Data Assistant (Materials & Logistics) - 12 month secondment

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Rail travel subsidies

Pension options

Flexible working

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Data Assistant (Materials & Logistics) on a 12-month secondment based at The Quadrant, Milton Keynes. The role focuses on maintaining the I-Store catalogue, enhancing data quality and supporting the Materials & Logistics team with reporting and lifecycle activities.

Key tasks include managing product descriptions, images, and relationships within Oracle PLM and PADS, while collaborating with stakeholders to improve data integrity and governance across supply chain

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills.
• Excellent analytical, numeric and problem-solving abilities.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience with Product Lifecycle processes.
• Knowledge of ERP and catalogue management systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintain I-Store catalogue accuracy (>160,000 products) with Oracle PLM & PADS.
• Create/modify catalogue items, part numbers and descriptions; manage relationships.
• Upload product images via Oracle Administrator to improve usability.
• Develop relationships with supply chain stakeholders to resolve data issues.
• Support data improvement and lifecycle management to reduce risks and costs.
• Develop reports with Materials & Logistics to monitor performance.

Skills

Excel

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

Oracle PLM

iStore

PADS

Job description

Data Assistant (Materials & Logistics) - 12 month secondment

IRC2366114

Who We Are

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here .

We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us ,whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

Click here to learn about our vision for a simpler, better, greener railway, and here to learn about our approach to safety and how it's at the heart of everything we do. If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

About the role

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway, to learn more, please click here to watch our video.

This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customersmoving - making sure they are on-site when neededso work cango ahead as planned and on schedule.

Vacancy type: This role is 12 month secondment with thepotential to extend or become permanent (unless a suitable redeployee is identified).

Please note that secondments are subject to your line managers approval. Please discuss this opportunity with them before applying to avoid disappointment.

Location: This position is based at The Quadrant, Milton Keynes (3 days per week in the office).

Hours: up to 35 hours per week with hybrid working.

Salary range: £28,545 - £30,000 per annum,depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 1 October 2026. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

At Network Rail you will have a clear development path, access to training and enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as; up to 28 days annual leave, rail travel subsidies, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more. Find out more about our benefits.

Below are some examples of adjustments we can make:

• Changing a provision, practice or 'the way things are done'
  For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed.
• Changing a physical feature of our workplace
  For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.
• Providing extra equipment or assistance
  For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.

There are lots of other adjustments we can consider - please just ask!

The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following.

• Competency Based Interview
• Tour of workplace
• Meet the team
• Task based test - insert specific info on what this will be

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.

Your experience and skills

What are the key accountabilities in this role?

• Maintain the accuracy of the I-Store catalogue (>160,000 products) by delivering consistency with ORACLE PLM & PADS (the rail industry operational & safety critical products approval system).
• Create and amend catalogue item descriptions, part numbers, drawing numbers and set up appropriate product relationships to improve ease of use for customers and data consistency with agreed master data rules for the supply chain.
• Upload and amend product images through Oracle Administrator to make the catalogue easier to use.
• Develop effective relationships with all supply chain stakeholders (customers, suppliers, buyers) as needed to resolve accuracy and ease of use issues effectively, delivering updates to the catalogue which meet the overall requirements of supply chain, not just one stakeholder.
• Implement product life cycle stage to deliver a catalogue which reduces operational risk and costs, this includes support to implementation of range rationalisations proposed by the Asset Teams.
• Work with Materials & Logistics stakeholders to develop and produce reports to support operational management of the department. Analyse data to assist with identification of actions to improve performance.
• Develop and maintain processes for areas of activity to improve team performance and maintain the ISO9001 accreditation.
• Propose and implement data improvement activities and plans through the provision of data analysis and other subject matter expertise; report on data improvement activities as required.
• Develop value add relationships with other report and data specialist teams to provide a central point of contact for Materials and access their support, skills and information efficiently

What are the essential skills and experience we're looking for?

• Highly competent Excel user
• Experienced Microsoft Office user
• Good analytic, numeric & problem solving skills
• Good oral & written communication skills
• High attention to detail & accuracy
• Experience of Product Life Cycle processes (e.g. product Sourcing, Discontinuation)
• Awareness of supply chain processes
• Good interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant work experience e.g. Business Administration, Supply Chain or Business Management
• Expert user level in report and spreadsheet construction, analysis and maintenance.
• Rail Industry parts knowledge
• Ability to understand Bill of Materials concepts.
• Knowledge of ERP and Catalogue Management systems (ideally ORACLE PLM & iStore and the Rail Industry PADS system),

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Fixed-Term

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

The Quadrant:MK, Milton Keynes

Geographical Area:

South East England (Not inside M25)

Closing Date:

01-OCT-2026

Job Category:

Business, Commercial and Project Management

Function:

Route Services

Asset:

SCO - Supply Chain Services

Organisation:

NJ Infrastructure Materials & Operations (618714) G2