll help keep our nation moving every single day. This is a critical part of the work we do is the daily upkeep of the rail network.

As an operative you\'ll work outdoors in a small team, supporting essential 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 even 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.

About the role (External)

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 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.

You matter to your 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 will provide lookout duties to keep the whole team safe.

Your skills matter

Our operatives play a key role in our maintenance teams. You don\'t necessarily need rail experience, but you do need to show how your transferrable skills meet the following:

\xc2\xb7 Teamworking Our maintenance teams depend on each other and you\'ll be able to work closely with the team to deliver safe and efficient work delivery.

\xc2\xb7 Communication You\'ll have good communication skills so you can work safely and effectively.

\xc2\xb7 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.

\xc2\xb7 Working under pressure Working outdoors in all conditions, and with trains passing close by means you\'ll need to remain calm under pressure.

\xc2\xb7 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.

\xc2\xb7 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.

It matters that this is the right role for you

Here\'s some additional information which might help you:

\xc2\xb7 Shifts - Operative roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights, and weekends.

\xc2\xb7 Outdoor working - Our operatives work outside in all weathers and so you\'ll be comfortable working in different conditions.

\xc2\xb7 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.

\xc2\xb7 Driving - As an operative you\'ll also need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.

\xc2\xb7 Commute times - You\'ll also need to be within a 60-minute commute of the location that you\'re applying for.

You matter to us

Your commitment to self-development and continuous learning is hugely important in this role and we\'ll provide you with all the training to develop both technical skills and non-technical skills. If you\'re joining us from another industry, the 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 for you.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

\xc2\xb7 Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.

\xc2\xb7 A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.

\xc2\xb7 Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.

\xc2\xb7 Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, with hybrid working, flexible working, and family friendly support.

\xc2\xb7 5 days paid volunteering leave.

\xc2\xb7 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

\xc2\xb7 In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

How to apply (External)

Salary: Maintenance Grade role.

Some on call may be required at times

Network Rail Benefits -

Closing date: 14th August 2023.

Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.

The assessment process will consist of a competency and technical interview

Click \'apply now\' to apply.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. Click here for more information.

Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words for us. We\'re constantly striving to make sure we provide a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. We recognise that certain groups are under-represented within our team and we\'re working closely with our regional diversity and inclusion networks to make sure we support these groups as best as we can.

Network Rail is a and we\'ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit for advice on accessibility support if you\'re unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

Network Rail