Strategic Planning Manager – Rail Train & Rostering Lead

Freightliner Group Ltd; Swindon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Final‑salary pension scheme

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Ongoing training and development

Life assurance scheme

Health treatment reimbursements & car/

Job summary

Heavy Haul Rail is seeking a Planning Manager to lead our train planning and rostering teams across the UK. This role focuses on delivering accurate weekly plans, optimising resources, and ensuring rosters meet safety and regulatory standards.

You will shape the network, respond to timetable changes, and drive strategic planning to support growth while championing continuous improvement and safety. Collaboration with multiple teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of freight train operations and railway geography.
• Significant experience in train planning, rostering or a similar rail operations environment.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
• Thorough understanding of industry planning and rostering processes, including Network Code requirements and timetable development cycles.

Responsibilities

• Lead Planning Excellence: oversee train planning and rostering teams, deliver accurate planning outputs, produce weekly train and resource plans, ensure rosters are published on time and meet fatigue, industry and business standards.
• Optimise resource usage: traincrew, rolling stock and network capacity to support business growth.
• Shape future network: negotiate timetable planning, network changes and track access; represent Heavy Haul Rail in industry forums and with Network Rail.
• Drive strategic planning: support business development opportunities and major industry change programmes.
• Champion continuous improvement, operational safety and compliance with regulations and company policies.
• Develop and inspire people: coach and develop high‑performing teams; promote collaboration with operational and commercial teams.

Skills

Rail operations knowledge

Train planning

Rostering

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Decision making in complex ops

Commercial awareness

Organisation

Tools

VoyagerPlan

ITPS

Job description

Heavy Haul Rail is seeking a Planning Manager to lead our train planning and rostering teams across the UK. This role focuses on delivering accurate weekly plans, optimising resources, and ensuring rosters meet safety and regulatory standards.

You will shape the network, respond to timetable changes, and drive strategic planning to support growth while championing continuous improvement and safety. Collaboration with multiple teams is essential.