Planning Manager

If you're looking for an opportunity to shape a brand-new operation, lead a sizeable team, and influence the future of rail freight planning, this is a role that offers genuine strategic impact from day one.

As part of a new regional Service Delivery Centre in Swindon, you'll lead both the Planning and Rostering teams, bringing together two functions that have historically operated separately and creating a more integrated, efficient, and collaborative approach to service delivery.

This is far more than a traditional planning management role. You'll have overall responsibility for planning outputs that span from long-term timetable development and industry negotiations through to weekly train plans and traincrew resource allocation. You'll play a vital role in ensuring freight services are delivered safely, reliably, and cost-effectively while supporting the successful launch of the new Service Delivery Centre.

You'll be joining at an exciting time of transformation. The business is looking for a leader who can build capability, challenge convention, develop people, and drive continuous improvement. You'll be trusted to influence how planning and rostering functions operate, while establishing a culture focused on accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

For experienced rail planning leaders looking to take ownership of a critical business function and leave a lasting impact, this is a rare opportunity to help build something from the ground up.

Planning & Rostering Leadership: Lead the Planning and Rostering teams, ensuring the successful delivery of long-term, short-term, and weekly planning outputs that support customer and operational requirements.

Team Development: Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team while fostering collaboration, accountability, and strong working relationships across the Service Delivery Centre.

Contractual & Industry Management: Lead negotiations and planning activities relating to track access, timetable development, network changes, and wider industry planning processes.

Operational Improvement: Drive efficiency, optimise resource utilisation, and challenge existing processes to improve operational performance and commercial outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement: Develop strong relationships with customers, Network Rail, operational teams, industry partners, and trade union representatives to support successful service delivery.

Rail Planning Expertise: Significant experience within train planning, resource planning, rostering, or planning management environments within the rail industry.

Industry & Contractual Knowledge: Strong understanding of Network Code requirements, track access contracts, timetable planning processes, and wider rail industry governance.

Leadership Experience: Proven experience leading large operational teams, developing capability, and driving performance through others.

Change & Continuous Improvement: Comfortable challenging convention, implementing new ways of working, and driving operational efficiencies.

Negotiation & Stakeholder Management: Experience negotiating within regulated or contractual environments and influencing internal and external stakeholders.

People Leadership: Able to engage, inspire, and bring people on a journey while creating a positive, accountable, and high-performing culture.

Location: Swindon

Working Pattern: Site-based, Monday to Friday.

Travel: Occasional travel required for industry meetings, stakeholder engagement, depot visits, and wider business requirements.

Salary: £65,000

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

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Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or…