West Midlands Trains delivers around 1,300 train journeys a day, for more than 60 million passengers a year, across our two brands - West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway.

We are committed to delivering a safe and reliable train service, by investing in our fleet of trains, stations and employees. As part of this investment we are looking to recruit a Fleet Interface & Relationship Manager, on a full-time, permanent basis, based in Birmingham.

The Fleet Interface & Relationship Manager (The FIRM) will be responsible for the new train interface between operations (including traincrew), infrastructure and engineering. As part of this role, the FIRM will be responsible for co-ordinating responses and actively investigating issues encountered in the delivery of new trains.

What does the job involve?

• Represent Fleet as the point of contact for all issues relating to cross functional (i.e. operational, customer experience and engineering) issues relating to the fleet, prioritising the new trains.
• Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with the Operations team, ensuring that fleet provide them with the necessary support to enable the transition into business as usual.
• Work closely with the Customer Experience team to ensure that common goals, practices and processes are adopted by both the Customer Experience team and Fleet.
• Provide the fleet interface for whole railway systems including wayside communications and track side systems, and provide technical investigations into incidents with suitable root cause analysis to the Head of Engineering with proposals for mitigating.
• Work with Network Rail counterparts to develop working practices and briefings for those aspects of Operations affected by any changes to the train/infrastructure interface as a result of the deployment of new trains.
• Take action to address, or escalate, any risks identified in the implementation of the Operations transition plan which could impact on the safety of staff or customers.
• The FIRM will at times be required to deputise for the Head of Franchise Projects and eventually the Head of Engineering.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and post and as required

Please see the attached job description for full responsibilities list.

What skills and experience do I need to do the job?

• Have served an apprenticeship or equivalent, supported by appropriate technical studies, to a minimum of HND level, but ideally degree educated in Engineering or similar and working towards membership of a suitable Institution (i.e. IMechE or IET). Relevant experience will be considered where necessary.
• Demonstratable experience in a technical management role with a rail vehicle engineering environment.
• Excellent knowledge of railway operating and safety standards, rules, instructions and legislation.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of a variety of traction and rolling stock and the maintenance standards applicable to them.
• Understanding of railway operations.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Health, Safety and Environmental legislation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the confidence to influence all internal stakeholders, external bodies and suppliers.
• Self-motivated and able to react to a wide variety of situations

What are the salary and benefits?

• Competitive salary + excellent benefits
• Hybrid working – based from home c2-3 days a week
• Final salary pension – one of the best pension schemes available
• Free travel on all our trains and those of other train companies within our parent group company - for you, your partner and any dependent children
• 75% off all other train company travel tickets
• Retail discounts
• Career development opportunities

Due to the volume of applications we receive the advert may close earlier than the published closing date. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds and ensure no-one receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religion, belief and sexual orientation.

Applications will be considered from colleagues with 6 months experience, after completion of their probationary period and a full check of absence and disciplinary records.