Section Manager Location: Manchester, GB About Network Rail We're proud to be recognised as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth year running. Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway. The North West route is part of the North West and Central region and runs from Cheshire in the south to Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria in the North, with the two Northern Powerhouse cities of Liverpool and Manchester on the route, as well as the tourist destinations of Blackpool and the Lake District. Major stations across the route include Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly. We're a very busy region, with 1.3 million passengers travelling on our rails every weekday, and 700,000 tonnes of freight moved a week. With 571 stations in the North West & Central region, we make up a quarter of Britain's railway system. For us, ‘ Diversity ' means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. ‘ Inclusion ’ means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourages innovative and fresh ways of thinking. We value the commitments you may have outside of work and will consider flexible and hybrid working applications. If we can make it work – we will Brief Description Do you have experience of managing a large team? Do you enjoy hands on problem solving and fixing railway track related problems? Do you want to work for a company who get railway passengers from A to B safely? Then this might be a role for you We are looking to recruit for a Section Manager in our Track discipline based in Guide Bridge, Manchester. In this key role, you will be accountable for managing a section of the rail network and leading a large maintenance team. Please be aware that a new depot is currently being built at Guide Bridge and a review of the Guide Bridge boundaries are currently ongoing. This role requires a strong mix of leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to handle operational challenges. Managing both in-house teams and contractors means balancing different working styles and ensuring seamless collaboration. Your responsibility for planning, inspecting, and implementing tactical works will require a deep understanding of infrastructure management and problem-solving skills, especially when dealing with urgent tasks during on-call or after-hours situations. Safety is key within the role, especially when dealing with infrastructure maintenance where risks can be significant. With the authority to recommend renewals, you’ll have a big impact on the long-term health of the assets too. Managing budgets while ensuring performance, cost, and quality targets are met is a solid challenge. It will require a keen eye for efficiency and an ability to align the team’s efforts with strategic goals. Driving engagement and development across the team will be key in maintaining high morale and ensuring consistent performance. Please Note: This is role is operational and there will be an element of on call and out of hours contact needed. About the role: In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be: Experience of managing the production and delivery of a comprehensive and compliant work programme Able to demonstrate, promote and embed safe working behaviours within the team Able to coach, influence and develop others Knowledge of discipline-specific maintenance, inspection, faulting and renewal techniques Able to lead and implement change and improvement initiatives Excellent communication and influencing skills, both in person and in writing Comfortable working shifts including days, nights and weekends We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be: Hold or be working towards an NVQ level 3 or 4 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or have attained an appropriate level of knowledge through equivalent relevant experience Able to promote and demonstrate safe working behaviours Knowledge of budget management and cost/waste control processes and techniques Able and willing to drive vehicles as required by business need This role involves days, nights and weekend working, and due to the importance of your role, we'll expect you to respond to issues that arise even when off duty (on-call). As this is a safety critical role, you will be subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment. How to apply (external) We are a Disability Confident Leader and want to make the most of the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace - skills and talents we need in our business Click here for more information Salary and benefits: Salary IMC40 T&Cs - starting at £46,124 Pro-rata annual leave entitlement My benefits – our discounted online shopping site A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets 75% discount on leisure travel A choice of contributory pension schemes 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community Want to find out about what fantastic benefits we offer? Find out here Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Closing date: 14th February 2025. Interviews for this role will take place towards the end of February / early March. Click ‘apply now’ to apply. Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible. Drugs & Alcohol test: All prospective candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.