Operations Standards Manager - South West

GB Railfreight Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare package

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Online benefits portal

Electric vehicle scheme

Regular social events

Training and development programmes

Annual leave 25 days

Job summary

GB Railfreight is seeking an Operations Standards Manager to lead competence standards for regional operational staff. The role involves post-incident investigations, training, assessments, and producing detailed reports to ensure GBRf and industry standards are met.

The position is partly mobile across Bristol, Cardiff and Cornwall with a flexible schedule. Responsibilities include onboarding new entrants, training needs analysis, and participating in regulatory forums.

Qualifications

• PTS qualification required.
• European Train Driving Licence holder with freight train driving competence.
• Clean safety record.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Thorough knowledge of rail industry rules and regulations.
• Good IT literacy.
• Proven leadership/management ability.

Responsibilities

• Deliver training and development reviews with the Risk & Compliance Manager.
• Maintain competence of safety critical operational staff in PTS, rules and regulations.
• Ensure route and traction knowledge is maintained for area staff.
• Complete Level 1 and Level 2 incident investigation reports.
• Provide and document clear feedback on staff performance.
• On-board new entrants with rules training and assessments.
• Develop Training Needs Analysis and procedures to meet business needs.
• Participate in regulatory forums, meetings and Network Rail reviews.
• On-call duties on a rotational basis; evenings and weekends as required.

Skills

PTS qualification

ETDL holder

Freight train driver

Safety record

Communication skills

Rail regs knowledge

IT literacy

Leadership

IOSH training

Shunting

Trainer qualification

Investigation experience

Assessor/Verifier

TOLO

Tools

None

Job description

About The Role

As an Operations Standards Manager at GBRf, you'll play a key role in managing and maintaining the competence and standards of operational employees within your assigned region. You will carry out post-incident investigations as well as training and assessments, using your technical expertise to ensure all employees within their remit are competent to carry out their duties. The OSM is responsible for producing detailed reports and analysis, ensuring compliance with GBRf standards, customer standards and wider industry standards.

This is a partly mobile role, split across various sites primarily in the Bristol, Cardiff and Cornwall areas. As a result, a flexible working approach is required due to the nature of GBRf's operations in this area.

Closing date:30th September

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver training and development reviews with the Risk & Compliance Manager
• Maintain competence of safety critical operational staff in PTS, rules and regulations pertaining to their grade.
• Ensure route and traction knowledge is maintained for all staff in the area, inclusive of personal knowledge and that of other management personnel within the region.
• Complete Level 1 and Level 2 incident investigation reports.
• Provide and document clear and constructive feedback on staff members performance.
• Partake in the on-boarding process for new entrants by providing rules training and assessments to all new hires recruited to operational roles within the region.
• Develop and undertake Training Needs Analysis and procedures to meet emerging business needs.
• Participate in industry regulatory forums, meetings, and Network Rail reviews.
• On-call duties on a rotational basis & requirement to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Personal Track Safety qualification
• European Train Driving Licence holder and competent freight train driver.
• Clean safety record
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of rail industry rules and regulations.
• Good level of IT literacy.
• Proven leadership/management ability.

Desirable – training will be provided

• IOSH safety training
• Shunting / train preparation
• Trainer/instructor qualification.
• Accident and investigation experience.
• Formal assessor and verifier qualification, such as A1, V1 or D123/33.
• Train Operations Liaison Officer (TOLO)

Personal Profile

• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
• Health, safety and standards conscious.
• Ability to remain calm in a pressured environment, systematically appraising the situation and taking appropriate action.
• Flexible approach to work, willingness to go above and beyond for the fulfilment of duties.
• Time management and organisational skills, demonstrating the ability to prioritise own workload based on business deadlines and safety requirements
• Keen eye for detail

About GB Railfreight

GB Railfreight are proud to be one of the UK's fastest-growing rail freight companies, recognised for our reliability, growth, and commitment to delivering high-quality service. For over 20 years, we've been so much more than just trains — we're a dedicated team, committed to working together to deliver reliable, sustainable freight services and build strong partnerships across industries nationwide.

When you join GBRf, you become part of a team that truly values its people, works collaboratively, and takes pride in what we do — keeping goods moving through smarter, greener, and more efficient freight solutions.

We pride ourselves on being genuinely value-driven. Our core values guide everything we do, shaping our culture and actions:

Our Values

Professionalism – Safety and security are paramount in our business, and we believe this forms the foundation of a high-achieving safety culture.

Support – We look after our people, and they in turn are encouraged to look after each other.

Communication – Transparency in our business is valued by both colleagues and customers.

Trust and Empowerment – We believe openness and honesty create the best relationships, building trust and confidence.

Enjoyment – Taking pleasure in coming to work at GBRf is actively encouraged, right from the top.

Key Benefits of Working With Us

As well as a competitive salary, annual leave package of 25 days plus bank holidays (or equivalent for Operational staff where bank holidays are worked) and enrolment into our Industry-Wide Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, we offer:

• A generous healthcare package
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - providing access to 24/7 counselling support and wellbeing resources
• An online benefits portal offering hundreds of discounts at nationwide retailers
• An electric vehicle scheme (available after your first 12 months)
• Regular social events, including days out for you and your family
• Training and development opportunities, including internal courses and external certifications through our industry-renowned development programs. We prioritise your growth in line with our people-centric culture.

Inclusion Without Exclusion

At GB Railfreight, we recognise that a more diverse range of people leads to greater innovation. We recruit and develop people best suited to the role requirements, regardless of background.

Our aim is to create a diverse workforce that reflects wider society. We champion diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace, in alignment with our values.

If you're as passionate about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) as we are, we invite new employees to join our People and Culture working group and contribute to the ongoing work in this area.