Area Driver Manager

Area Driver Manager (New Street)

Final date to receive applications: 24 June 2026

Department: Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Birmingham New Street

Reporting To: Head of Drivers

Compensation: £88,497 / year

To lead and manage a team of Driver Managers to deliver train safety, performance, service reliability and customer satisfaction.

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Driver Managers, ensuring they effectively manage and assess the competency of Drivers.

Work closely with the Head of Train Crew to agree business and performance targets, creating actionable plans to achieve objectives.

Cascade performance goals through regular meetings, monitoring progress and driving continuous improvement.

Foster a positive working environment
, managing employee relations processes and promoting engagement as measured by employee surveys.

Maximise driver productivity by overseeing attendance, disciplinary processes, and ensuring timely delivery of route and traction knowledge.

Manage recruitment and onboarding of staff as required.

Take responsibility for on-call duties, incident management, and command responsibilities (including TOLO).

Ensure full compliance with safety standards and competence assessments for all staff.

Implement recommendations from incident and accident investigations
.

Collaborate with the Head of Drivers to design and deliver customer service improvement plans based on SQMS and NPS feedback.

Develop and implement employee engagement initiatives informed by survey results.

Maintain effective two-way communication channels
, including safety brief compliance.

Manage budgets, prepare forecasts, and contribute to strategic business cases and projects
.

Support the delivery of wider company objectives and strategic initiatives
.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of West Midlands Trains operations and regional geography
  .
• In-depth knowledge of Driver rules, regulations, and terms & conditions
  .
• Familiarity with safety and quality standards within a rail environment.

Skills

• Proficient in the use of computer applications and digital tools
  .
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  , with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
• Strong planning and organisational skills
  , able to prioritise tasks for self and others.
• Confident in data analysis, problem-solving, and delivering practical solutions
  .

To ensure continuity and an effective delivery of service, successful candidates will be required to commit to a minimum 14-month period in role after achieving competence. This also includes existing colleagues who move by internal promotions and transfers. This time allows our future colleagues to support personal career development by allowing time to build strong knowledge and expertise.

• A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
• Free travel on all London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
• 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
• 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
• A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
• Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing
• Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
• A retail discount portal- offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.