Local Operations Manager - Drivers

Purpose of the role

Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager you will contribute to the delivery of the day‑to‑day UK rail operations.

To lead and manage a designated group of drivers to deliver a high performing workforce in line with Freightliner’s specific standards in safety, performance, and customer service expectations.

To be a highly visible, people focused manager, driving improved employee engagement and results. Line management of drivers dealing with individual performance reviews, apprenticeships, briefings, welfare, disciplinary, grievance and poor performance matters.

There is a requirement to undertake an on‑call commitment with this role.

• Ensure a positive safety culture is developed within your area of responsibility, which is supported by robust safety processes in accordance with company, industry standards and legislation.
• Ensure that all your drivers are trained in emergency procedures for major incident/accident management.
• Ensure that any operating or occupational accidents and incidents involving employees in your reporting line are properly recorded and investigated to a productive conclusion.
• Ensure that safety arrangements are adhered to and protect the health and safety of employees, other rail users, and the public.
• Compliance with your duty to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by yours/their own actions at work.

• Guide, support your team through leadership, teamwork, motivation and involvement.
• Develop and maintain a highly performing and customer focused team of driver staff through effective application of all Freightliner performance management processes and standards. This application should be proactive and reactively risk‑based to deliver continuous improvements in both safety and risk management.
• Ensure that all staff and drivers in your report line receive adequate health and safety training.
• Ensure employees are appropriately monitored and managed to address unacceptable levels of attendance, performance, or conduct.
• Co‑operate with the commercial teams to plan future route learning priorities with special reference to the changeable infrastructure programme.
• Liaise with rosters to ensure efficient use of rostered days at work, minimising dependence on free day working.
• Where required, carry out formal or informal competence development / attendance or disciplinary warnings in accordance with relevant policies, procedures and agreements.
• Ensure that all staff welfare and chain of care issues are dealt with to conclusion in accordance with appropriate policies and standards.

• To ensure the effective delivery of resources to deploy drivers/ground staff to meet the train plan, within allocated budget and within performance and safety standards.
• Ensure that processes are in place to reduce impact minutes, through TOPS/ TRUST, mitigate loco failures and reductions – working in conjunction with your colleagues, Control and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Actively manage, through the drivers and ground staff, effective and timely train performance working in unison with other members of staff to a common aim of minimising late running or delays.
• Ensure that the manpower plan/budget within your area of responsibility is managed proactively and that staff numbers and overtime are managed to budgeted/authorised levels.

• Assign driver mentors to trainee drivers.
• Collate trainee driver hours and provide regular updates/projections on their productivity.
• Liaise with your Regional Operations Manager and group Standards as necessary, in order to ensure that driver and ground staff training is being met consistently and effectively.
• Assist with the delivery of other training activities outside your area of responsibility when required.
• Where required, carry out investigations into operating incidents, including SPADs, accidents, local incidents, staff competence, staff attendance issues recommending and taking actions as necessary and as authorised (e.g. including removal from duties where competence concerns are identified).
• Create competence…