Network Delivery Manager x2 - Cardiff

Network Rail; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff travel discount

Rail season tickets subsidy

Pension schemes

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Job summary

Network Rail in Wales and Western region is recruiting to deliver a safer, more reliable and punctual service. You will manage the daily train plan, lead safety-focused operations and act as Gold Command during major incidents. The role combines leadership, strategic decision-making and stakeholder coordination in a hybrid-work setting.

Salary band 3C (£55,596 - £67,813 per annum, plus 20% operational allowance). 35 hours weekly with extensive staff benefits and potential for progression.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading teams within a control, logistics or operations environment.
• Strong strategic decision-making capability.
• Good negotiating skills and ability to make objective decisions.
• Able to manage conflict, influence others and work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the safe delivery of the daily train plan during normal operations and disruptions.
• Act as Gold Command for major incidents or severe disruptions and manage the major incident room.
• Lead safety management of line incidents and ensure reporting per standards.
• Develop and apply contingency plans to minimise delays and cancellations for customers.
• Lead the development of process integration within the control environment for improved operations.
• Manage sensitive operational and security documentation and information.
• Ensure up-to-date operational and safety policies and procedures are maintained.

Skills

Leading teams

Strategic decisions

Negotiation skills

conflict management

Job description

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. Now is a fantastic time and join our team in Wales and Western region as we finalise the reforms to our maintenance organisation which will deliver:

• A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees - quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.
• Individual rostering - enabling us to send the right number or people to fix a fault.
• Multi-skilling - investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.
• Accelerated and improved technology deployment - we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.

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 your part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions. Watch our video to find out more!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor's 2021 Best Places to Work.

You’ll manage the delivery of the daily train plan within the control to meet the differing needs of rail industry customers. You’ll maintain relationships with train operators and other key industry partners to minimise the impact of any disruption to both the timetable and passenger journeys and other customer operations.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to

• Lead the safe delivery of the daily train plan both during normal running and disruptive events and in the management of Very Short-Term Planning activity.
• In the event of a major incident or severe disruption to the service, act as Gold Command to provide strategic direction to control and other response personnel and set up and manage the major incident room.
• Lead the management of safety of the line incidents in accordance with safety standards and statutory requirements.
• Lead the control team dissemination of safety critical and other information and introduce and maintain a system of recording operational safety and performance incident information in accordance with the relevant company standards, procedures, and statutory requirements, to provide safety, performance and management reporting information at the required frequencies.
• Manage the development and application of appropriate contingency plans in times of disruption, to minimise delays and cancellations to customers.
• Lead incident reviews giving appropriate consideration to customer needs, Network Rail andtrain operatorspositions and establish a system to monitor and review the implementation ofrecommendations and the effect on future performance.
• Lead the development of process integration within the control environment, to develop more effective approaches to management of the train plan, incidents, and provision of customer information.
• Contribute to development and maintenance of up to date operational and safety policies and procedures, relating to train service delivery, control of operations and control personnel.
• Manage the integrity of sensitive operational and security documentation.

Pay and Rewards

Salary: This role is a band 3C, £55,596 - £67,813 per annum. (plus 20% operational allowance).

35 hours a week .

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 (48 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, flexible working, flexible leave,and enhanced family friendly support.
• 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.

Closing date: 2nd October 2026 Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 19 October, consisting of a competency based interview (including technical & safety questions) and a presentation.

This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, s hould you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by [e-mail].

Your experience and skills

You will ideally have

• Experience of leading teams within a control, logistics or operations environment
• Experience of strategic decision-making
• Good negotiating skills and ability to make objective decisions.
• Able to manage conflict, influence others and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of Network Rail and Train Operating Companies within the Route and the key aspects of their business
• Knowledge of Train Operator performance regime and targets
• Understanding of operational rules and regulations
• Good geographical knowledge of applicable Route
• 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 within your application.

What could set you apart

• Previous experience of working within a safety critical communications environment
• Geographical knowledge of adjoining Routes

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.

Key Information

Number of Positions:

2

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

Geographical Area:

Closing Date:

02-OCT-2026

Job Category:

Operations

Function:

Organisation:

EF Head of Control - Indirect (894901) G5