Driver Manager

FirstGroup Internal; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Driver Manager to lead and inspire a team of Train Drivers. This role focuses on ensuring safety, performance, and high standards while fostering a supportive environment. You will manage daily operations, conduct safety assessments, and maintain effective communication with various stakeholders. With a competitive salary and a range of benefits, this position offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the rail industry. If you have a passion for leadership and safety, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services

Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants

75% discount on many other train operating companies

Full training and support with development

Large range of exclusive retail offers

Excellent pension scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years train driving experience required.
• Strong leadership and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team of Train Drivers, ensuring safety and performance.
• Conduct regular welfare meetings and safety assessments.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Safety Management

Train Driving Competence

Coaching and Support

Education

Train Driving Experience

Tools

CMS Database

Operations Standards Manual

Safety and Health Manual

Job description

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to improve quality of life by bringing people together to get the most out of life.

SWR is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job

The role is required to manage, train,and develop the welfare of your team, by implementing and maintaining the day to day line management, standards and performance criteria for a nominated team of Train Drivers. You will ensure you meet the business objectives and needs, this includes all safety, performance and operating aspects inclusive of all driver assessments programmed or otherwise.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Effectively monitor and manage the CMS database foryour allocated team of drivers, ensuring that all scheduled tasks are undertaken within the scheduled timescales.
• Ensure all Accidents, Incidents and Safety of the line incidents are investigated effectively and within the set timescales. Following the conclusion of investigations, any recommendations that manage the risk and reduce re-occurrences must be initiated.
• Provide effective leadership of the drivers team, working to the highest standards and display the companies Values and Behaviours.
• Undertake regular staff welfare meetingsfor the allocated team of drivers ensuring these are undertaken when scheduled. During the meeting, the post holder is required to focus on personal and company objectives which will enhance engagement with driver team and the business needs.
• The Driver Manager is responsible for ensuring the driving competencies and standards are maintained to a professional and high standard for their team of drivers. There is a responsibility for the Driver Manager to make decisions for the assessment type and any subsequent actions for their allocated team of drivers.

Your Safety responsibilities include:

The role requires the Driver Manager to influence the safety and performance outputs to the benefit of the business as well as the depot.

• You are responsible for the management of the health, safety and welfare of all staff including yourself whilst at work, who maybe affected by your acts or omissions within the areas of your responsibility.
• Ensure that proper safe systems of work have been defined and that any person you are responsible for is aware of these systems.
• Provide adequate information, supervisory instruction and safety equipment (including personal protective equipment), to ensure that all work under your control is carried out safely. All staff under your direction/control must be properly trained and competent to undertake the task required of them.
• You are responsible for the safety of all train movements in so far as you and the staff under your control affect them.
• You are responsible for ensuring that the performance of all safety critical staff under your control is monitored in accordance with the Group Standards.
• You are responsible for ensuring that staff under your control are monitored for signs of ‘stress and/or fatigue', in accordance with the Company Procedures.
• You must ensure that all accidents and incidents are reported and investigated in a timely manner and in any case, in accordance with the Company Procedures.
• The role requires interface with other functions to ensure good communication links are maintained. Typically regular interface through meetings need to be held with the local Network Rail Team. The Driver Managers' team of Drivers and the LOM's (Network Rail), team of Signallers are intrinsically linked in their respective duties. Therefore, these meetings would normally concern safety communications between drivers and signallers.

Additional responsibilities:

• Attend and represent the depot at the local ‘Right Time Railway' group.
• Undertake Safety Communications assessments with Network Rail.
• When required, attend Health and Safety meetings/inspections every three months.
• Process ad hoc leave applications for drivers.

You'll need good knowledge of:

• Operations Standards Manual
• Safety and Health Manual
• Rules and Regulations
• Drivers Terms and Conditions
• A1 Assessor
• TOLO
• OTMR Downloads
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to analyse reports and information.
• Excellent leadership qualities, being able to motivate and inspire Drivers.
• Be able to coach and support staff so that they meet and exceed the requirements of their role.
• Ability to produce accurate reports to tight timescales.

As a minimum you will need:

• Train driving competence (minimum of 4 years train driving experience).

Working pattern

Working on average 37 hours per week across 5 days, including weekends.

Shifts will consist of early, middle and late turns with some nights if required. On call commitment.

The Reward:

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employee
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependant)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Large range of exclusive retail offers
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR.FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/