Operative- Talent Pool (Various Disciplines and Locations)

Network Rail; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation company in the United Kingdom is seeking operatives to support essential maintenance of the railway network. The role involves working outdoors in various weather conditions and ensuring safety alongside moving trains. Ideal candidates will possess teamwork skills, effective communication, and a valid driving license. If you are willing to learn and develop, join us to contribute to keeping the railway safe and efficient.

Qualifications

• Able to work outdoors in all conditions and in a team.
• Good communication skills for effective teamwork.
• Willingness to learn and develop new skills.

Responsibilities

• Support essential maintenance of the railway.
• Work alongside team to ensure safety near moving trains.
• Transport equipment and kits across various terrains.

Skills

Team-working

Communication

Proactive planning

Working under pressure

Following rules and instructions

Willingness to learn

Education

Valid driving licence (category B)

Job description

A critical part of the work we do is the daily upkeep of the rail network. As an operative you'll work outdoors in a small team, supporting essential maintenance to keep the railway running safely and smoothly for passengers and freight users.

Our operative community comes from a variety of different backgrounds, and this might be the first time that you've even considered a career in rail. We're focused on your transferable skills and behaviours and if you can demonstrate that, then we will provide you with all the necessary training to have you working safely and competently out on the network.

And if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that recently joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor's 2021 Best Places to Work.

Please Note: If successful, there may be a requirement to work on call in this role.

About The Role (External)

Operatives can specialise in a range of disciplines but for this role you'll become a specialist in the area that matches your skills.

Specialisations

• Signalling & Telecoms – You'll be working with equipment including signals that control when trains can run, level crossings, and points systems. With your willingness to learn, you'll develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment.
• Track – You'll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing the track network, also known as the Permanent Way or P‑Way, to keep the railway safe and efficient. This is a very manual role as you'll be working with rails, sleepers and ballast that support the trains, together with their associated drainage and ancillary structures.
• Offtrack – You'll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing the land alongside the track network to keep the railway safe and efficient. This includes vegetation management, drainage, and ancillary structures.
• Undertrack – You'll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing equipment under the track network to keep the railway safe and efficient. This role has a heavy skill focus on joinery, lubrication, and welding.
• Distribution & Plant – You'll work as part of a team to keep power flowing through the electrified rails safely and efficiently. Day‑to‑day you'll work on the nuts, bolts and cables of the electrification system making sure that the railway has the power to run the trains, signals and stations.
• Overhead lines – Working with high‑voltage systems you'll ensure our railway has the power to run the trains. Working at height is routine, and you'll use various types of specialist tools and equipment to measure, adjust, repair and modify cables and wires that keeps Britain's railway running.

Our operatives work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day or night. You'll be involved in demanding manual work, often with the need to transport kit across tricky terrain.

Being safety‑focused, respectful of rules and a team player will be critical as you'll often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed.

You Matter to Your Team

The team depends on you. You're the one who shows up first and leaves last, who makes sure the van and equipment are checked and ready for every shift, and who drives the team from site to site. Every day you'll support your team in maintaining equipment and will provide lookout duties to keep the whole team safe.

Key Skills & Traits

• Team‑working – Able to work closely with the team to deliver safe and efficient work.
• Communication – Good communication skills for safe and effective teamwork.
• Proactive planning – Punctual, equipment ready and anticipating the needs of the team.
• Working under pressure – Remain calm when working outdoors and with trains passing close by.
• Following rules and instructions – Understand and respect the rules, but confident to challenge unsafe situations.
• Willingness to learn – Consistently develop skills and competencies, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures, and instructions.

Working Hours & Conditions

• Shifts – Operative roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights and weekends.
• Outdoor working – Operatives work outside in all weathers and in different conditions.
• Safe working – Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing, a relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre‑employment checks, including hearing and eyesight examinations.
• Driving – As an operative you'll need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.

We look forward to your application if you want to be part of our national rail network and contribute to keeping the railway safe and efficient.