Depot Manager

TXM Recruit; Bierton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transport service provider in the UK is seeking a Depot Manager to oversee all rolling stock maintenance and depot operations. The successful candidate will drive a transformational culture focused on safety and operational excellence, managing budgets and leading a team. Candidates should have significant experience in traction and rolling stock, with a preference for those with higher-level qualifications. This role requires a strong emphasis on compliance and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in managing traction and rolling stock maintenance operations.
• Demonstrated success in leading cultural change programs.
• Ability to manage budget and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for all rolling stock maintenance and depot operations.
• Develop and execute the depot strategy in alignment with business plans.
• Drive a positive culture change program within the depot.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and railway standards.

Skills

Leadership

Operational excellence

Safety management

Team management

Continuous improvement

Education

ONC NVQ Level 4 or higher

Degree in engineering, management, or relevant discipline

Job description

Depot Manager

Job Purpose

Provide senior leadership for all rolling stock maintenance, servicing, and depot operations at train operating company. Own the strategic direction of the depot, driving a transformational culture shift focused on safety, quality, performance, and operational excellence. Align depot performance with wider business goals while ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and company standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Act as the senior-most authority on site, accountable for achieving all safety, performance, quality, and customer service metrics.
• Develop and execute the depot strategy in alignment with long-term business and fleet plans.
• Provide inspirational leadership, establishing clear expectations, driving accountability, and championing continuous improvement.
• Drive a positive culture change program, embedding proactive safety behaviours, engagement, and collaboration.
• Lead cultural change to embed proactive safety behaviours and promote a high-performance, engaged workforce.
• Ensure safe systems of work are established, maintained, and followed for all depot activities, providing assurance through audits and feedback to individuals.
• Investigate and lead audits, inspections, and investigations to drive compliance, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Manage depot workload delivery to meet maintenance plans, ensuring high-quality output and compliance with standards.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels, skill competencies, and training plans to deliver operational needs now and in the future.
• Own the full depot budget, including staffing, tooling, facilities, materials, and revenue generation opportunities.
• Build strong strategic relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g. Safety Team, HR, Performance, Operations) and external partners (e.g. Network Rail, ROSCOs, contractors, suppliers) to achieve depot and fleet targets.
• Oversee contractor compliance, safety practices, and delivery quality.
• Maintain accurate asset condition data to support asset management planning and long-term fleet performance.
• Support depot improvements by providing input on infrastructure changes from an end‑user perspective.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and railway standards by collaborating with relevant team.
• Chair and represent the depot for local consultations, influence engagement, and negotiation meetings with staff representatives and trade union.
• Undertake general and statutory inspections as required.
• Participate in the engineering on‑call rota, providing senior support for unplanned events.
• Cover other roles in the engineering team, and deputise for Head of Fleet Delivery as required.

Personal Specification

• Essential - ONC NVQ Level 4 or higher.
• Desirable - Degree in engineering, management, or a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience in managing traction and rolling stock maintenance operations, including budget and team leadership.
• Demonstrated success in leading cultural change programs and improving operational maturity.