Rail Services Manager Industrial Relations

About DFT Operator

Join Our Team at DFTO

DFTO is the governments public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 30000 employees runs over 8500 services a day and delivers over 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7000people joined the railway family in the last year

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER Northern TransPennine Express (TPE) Southeastern South Western Railway (SWR) c2c Greater Anglia and WM Trains.

We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient dependable rail services for everyone.

Primary Purpose of Job:

This role is an exciting and demanding position there are great prospects and opportunities for the individual who can effectively take on this role.

Were looking to hire a commercially focused Rail Services Manager to join the Rail Services North West & Industrial Relations team. Youll manage day to day contract and industrial relations activity across National Rail contracts (including West Coast Partnership/HS2 shadow operator and Avanti West Coast) support wider TOC relationships and shape pay and working time proposals that deliver reliable service and value for money.

Key Deliverables:

Lead operational support on live industrial relations issues and risks for multiple Train Operating Companies.

• Drive pay and rest day negotiation workstreams develop multi year proposals and present
• evidence based recommendations to senior decision makers.
• Deliver concise briefings and weekly industrial relations updates for stakeholders and pay policy partners.
• Maintain accurate contract and case records ensuring secure and accessible information management.
• Coach and line manage Assistant Rail Services Managers and Rail Services Executives; build capability across the directorate.
• Work flexibly across regional teams and TOCs; travel to operator sites as required.

Why this matters

You will ensure commercial and operational decisions support reliable passenger services maximise return on investment and meet stakeholder expectations during a period of industry transition.

Key Responsibilities:

The work will involve but not be limited to the following:

• Work with Regional Rail Services Teams within DfTO on emerging and live industrial relation issues and risks.
• Ensure all records are saved and up to date in the shared folder managing information securely and appropriately.
• Provide weekly updates and support relating to Industrial Relations. Feeding into requests from DfT pay policy team including on briefing and correspondence as required.
• Develop and present evidenced-based recommendations to senior managers and DfTO approval bodies.
• Lead on specific areas such as annual pay rest day working and long term pay proposals. Summarising information succinctly providing scrutiny and explaining issues in a simple way to senior management at pace.
• Directly manage or coach/mentor Assistant Rail Services Managers and Rail Services Executives in your team and across the Directorate.

Knowledge Skills Experience & Technical Qualifications:

The Rail Services Manager position is part of the contract management function and is a varied and dynamic role and it is not possible to characterise a standard day.

You will be required to complete the Contract Management Capability Programme (CMCP) and achieve the accreditation at Foundation level once in the role.

A successful candidate will have:

• Proven stakeholder management with the ability to influence senior operator and internal stakeholders.
• Experience in contract or supplier management industrial relations or commercial negotiations.
• Strong written and verbal communication: clear briefings and executive-level presentations.
• Commercial awareness: able to assess financial legal and contractual implications.
• Comfortable managing reactive high-visibility workloads and leading small teams.
• Resilient proactive and outcomes-focused in fast-moving environments.
• Rail sector experience is desirable but not essential.

Qualifications & development:

You will complete the Contract Management Capability Programme (CMCP) Foundation accreditation after joining.

Vacancy Details:

Duration: Permanent or secondment
Location:London Waterloo
Salary:up to 47052
Closing date: 10th May2026

DFTO Benefits:

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

Additional Information

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - Were an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly as we know traditional working patterns dont always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly just let us know and well do our best to help and invest in your career with us whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments please contact Amra

Please do not email any CVs to us your application must be made by clicking the Apply button.