Operations Planner (Long Marston)

Porterbrook; Derby; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking dedicated individuals to join their innovative team at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. This role involves creating and managing train movement plans to ensure safe and efficient rail operations. You will work closely with a passionate team, balancing resource allocation and communicating with various stakeholders. With a strong emphasis on planning, problem-solving, and collaboration, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the future of the UK's railway. Join a supportive organization that values your growth and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

Financial wellbeing support

Flexible working

Enhanced family friendly policies

Adoption & Shared Parental Leave benefits

Enhanced Armed Forces policies

Ongoing support with professional development

Long service awards

Life assurance

Healthcare cash plan

25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays

Qualifications

• A level or equivalent experience required.
• Knowledge of train planning systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Create train movement plans for safe and efficient rail operations.
• Communicate plans effectively to all stakeholders.
• Monitor and manage daily service delivery.

Skills

Train Planning

Stakeholder Collaboration

Planning and Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Communication Skills

Computer Literacy

Flexibility under Pressure

Education

A level or equivalent

Tools

TRUST Train Planning System

Job description

Application Deadline: 25 April 2025

Department: Long Marston

Location: Warwickshire, Long Marston

Description

Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre
Porterbrook is on an exciting journey at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (RIC) in Warwickshire, and we're looking for outstanding people to be a part of our team at the 135-acre site.

We've made huge investments here that will see Long Marston RIC play a pivotal role in the future of the UK's railway, as an exceptional facility to test and trial new traction technologies, securely store rolling stock and provide training in a live environment.

The UK's first hydrogen-powered passenger train was built and is being tested by Porterbrook here, and we're also the home of the country's largest outdoor rail exhibition, Rail Live.

Our small, close-knit and passionate team based at the site ensure that everything runs smoothly across Long Marston RIC each day, and we have some exciting opportunities to join them.

Key Responsibilities

Role Purpose
To be responsible for the creation of train movement and stabling plans to enable on-time safe delivery of all rail operations undertaken at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre – maximising site utilisation, and optimising resource allocation.

To ensure train movement plans are effectively communicated to all affected stakeholders (internal & external) to ensure priorities are aligned and agreed, and minimise short notice requests.

To support the Operations Manager to address peaks and troughs in the overall workload for the operations team.

Responsibilities

• Develop train movements plans to enable optimised safe delivery of all rail operations undertaken at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre – ensuring peaks and troughs are balanced
• Support the Operations Manager with resource allocation, balancing train driving, shunting, and training & competence requirements
• Implement robust arrangements for the communication of train movements plans to all affected parties (internal & external) to ensure priorities are aligned and agreed, and minimise short notice requests
• Attend weekly planning meetings to enable the train movements plans to be created, and to ensure priorities are aligned and agreed, and to minimise short notice requests
• Work with the Operations Manager to ensure no conflicts between test track and non-test track train movements
• Produce daily work schedules for train drivers and shunters
• Monitor fatigue risk profiles of operations team members to enable proactive intervention by the Operations Manager where tolerable thresholds approach exceedance
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders (incl. Train Operators, and Network Rail) to ensure mainline arrivals and departures are included within train movements plans – with hours of site access agreed by all parties, and arrangements in place to minimise 'out of hours' access
• Ensure the site stabling plan is kept up to date at all times, to enable available capacity to be visualised, and future requirements modelled
• Liaise with other Porterbrook departments to ensure a coordinated and controlled approach to the access of trains stabled on site, and that the appropriate permits are issued
• Undertake real time monitoring of daily service delivery, informing the Operations Manager of any delays which could prevent full delivery of the plan (i.e. delays due to train failure, late mainline running, infrastructure defects etc)
• Ensure track restrictions and speed restrictions are clearly identified on the operations planning board and are communicated to all affected parties
• Produce key performance indicators to enable monitoring of train service delivery
• Support the Operations Manager with additional operations team activities as required

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

General Requirements

• A level or equivalent level of experience

Knowledge

• Knowledge of a Train Planning system and TRUST (Desirable)
• Experience in working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience in planning and problem solving to deliver objectives

Key Skills

• Ability to work flexibly to strict timescales and under a high degree of pressure
• Well organised with a strong attention to detail
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to plan and deliver activities to deliver business objectives
• Ability to exercise sound judgement with good sense of controls
• Computer literacy

A great place to work

We are seeking the very best talent to join the team, and offer an excellent salary, along with bonus and benefits.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a great organisation with excellent people and a road map for the future to grow and develop the business. Some of our benefits are listed below:

• Excellent pension scheme
• Financial wellbeing support
• Flexible working
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Adoption & Shared Parental Leave benefits
• Enhanced Armed Forces policies
• Ongoing support with professional and personal development
• Long service awards start at 1 year, with an additional day of annual leave every 5 years. You'll also receive a generous gift for these milestones
• Porterbrook Star awards
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• 25 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays + option to buy and sell up to 5 days' additional leave
• Additional days annual leave for long service
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking at our Derby and Long Marston sites

Should you be suitable for the role, the full benefits package will be discussed in more detail during your screening call.

To apply

Please follow the link at the top of this page to send your CV and a covering email with full details of why you would be a great addition to the Porterbrook team, along with details of your current salary and notice period.

If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please let us know. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone can develop to their full potential.

This vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.

Please note we are not accepting approaches from recruitment agencies for this role.