Training & Standards Manager

Freightliner is the UK's largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, transporting containers from all major deep-sea ports to our national network of inland terminals, as well as a leading operator in the UK Heavy Haul rail freight market. Freightliner has operations across Europe offering both Intermodal and Heavy Haul rail freight services seamlessly connecting European countries and the UK.

In the UK the Freightliner Group operates under a number of legal entities including Freightliner Group Ltd, Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, Freightliner Ltd, Pentalver Transport Ltd, and Pentalver Cannock Ltd.

About the Programme

The ERTMS Freight Programme is a nationally critical initiative delivering the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across freight operations on the UK rail network. This complex, multi-stakeholder programme will drive interoperability, safety, network capacity, and operational efficiency across the UK rail freight sector.

Purpose of the Role:

Working in Freightliners newly appointed driver training academies with the other Operational Training & Standards managers to support delivery of ERTMS and Operational training. Responsible for the delivery of the significant training requirements for drivers, shunters and ground-staff as required by the ERTMS project and Freightliner UK. Assisting with the introduction of driver simulators into the business for ERTMS and Operational Training, creating an enhanced blended learning experience for operational staff.

Contribute to the achievement of the UK business strategy and objectives

Ensure that Freightliner meets the requirements of the RSSB & ORR for training & development of staff in a safety critical industry.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Assist with the Day to Day running of the training academies.
• Be a point of contact for training conducted at the training academies, ensuring timely and effective delivery of the required training courses.
• Support ERTMS project team in the development, creation, and training of ERTMS theory, simulation.
• Deliver ERTMS, Foundation, National Train Control (NTC) and full ERTMS Level 2 training to drivers, shunters and managers as required, ensuring competency records are updated and maintained.
• Where required, assist the business with operational training and assessment of new and existing drivers.
• Maintain and achieve occupational competency for your job role and business area to high standards, acting as an ambassador of driver training.
• Supporting the program to ensure that planned modifications do not inhibit the existing operational effectiveness of the locos or future aspirations.
• Attendance at various ERTMS meetings with the aim of ensuring Freightliner’s operational requirements are fully understood and are being met.
• Support the development and implementation of an ERTMS training plan including liaison with all affected Freightliner operational staff supporting the successful deployment of ERTMS.
• Support union engagement covering general updates on project progress.
• Support the Putting-into-Use process and ensuring that any required changes to the SMS are identified and highlighted to the relevant individuals for action.
• Review and respond to industry operational consultation documents.
• Liaise with the Freightliner operations team (and wider business) to provide regular progress updates and to ensure that all current requirements and operational risks and issues are being captured.
• Liaise with other project stakeholders including other Freight Operating Companies, Network Rail, Siemens, and third-party Design Houses in a professional and effective manner.
• Assist in the introduction of simulation and actively pursue best practice in simulator operation and evaluate progress and usages to seek improvement, ensuring that the simulator operation is compliant with any good practice guides
• Construct and deliver scenarios and simulations for use in training and assessment for new and existing drivers, monitor the key performance of the simulator, catalogue, and update scenarios for maximum benefit.
• Manually operate the simulator as required and build and deliver training packages.
• Deliver training for engineering changes
• Deliver manager training as and when required for new systems, processes and embed that training into the operational standards.
• Update and deliver ERTMS driver instructor training, carry out assessments on driver instructors on a regular basis to ensure compliance with training and delivery to trainees
• Attend TOSGs nationwide
• Update manuals, publications, and courses
• NTS & human factors training for managers and post incident colleagues.
• Get involved in any ad hoc operational projects, within remit, as may be required, from time to time.

Financial Management

• Contribute to ensuring our ERTMS driver training programme is done efficiently and provides best value for money.
• Ensure all ERTMS training development and delivery is done in the most effective manner, ensuring safety as a priority at all times along with return on investment.

Compliance and Health and Safety

• Ensures we meet Standards & Guidance in relation to driver training.
• Ensures we meet Standards & Guidance for training of ground staff.
• Ensures that we meet our obligation to have a robust competency management system being properly administered under the Railway and Other Guided Systems legislation (ROGS 2006) from the ORR.
• Ensure that all activities and operations are performed in compliance with local and state regulations and laws governing the respective business operation.

Key job requirements:

• A proven track record of competency management in the rail industry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the RSSB standards for Drivers & Groundstaff.
• A competent and experienced train driver ideally qualified as an instructor with experience of instructing trainee and experienced drivers.
• Either competent, or aim to become competent, Groundstaff qualified operator.
• A teaching qualification would be ideal but not essential.
• Experience of delivering training to adults.
• Able to work to apprenticeship standards and work with and support external training providers to provider accreditation of apprenticeships.
• Good IT skills

Wide ranging experience regarding different types of traction card

• Working knowledge of change in the rail industry with reference to GSM-R, ERTMS, C-DAS, ATO, ATP.
• An understanding and ability to produce training materials without the full information available from another source, and a willingness to search out answers within the industry.
• A good record keeper with an organisational mind for document management.
• Ability to build healthy working relationships with various functions within rail and the wider G&W business.
• Ability to interpret training materials including classroom delivery, training aids, safety briefs and other operational documentation as and when required.
• Ability to execute multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Ability to present ideas and concepts to a wide audience whilst selling the change and making others see the benefits.
• Experienced and competent in mainline driving. Dangerous goods, T3’s, shunting qualified and loads examination experience desirable
• Solid analytical skills with the ability to digest and disseminate information on a broad range of businesses and stakeholders.
• Ability to multi task and work well under pressure, prioritising tasks and workload and managing conflicting demands.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff across the Freightliner Group, as well as key stakeholders, most particularly the UK Senior management team and the recognised Unions;
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal;
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to plan own work, work autonomously and on own initiative, and meet deadlines;
• Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy of work;
• Appreciation of the demands of managing conflicting interests and of meeting statutory requirements;
• Ability to navigate complex problems and ensure effective and sound decision making, systematically and under pressure;
• Effective management and delegation with the ability to build trust and motivate a team.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Attacks goals and objectives with drive, energy and enthusiasm;
• Proactive approach to work and uses own initiative to implement improvements;
• Embraces new challenges, is hands on operationally and gets things done.
• Sets high standards of work for self, and team, and consistently achieves these;
• High level of integrity and openness, combined with commitment to good governance;
• Energetic, highly motivated, with an enquiring mind and passion for operational excellence and innovation, in pursuit of business growth and success;
• Leads by example and provides honest and clear leadership that helps drive results;
• Listens attentively to others’ perspectives and provides constructive feedback and coaching:
• Awareness of the nature of our customers business requirements and an outward looking focus towards helping them to achieve their objectives.
• Exhibits and lives the Group’s core values:
• Focus for disciplined growth;
• Integrity to earn the trust of others;
• Respect for all people with whom we deal;
• Excellence in everything we do.
• Maintenance of trust, tact, and confidentiality
• Critical thinking and willingness to challenge respectfully.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of your duties and additional duties may be asked of you from time to time dependent on the business requirements.

Our commitment to you, once you join our team, is to foster growth and provide developmental opportunities to ensure you reach your utmost potential.

We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their roles.

In return we can offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, a competitive pension scheme and a rewarding career in an award-winning team.