Lead Planner (Access)

Lead Planner (Access)

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.

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.

The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.






Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

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

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

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

· GWR ticket alliance - Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (20 passes per year)

· 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.

· A range of Pension schemes to choose from

· Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working and enhanced family friendly support.

· 5 days paid volunteering leave.

· 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

· 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.

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

Brief Description







To lead the development and integration of a safe, efficient and robust Route Engineering Access plan, supporting the delivery of the Route Strategic Business Plan. Minimise financial exposure and resolve access conflicts through industry engagement and consultation.

About the role (External)

Key Accountabilities

1. Lead the development of the Route Engineering Access plan, safely integrating all access, isolations, protected paths and Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs) requests into the Route plan in accordance with all relevant standards.

2. Lead and direct the coordination of Work Deliverers to resolve access conflicts and deliver a safe, optimised and robust engineering access plan, safeguarding overall Route safety and performance.

3.





Lead and control the late change process so that all proposed changes can be delivered safely and are compliant with all relevant standards. Make prioritisation decisions within designated authority, escalating as required.

4. Optimising access opportunities to deliver financial efficiencies, including Schedule 4&8 impact of the options available to deliver work, making proposals accordingly as required.

5. Develop, manage and promote excellent relationships with all key internal and external stakeholders.

6. Provide leadership, management and direction to the planning team, acting as a role model through coaching and mentoring, to develop and enhance team performance.

7.





Deliver compliance through competency assessment systems to maintain a competent planning team.

8. Promote a proactive continuous improvement culture, sharing knowledge and best practice across the industry.

9. Support Route and National functions in the development of industry communications and media in connection with engineering work.

10. Lead and validate the provision of planning information for the Route.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

· Able to lead a team and motivate team members

· Experienced and skilled in leadership and development of people

· Proven ability in building organisational capability through the development and implementation of processes and business disciplines







· Proven ability to engage with customers and build collaborative relationships with stakeholders at a senior level

· Good negotiating skills and ability to make objective decisions

· Able to work under pressure within a continuous planning process

· Able to evaluate complex factors and make decisions to maximise benefit to Network Rail

· Good communication skills and a customer focussed approach

· Knowledge of relevant railway geography and network capability

· Knowledge of relevant train services and network capacity

Knowledge of isolation Planning Process

Desirable

· Understanding corporate governance e.g. procurement rules

· Understanding of company's obligations in relations to ORR

· Understanding railway industry structure and responsibility







· Experience of investigatory skills (Root Cause Analysis)

How to apply (External)

£46,701 - £52,538 per annum.

Closing date: 1st November 2024

Interviews to be held in Reading at our APEX office on Wed 20 November & Thurs 28 November & Tues 03 December

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.

Click 'apply now' to apply.

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.

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 include within your application.

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

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.

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.

▶️ Lead Planner (Access)
🖊️ Network Rail
📍 Thames Valley