Duty Fleet Planner

We are proud to be One Team at East Midlands Railway (EMR). We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers, doing the right thing, and putting customers at the heart of our sustainable railway for the East Midlands.

With over 2,600 employees, our people are the reason we are so successful. Ten times accredited as a Top Employer, we value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work.

At EMR we want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce and recognise that we are under-represented in terms of females and ethnic minority groups. We’re therefore taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture; we welcome applications from those that identify with these groups to better represent our communities.

We have an exciting opportunity to join #TeamEMR as a Duty Fleet Planner.

As a Duty Fleet Planner, you play a key role in keeping our fleet running smoothly and efficiently. You will lead all fleet planning activities to ensure the right trains are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition. Balancing operational needs with maintenance demands, you will drive reliability, safety, and cost efficiency, all while overseeing the “Golden Plan” to make sure every aspect of fleet activity supports our business and contractual goals.

Key responsibilities include

Lead & Strategise

• Drive the fleet planning function forward by working collaboratively with Fleet Control and Production to deliver a stable and reliable maintenance plan.
• Own and deliver the “Golden Plan”, turning long-term fleet strategy into practical maintenance plans.
• Represent Fleet in cross-functional forums, influencing key stakeholders to achieve results.

Deliver Operational Excellence

• Ensure trains are available, in the right place and condition, to meet operational demand.
• Oversee maintenance, presentation, and overhaul scheduling to maximise fleet availability and reliability.
• Lead contingency and recovery planning during service disruptions.
• Be able to interpret and analyse data and manipulate the maintenance plan appropriately to support improved reliability by exploring flexible options for delivery.

Ensure Compliance & Drive Improvement

• Ensure all planning activities meet contractual, regulatory, and company standards.
• Lead audits, embed best practice, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain robust policies and procedures in line with the NRC.
• Champion GDPR compliance and data integrity across the planning function.

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Duty Fleet Planner who can lead our fleet planning function with confidence and impact.

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Management, or a related discipline.
• Proven leadership experience in a complex, safety-critical, or operational planning environment.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable insights.
• Experience influencing across multiple functions and external partners.
• High level of IT literacy, including MS Office and planning systems (e.g., Integrale).
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of operational business drivers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

This role operates on a shift basis, including nights that extend beyond midnight, so flexibility and resilience are essential.

Desirable experience includes in-depth knowledge of the UK rail industry, fleet maintenance processes, and contractual frameworks, along with experience in performance management, KPI reporting, and continuous improvement. Technical expertise that enables coverage of Duty Maintenance Manager responsibilities when required is also advantageous.

As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:

• An excellent defined benefit pension scheme
• 32 days’ holiday per year, rising to 34 after 2 years
• Free First-Class duty travel on the EMR network
• Free standard leisure travel on the EMR network and Train Operating Companies under Transport UK & LNER
• 75% discount on national leisure travel (inc partner and dependants)
• Friends and Family discounted tickets on the EMR network
• Various training opportunities
• Employee benefits portal with access to generous discounts, Cycle 2 Work Scheme …and many more!

Ready to take on this exciting opportunity? Submit your online application form and upload your CV. As we operate a blind screening process please remove all personal information including your name from your CV.

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W e welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, we promote equal opportunities for all. East Midlands Railway is a non-discriminatory employer committed to the recruitment and promotion of all on the basis of ability and merit irrespective of disability, race, gender, health, social class, sexual preference, marital status, nationality, religion, employment status or age. We’ll treat your application fairly and assess you for the job based on merit and skills.

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