Supervisor Planning – Rail Transport

Rail Innovators Group; Duisburg; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension scheme

Bike leasing

30 days annual leave

Free drinks and fruit

IT equipment and company phone

Professional development

Job summary

Rail Force One Germany in Duisburg is seeking a Supervisor Planning to lead and coordinate the Planning function. You will translate customer orders into feasible train plans and ensure driver capacity while balancing safety, quality and cost. You will develop forward-looking capacity plans and collaborate with Staff Planning, Operations and Rotterdam to ensure a clear handover of planned services. You will monitor KPIs and support employees in a safety-critical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.
• Experience in rail freight, transport or logistics preferred, with leadership exposure.
• Ability to translate commercial requirements into feasible operational plans.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Planning team at Rail Force One Germany.
• Translating customer orders and demand into feasible train and capacity plans.
• Determining driver and locomotive requirements and ensuring sufficient capacity.
• Coordinating with Staff Planning, Operations and Rotterdam for cross-border services.
• Identifying capacity shortages and initiating solutions.
• Using KPIs to monitor planning quality and efficiency; ensure safety and reliability.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Capacity planning

Communication

Data-driven improvements

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

PULL FORWARD. FULL FORCE.

Why you’ll say YES to this role!

• Leadership responsibility for Planning at Rail Force One Germany
• Direct influence on reliable, safe and efficient rail operations
• A varied role connecting customer demand, train planning and capacity management
• International collaboration with the Planning team in Rotterdam
• Scope to drive data-based improvements and more efficient planning processes
• The opportunity to strengthen your team and develop employees

As Supervisor Planning, you will lead and coordinate the Planning function for Rail Force One Germany. You will translate commercial requirements and confirmed customer orders into feasible operational train plans and ensure that the required driver capacity is available. Together with your team and the relevant departments, you will develop forward-looking capacity plans and ensure a clear and reliable handover of planned services to the operational organisation. Throughout your work, you will balance safety, quality, cost efficiency and customer requirements.

Rail Innovators Group, headquartered in Rotterdam, brings together Raillogix, Rail Force One, Railrelease and CWS, covering the entire rail freight value chain – from planning and traction to leasing and maintenance. Rail Force One Germany, based in Duisburg, specializes in freight transport with our reliable train drivers and high-performance trains, ensuring that cargo arrives safely at its destination.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leading and developing the Planning team at Rail Force One Germany

Translating customer orders and transport demand into feasible short-, medium- and long-term train and capacity plans

Determining driver and locomotive requirements and ensuring sufficient, efficiently allocated driver capacity

Coordinating with Staff Planning, Operations, Customer Service and the Planning team in Rotterdam, particularly for cross-border services

Identifying and escalating capacity shortages and operational risks early and initiating appropriate solutions

Prioritising planning activities and ensuring a clear handover of planned services to the operational organisation

Using KPIs to monitor and improve planning quality, efficiency, processes and capacity planning principles

Ensuring safe, reliable and cost-effective planning in compliance with relevant regulations and operational procedures

What you’ll bring to the role:

A bachelor’s-level qualification or an equivalent level achieved through education and relevant professional experience

Ideally, at least three years of operational experience in rail freight, transport or logistics, preferably including leadership responsibility

Experience in operational, capacity or transport planning and an understanding of the interaction between trains, locomotives, drivers and operations

A responsible approach to working in a safety-critical environment; knowledge of German railway regulations and operational requirements is strongly preferred

Strong communication skills in German and English and confidence working internationally; Dutch is an advantage

An analytical, forward-looking and structured approach across the entire operational chain

Decisiveness, flexibility and a solution-oriented mindset, including under pressure

Accuracy, quality awareness and cost consciousness without compromising safety or reliability

A collaborative, customer-focused leadership style and the ability to support and develop employees

What we offer you

Above-average, attractive remuneration and employee benefits such as company health insurance and a pension scheme, capital-forming benefits, bike leasing and much more

A permanent position with 30 days’ annual leave

A workplace in a modern and attractive new building with an underground parking space

IT equipment, including a company mobile phone, as well as free drinks and fruit

A friendly working atmosphere and excellent opportunities for professional development