Maintenance Operatives, Technicians and Team Leaders
Location
Didcot, GB
Department Name
MW SM(S) Didcot Direct (895511) G1
About Network Rail
Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter
Network Rail owns and operates Britain's railway infrastructure across 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts as well as thousands of signals, level crossings and stations.
At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network. We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. When you're part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions.
Brief Description
A critical part of the work we do is the day-to-day upkeep of the network. Our maintenance teams ensure every part of our infrastructure – such as signals and power supplies, or assets such as track and bridges – is maintained and in good working order.
Maintenance is delivered 24/7, 365 days a year, carrying out planned works as well as rapidly responding to faults as they arise. You will be based in one of our depots covering defined geographic areas. Depots on Western Route are located between Paddington and Penzance (including, but not limited to, Slough, Reading, Swindon, Westbury, Gloucester, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro). Network Rail's maintenance structure is split into distinct disciplines:
1. Electrification and Plant
2. Signalling and Telecoms
About our people and the recruitment process – We are hiring into many of our depots and different disciplines at Operative, Technician and Team leader level (dependent on experience). This application process is to express an interest in working in the Maintenance Delivery team on the Western Route at Network Rail. Our assessment process will identify the best place for you.
We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! If you are unsure where you fit or if you meet all the requirements, let us decide.
About the role (External)
Your Main Responsibilities will be to:
You will be working within a team (or gang) to safely and efficiently deliver maintenance tasks to keep the railway running safely and smoothly for passengers and freight users. The day-to-day role is extremely varied, in terms of the work sites visited, the type of work carried out, as well as the assets/equipment that are maintained. The districts that each maintenance team cover contain a diverse range of equipment, both in terms of age and complexity (potentially anything from the Victorian era to modern systems that require a laptop and AI to perform a diagnostic).
You will be carrying out planned maintenance (knowing the work you and your team will be going to perform) and faulting (working in a reactive way, under time pressure to fix an issue). The common tasks that most Operatives undertake are as follows (this may vary by area and for Technician and Team Leader roles):
1. Prepare the team’s van and equipment (spares, tools etc.) for the coming shift
2. Drive the van to and from site, ensuring the team gets to where they need to be
3. Support the team with manual maintenance activities
4. Provide lookout duties when required
All of the above must be underpinned by safe working at all times.
Technological advances are changing the way maintenance is delivered. This is a trend that is expected to continue in the future. Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure programme is a move towards a more proactive way of scheduling and performing maintenance, using monitoring data and predictive analytics to anticipate failure and make earlier, better-informed decisions. Equally, assets themselves are becoming more and more technologically complex, particularly with respect to signalling and communications technology.
The different disciplines:
1. Distribution & Plant - You’ll be working with distribution and plant equipment which is instrumental in powering the railway network. With your willingness to learn, you’ll develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment.
2. Off Track - You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing the land alongside the track network to keep the railway safe and efficient. This includes arboriculture, vegetation management, drainage, level crossing surfaces, and ancillary structures.
3. Overhead Lines - Working with high voltage overhead lines you’ll ensure our railway has the power to run the trains. You will use various types of specialist tools and equipment to measure, adjust, repair, and modify the equipment that keep Britain’s railway running, often working at height.
4. Rail Testing & Lubrication (RT&L) - You’ll be responsible for the inspection of the rails using both visual and NDT techniques. You will also inspect, maintain and repair the rail lubrication equipment ensuring the track network is kept safe and efficient.
5. Signalling Maintenance - This discipline undertakes Maintenance, fault rectification and renewals works on a wide range of equipment and technology including mechanical, electrical and computer-based systems.
6. Telecoms - You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, testing, and repairing the Railway telecoms network to keep the railway safe and efficient.
7. Welding & Grinding - You will be part of a Welding & Grinding team, supporting the Track organisation in our Maintenance Teams.
There is no specific prior work experience required. We focus on the right behaviours and personal qualities that fit the work. We provide the competency and skills development training to be a success in the role and develop a career in rail.
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You may be working on tracks alongside trains moving at over 100mph. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.
What could set you apart
Demonstrable experience in a safety critical environment will be an advantage to understand the key role safety plays. Ideally hold (or be working towards) an NVQ 1 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
Our pay and benefits for front line maintenance
As shift working is required, including evenings, nights, public holidays and weekends, there are shift allowances/premiums on top of the above basic salaries. There is also some on call required, the regularity is agreed locally, and an additional allowance applies.
It is more than just a salary. As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
1. Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
2. A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
3. GWR ticket alliance – Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year).
4. Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
5. A range of Pension schemes to choose from.
6. Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, and enhanced family friendly support.
7. 5 days paid volunteering leave.
8. 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
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 will not be accepted.
Click ‘apply now' to apply.
We are looking for people to express an interest in working for Network Rail in our Maintenance Team in the Western Route. You will be asked some questions that are a minimum required to work as an Operative. We will also ask you your preferred locations and disciplines.
Should you meet the minimum requirement, you will be invited to an assessment centre. The assessment centre will include a competency-based interview, and a number of exercises to gauge your level of technical ability.
Should you be successful, following the assessment centre we will align you to a location and discipline and place you in a suitable available role. If none are available at the time, we will hold your offer for up to 6 months until one becomes available.
Other information
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and 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 Even breaks for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.
Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test.
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