Professional Development Specialist x2

Network Rail; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28-day annual leave

Pension schemes

Rail travel discount

Volunteer or carers leave

Rail and Underground travel subsidy

Gym Pass

Benefits platform

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Professional Development Specialist to build capability across Operations. You will design and deliver training, provide guidance, and help upskill colleagues while maintaining facilities and sharing best practices with the Training, Competency and Development teams.

Key duties include delivering change briefings, competency assessments, and ensuring adherence to safety procedures and the Rule Book.

Qualifications

• Develop and deliver training courses for operational staff.
• Provide technical support and guidance to teams.
• Plan and prioritise activities to meet training needs.
• Apply proven training methodologies and assessment practices.
• Pursue relevant training qualifications and assessor competence.

Responsibilities

• Design, facilitate and deliver training interventions across Operations.
• Maintain training facilities and share best practice with Training, Competency and Development teams.
• Deliver operational change briefings and competency assessments.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements and the Rule Book.
• Provide professional guidance on development and upskilling opportunities.

Skills

Training delivery

Technical support

Planning

Communication

Assessment processes

Train-the-trainer

Level 2 rules knowledge

Assessor competence

Education

Relevant training qualification(s)

Assessor competence

Job description

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here . We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviouris a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

As a Professional Development Specialist, you'll play an important part in building capability across Operations, creating and delivering high-quality training that gives colleagues the knowledge, skills and competence they need to succeed. You'll shape training plans and learning content, deliver operational change briefings and competency assessments, and provide professional guidance on development and upskilling opportunities. You'll also help create a positive, consistent learning experience by maintaining training facilities and working closely with Training, Competency and Development teams to share best practice.

The difference you'll make

Your work will help keep operational teams capable, compliant and ready to respond to change. You'll maintain high standards across training and competency, supporting compliance with operational procedures, safety requirements and the Rule Book, while identifying and addressing development needs highlighted through assessments, audits and investigations. By turning these insights into meaningful learning and development, you'll strengthen operational capability, support performance improvement and help colleagues continue to grow their skills and careers.

What's in it For You (Benefits & Salary)

Here are a few of the benefits we offer:

• 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
• Choice of pension schemes
• 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
• 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
• Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
• Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
• My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
  

These vacancies are Band 4C, salary starting £53,588 and raising to £53,167 per annum DOE. We have two opportunities available.

Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know-we'll do our best to assist you.

Your experience and skills

What you'll need (Essential)

We're looking for someone who can combine strong operational knowledge with a real ability to develop others. You'll need:

Your core experience and capabilities

• Ability to develop and deliver training courses
• Ability to provide technical support
• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills
• Knowledge of training methodology
• Good knowledge of assessment processes
• Excellent communication skills with proven ability to present information effectively and appropriately (written and verbal)
• Ability to gain relevant training qualification(s)
• Ability to gain Level 2 rules competency
• Ability to gain assessor competence

Your operational and training expertise

• Proven track record in an operational post, managing real-time incidents
• Effectively assessing and evaluating delegate enhanced knowledge and skills
• Designing, facilitating and delivery of appropriate training interventions
• In depth knowledge of company standards and training processes
• Detailed understanding of railway operations

Great if you also bring (Desirable)

Alongside the essentials, you'll ideally bring some of the following:

• Strong technical or vocational expertise, with a thorough understanding of the safety and capability requirements relevant to the discipline
• Verifier competence, supporting robust and consistent assessment standards
• Confident IT skills and the ability to use technology effectively in your day-to-day work
• Experience working through change, particularly within complex, fast-moving environments
• Strong stakeholder skills, with experience building relationships and managing multiple priorities and perspectives
  

Research suggests that individuals from underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a job if they don't meet all the listed criteria. We are building a diverse and inclusive place to work where people of all backgrounds can thrive. We encourage you to apply for this role. If this isn't the job for you, there may be other roles available in the wider team.

What does our recruitment process look like?

Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist & the hiring manager will look at your CV. If your experience matches what we're looking for, you'll be contacted by our Resourcing Team and invited to an interview.

We'rea Disability Confident Leader employerand we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, pleaseadd a note to your application or contact Simone Simpson, Resourcing Business Partner.

Closing date:11th November 2026. Please get your application in as soon as possible; we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications may not be accepted.