Team Leader [Signalling Maintenance] - Ashford Old Railway

Who We Are

Join the Southern Region - where your work truly matters.

Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day. This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key-and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail. From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.

Team Leader - Signalling Maintenance

Location: Ashford Old Railway Works

Salary: Starting from £48420 (IMC19 if already on a maintenance contract) or Standard Maintenance Contract £56,777

Shift Pattern: Days, Nights and Weekends (Safety Critical Role)

We're looking for proactive, safety-focused leaders to join our Signalling Maintenance team. In this role, you'll empower and guide a dedicated team that plays a crucial part in keeping the railway safe, reliable, and efficient. If you're passionate about leading from the front, driving safety and performance, creating a positive team culture, this is your opportunity to make an impact.

What You'll Do

As a Team Leader, you'll be the driving force behind a high-performing team responsible for everything from inspection and faulting to maintenance and renewal of signalling assets. Your role will be hands-on and dynamic, ensuring that every task is completed to the highest standards and in line with safety requirements.

• Lead and inspire your team to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality work.
• Establish and maintain robust safety arrangements for staff and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with safe systems of work, standards and procedures.
• Proactively monitor and check the quality of work, confirming assets meet all standards.
• Verify that vehicles, tools, equipment and materials are fit for purpose and properly managed.
• Compile accurate reports and maintain essential records.
• Support the development and competence of your team.

About the role

We're looking for proactive, safety-focused leaders to join our Signalling Maintenance team. In this role, you'll empower and guide a dedicated team that plays a crucial part in keeping the railway safe, reliable, and efficient. If you're passionate about leading from the front, driving safety and performance, creating a positive team culture, this is your opportunity to make an impact.

What You'll Do

As a Team Leader, you'll be the driving force behind a high-performing team responsible for everything from inspection and faulting to maintenance and renewal of signalling assets. Your role will be hands-on and dynamic, ensuring that every task is completed to the highest standards and in line with safety requirements.

• Lead and inspire your team to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality work.
• Establish and maintain robust safety arrangements for staff and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with safe systems of work, standards and procedures.
• Proactively monitor and check the quality of work, confirming assets meet all standards.
• Verify that vehicles, tools, equipment and materials are fit for purpose and properly managed.
• Compile accurate reports and maintain essential records.
• Support the development and competence of your team.

Your experience and skills

Who We're Looking For

• Proven experience in planning, implementing, and managing safe systems of work to ensure compliance.
• Strong leader with the ability to motivate, direct, and embed a culture of safety within your team.
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written, to collaborate effectively and influence outcomes.
• Technical expertise in signalling inspection, faulting, maintenance, and renewal techniques, along with knowledge of relevant standards and procedures.

What could set you apart

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to drive vehicles.
• Working towards or holding SMTH and IRSE competencies.
• COSS (Preferably with CRP & OLP)
• SMTH (Modules a, b, c, d & f)
• IRSE License (or TV for Working Towards if Internal)
• Track Circuits (Preferably including EBi 200 Digital, HVI & DC)
• Points (HW/RCPL)

Even Better if you have these

• Interlockings (SSI and/or RRI)
• SMTH SFI Level 1
• Level Crossings (any)
• Control Systems (FDM, GETS Delphin & GETS MCS)
• Protection Controller

For further information please contact Sign in to view email

Important Information

This is a safety-critical role, which means you'll need to pass a medical assessment and be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Your role will involve working days, nights and weekends, so flexibility is necessary.

About Your Application

As part of the application process, you'll be asked to complete your three-year employment history and upload your CV. You'll also answer a short set of questions, which should take around 5-10 minutes.

Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. .

Safety and Compliance

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

Drugs and Alcohol Standard

All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Key Information

Vacancy Details

Number of Positions

Contract Type

Permanent

Hours

Full Time

Location

Ashford Old Railway Works, Ashford

Geographical Area

South East England (Not inside M25)

Closing Date

22-JUL-2026

Job Category

Mobile Maintenance & Response

Function

Southern Region

Organisation

DD SM(S) Ashford Direct (830511) G1

Attachments

S&T example shift pattern - Copy.xlsx

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