Operations Manager - Tyneside Rail Operation Centre

Who We Are

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here . We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision .

About the role

This is a key leadership role at the heart of railway operations, based in the Tyneside Rail Operating Centre. You'll oversee train movements across a large and varied area - from Northallerton up to the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed - helping to keep services running safely and smoothly for our passengers.

You'll lead a team of Local Operations Managers, supporting them to deliver a reliable service on a good day, and stepping in to lead during disruption and help get things back on track when it matters most.

Working closely with train and freight operators, maintenance teams and control, you'll be a key point of contact - bringing people together to keep the railway moving. Safety will always come first, and you'll make sure your team is trained, supported and ready to carry out their safety-critical roles with confidence.

You'll also help shape the future of how we operate - improving performance, sharing best practice, and supporting your team to grow and develop into more senior roles. At the same time, you'll play an active part in the wider East Coast Operations team, contributing to joint problem-solving and continuous improvement across the route.

What's in it for you?

We offer a competitive salary and a great range of benefits to support you at work and at home, including:

• 28 days annual leave, with the option to buy or sell more

• A choice of pension schemes

• Up to 75% season ticket and leisure discount on rail and underground travel for you and your family (subject to approval year on year)

• Private healthcare

• 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave

• A flexible benefits platform with national and local retail discounts

This is a Band 3C role, with a salary starting from £55,596.

Location : Tyneside IEC

Contract : Full time

Interviews: 02 July 2026 at York Rail Operating Centre

Join us and lead from the front-making a real difference to how we run trains and serve our passengers every day.

Applying

Click 'Apply' to submit your application.

You'll be asked to log in or create an account to get started. Internal candidates can apply via Employee Self Service.

We're here to support you throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, please contact the recruitment support team at ***email_hidden***

You can also visit Eventbreak Careers for additional accessibility support.

Closing date: 26 June 2026

Your experience and skills

To succeed in this role, you'll:

• Be an experienced and confident leader, able to get the best out of your team

• Have a strong background in operations or managing complex, fast-paced environments

• Be comfortable leading through challenge, including disruption and changing priorities

• Be great with people-able to build strong working relationships and handle employee matters professionally

• Care about doing things safely, always putting safety at the heart of your decisions

• Be focused on performance and continuous improvement

• Have good financial awareness and experience managing budgets or resources

• Communicate clearly and confidently, with strong IT skills

You'll also need to:

• Hold (or be willing to achieve) key operational competencies, such as Rules & Regulations Level 1 and Rail Incident Officer These are industry-recognised qualifications that ensure you can safely manage railway operations and lead during incidents-we'll support you to gain these if you don't already have them.

• Hold a full UK driving licence (or be willing to obtain one)

Key Information

Vacancy Details

Number of Positions

Contract Type

Permanent

Hours

Full Time

Salary

£55,596 - £73,296

Location

Gateshead

Closing Date

26-JUN-2026

Job Category

Operations

Function

Eastern Region

Organisation

OA OM North - Tyneside A (107610) G4

Attachments

Operations Manager Job Description.doc

Location Map