Shift Production Manager

Northern; Saltaire; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Travel

Pension scheme

Enhanced family benefits

Cycle to Work Scheme

Discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Training and Career Development

Recognition program

Job summary

Northern is recruiting a Shift Engineering Manager for Shipley TrainCare Centre to lead safe, efficient delivery of maintenance and train presentation activities across shifts. The role requires hands-on leadership, setting standards, and ensuring safety and quality on every shift.

You will manage a safety-critical team, drive continuous improvement, and coordinate with internal and third-party partners while delivering the production plan and maintaining rail network reliability.

Qualifications

• Engineering qualification at Level 3, with ONC or HNC.
• NEBOSH Certificate, or working towards it.
• Experience leading teams in a fast-moving, safety-critical environment.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to TrainCare Centre teams.
• Make sure trains are ready safely, reliably, and to the right standards.
• Act as a safety role model and manage risks.
• Lead TCC operations during shifts by delivering the production plan.
• Provide clear leadership, coaching and succession planning.
• Oversee planning, vehicle movements, and resource use.
• Handle day-to-day operational challenges to keep the depot moving.
• Build relationships with internal teams and third-party partners.
• Take responsibility for incidents, investigations, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Safety management

People management

Engineering environment

Communication skills

Education

Engineering qualification Level 3 / ONC or HNC

Job description

Shift Engineering Manager

Engineering – Shipley Train Care Centre

Reports to: Shipley TrainCare Centre Manager

Salary: £68,402.40 per annum
Safety Critical Role

We keep the railway moving 24/7, expected shifts would be days, nights, weekend working

Keeping trains moving safely and on time takes more than engineering know-how – it takes clear leadership, smart decisions, and a team that trusts you to guide them through every shift.

As a Shift Production Manager within Northerns Engineering team, you will lead the safe and efficient delivery of maintenance, servicing and train presentation activities. You will be responsible for the performance of the shift. It’s a hands‑on leadership role where you set the tone, keep things on track, and make sure every shift delivers what the network needs.

Be Part of Something New

Shipley TrainCare Centre is a brand new facility, and this is a rare opportunity to help build the culture, standards and ways of working from the start. This means you will play a key role in:

• Setting clear standards are expectations from day one
• Leading the behaviours that create a safe, professional and high performing team
• Embedding safety, quality and continuous improvement into everything we do
• Supporting the development of a ‘people first’ environment where everyone can thrive

Our ambition is clear: for Shipley to become a benchmark TrainCare Centre, recognised for engineering excellence, operational safety and a culture where people feel valued, supported and able to build long term careers.

Your Future, Built Here

At Northern, we’re committed to developing our workforce, and that commitment is amplified at Shipley. As we grow this new facility, we’re also growing the skills, capabilities and progression pathways of the people who join us. Whether your ambition is to progress into Senior Leadership, specialist engineering roles or wider operational management, Shipley offers the opportunity to be part of something new and to grow with it.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide leadership to TrainCare Centre (TCC) teams
• Making sure trains are ready when they need to be – safely, reliably, and to the right standards
• Act as a safety role model. Maintain clear standards for maintenance and engineering activities, ensuring teams are informed, risks are managed and employee well‑being is prioritised
• Lead TCC operations during shifts by delivering the production plan, adjusting schedules for unforeseen events
• Provide clear leadership to TCC teams, coaching, developing and supporting colleagues, managing competence and ensuring succession planning
• Oversee planning, vehicle movements, resource availability and use of engineering systems to meet workload plans, strategic goals and service delivery requirements
• Handling day‑to‑day operational challenges, making decisions that keep the depot moving
• Building effective relationships with internal teams and third‑party partners
• Taking responsibility for incidents, investigations, and continuous improvement

About you

You’re a confident leader with experience managing people in a fast‑moving, safety critical environment. You’re comfortable taking responsibility for the shift, making decisions under pressure, and maintaining high standards of safety, quality and performance, You set clear expectations, communicate well, and aren’t afraid to challenge when something isn’t right.

You’ll also have:

• Experience in an engineering environment, with a strong track record of leading teams
• An engineering qualification at Level 3, with ONC or HNC (Ordinary or Higher National Certificate) or working towards it
• A NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) Certificate, or working towards it
• Confidence making decisions in a fast-moving operational setting
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust across teams
• A focus on safety, quality, and doing things the right way

If you’ve worked in rail, heavy maintenance, or a similar safety‑critical environment, you’ll feel right at home – but what matters most is how you lead, support your team, and make things happen.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We’re also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.