Train Service Manager - 12 Month Secondment

Job Introduction

Are you looking for a career where you can make a real difference in people’s day. 

Can you move people? Apply now.

What you’ll do

The Train Service Manager monitors and manages the real time delivery of Southeastern’s train service, making sure that we provide the best possible passenger service and operational performance.  You will make sure the service runs on time whilst protecting the needs of passengers, making best use of resources and adhering to contractual requirements.

If things don’t go according to plan, you will decide the best course of action and put this into place, working with Southeastern and Network Rail staff to ensure that we get our trains back on time as quickly and efficiently as possible with the best interest of our passengers in mind.

Working in our 24/7 Control Centre, this is a challenging, varied role which requires you to have both a good head for detailed planning and for making quick decisions with the ability to keep calm under pressure.  Communication skills are vital as you will be dealing with a wide variety of roles across our company.

The experience you’ll need

To be considered for this role we recommend you demonstrate the below in your application; 

• An awareness of the impact of actions/decisions made on passengers and staff
• Thorough knowledge of the relevant geography, including stations and track layouts and services operated by Southeastern.
• Good knowledge of relevant operating, rolling stock, engineering, train crew and station procedures.
• Good knowledge of passenger flows around the Southeastern network
• Good knowledge of generally available and bespoke IT systems
• Good general education with passes in English Language and Mathematics.
• Ability to create own inputs and influence at a number of levels in the organisation.
• Ability to produce and implement emergency plans when routes become blocked.
• Problem solving with a logical thought process
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail
• Commercial awareness- Understands and applies commercial and financial principles.

As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role. Find out more here. 

Other things to know

• This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early.
• All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role.
• If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southeastern, please wait six months before applying again.

Find out more about our recruitment process and get tips to help you apply.

What you’ll get in return

Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:

• a final salary pension
• 25 days annual leave allowance (plus bank holidays)
• free rail travel across our networks.

Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work. Click here to see our full range of amazing benefits.

A bit about Southeastern

We’re one of Britain's busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations.

However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey.

It’s also about making our railway a great place to work. With a team that represents the communities we serve. This is a journey we’re fully committed to and we’re proud to have been named a ‘Great Place to Work’ at the 2023 National Rail Awards and endorsed as a WORK180 Employer for Women.

Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeastern. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us.

Learn more about our railway and what we achieved in 2023.