Operations Controller - Rail Track Maintenance Train Sector
Dartford Salary: £35,000–£36,000 + overtime
Paid overtime when applicable
Company pension
Health cash plan
Free on-site parking
Dartford Crossing costs covered where applicable
Full structured training
Regular performance and salary reviews
Potential discretionary company bonus
Career development and progression opportunities Location: Dartford, Kent
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Full UK driving licence & own transport required
Free parking | Pension | Health Cash Plan | Overtime | Full Training
Rail experience is NOT essential!
Are you used to working in a fast-paced operational environment, coordinating people or resources, dealing with changing situations and communicating important information?
We are recruiting an Operations Controller to join the Dartford control centre of a well-established international engineering business operating within the UK rail industry.
This could be an excellent opportunity if you currently work within logistics, transport, fleet operations, emergency services, utilities, dispatch, control rooms or rail and are looking for a new challenge.
You don't need previous rail experience – full training will be provided.
What will you be doing?
The Operations Control team provides 24/7 support to specialist engineering trains and On-Track Machines operating across the UK rail network.
You'll be based in Dartford, monitoring operations and acting as an important point of communication between drivers, operational teams and other rail stakeholders.
Shift Patterns:
This is a genuine 24/7 operational position, so you must be comfortable working a rotating shift pattern.
Day shifts
Night shifts
Weekends
On-call periods
Significant blocks of rest days between parts of the roster 8-Week Rolling Roster:
The role operates on an 8-week rolling roster, incorporating a mixture of day shifts, night shifts, rest days and on-call periods.
Across the full 8-week cycle, the roster averages approximately 28.5 hours per week physically working in the office.
There is also an on-call period covering 7 nights within each 8-week cycle. On-call is approximately 12 hours overnight and is based from home, so you only need to attend the workplace if you are called in.
It's important to note that working hours vary from week to week across the roster – some weeks are busier, while others provide significant periods of time off.
Day shifts:
Generally run 7am–7pm in the office with Controllers arriving 15 minutes earlier for a paid shift handover - Tend to focus more on preparing for upcoming operations, processing reports, checking documentation and monitoring the movement of machines around the network.
Night shifts:
7pm to 7am again in the office with controllers arriving 15 minutes early for a paid shift handover - these are generally more operational, supporting engineering work taking place across the railway and responding to issues as they happen.
Your responsibilities will include:
Monitoring live rail operations and machine movements
Communicating with drivers and operational teams
Coordinating information when plans change or problems occur
Responding to operational incidents and escalating them to the appropriate teams
Maintaining accurate operational control logs
Monitoring working hours and operational requirements
Receiving and checking work returns and reports
Preparing and issuing operational documentation
Using email, Microsoft Excel and Word throughout your shift
Ensuring information is recorded and communicated accurately
Providing clear handovers to the next Controller On call: 1 week in 8.
When you are on call, you'll normally be at home and available on standby if needed to respond to a call. If additional cover is required and you are called in to work, you'll receive overtime in addition to your salary.
The roster also provides good blocks of time off between working periods. A guide line of what the rosta looks like can be provided.
Training & Development:
If you're coming from outside the rail industry, you'll receive approximately six weeks of structured training, including supported control-desk experience alongside experienced Controllers.
You'll be trained in railway terminology, systems, procedures, reporting requirements and safety-critical processes needed to do the job confidently.
There are also longer-term opportunities to develop within the business, with previous Controllers progressing into Senior Controller, planning, safety and other operational positions.
Skills we are looking for:
Strong telephone and face-to-face communication skills
Experience working in an operational, coordination, dispatch or similar environment
The ability to prioritise and manage a changing workload
Excellent attention to detail
Good administration and record-keeping skills
Confidence using computers, email, Microsoft Word and Excel
The ability to communicate accurately in time-sensitive situations
A calm and organised approach
A strong team ethic
Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle
Flexibility to work days, nights and weekends as part of the roster
Pre-employment Checks:
As this role operates within a safety-critical rail environment, the successful candidate will be required to complete the company's pre-employment screening process, including:
DBS check
Drug & alcohol screening
Occupational health assessment Interested?
If you're a strong communicator who enjoys coordinating people, solving problems and keeping operations moving, we'd like to hear from you.
Whether your background is in rail, logistics, transport, emergency services, utilities, fleet operations or another control-room environment, if you have the transferable skills we're looking for, please apply.
Apply today for further information. #ENG1
