Movements Team Leader

Job Description

Team Leader – Movements
Engineering

Salary: £64,370.00 per annum

Heaton Train Maintenance Depot

Keeping trains moving takes more than engineering skill – it takes coordination, clear thinking, and people who know how to bring a team together. As part of our Engineering team at Northern, you’d be right at the centre of that effort, making sure every unit is where it needs to be, ready to serve the communities that rely on us.

Based at Heaton Train Maintenance Depot, this role plays a key part in how our fleet performs day to day. You’ll oversee the safe movement, servicing and preparation of trains, while shaping how the team works together to deliver consistently high standards. It’s hands-on, fast-paced, and hugely important to keeping the railway running smoothly.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll lead from the front, keeping operations on track and your team focused on what matters most:

• Coordinating the safe movement, marshalling and servicing of trains within the depot
• Supervising day-to-day team activity, ensuring work is completed efficiently and safely
• Planning and allocating workloads so everything runs to time and meets operational needs
• Monitoring fleet performance and working with control teams to respond to issues quickly
• Acting as the designated person for depot protection and overhead line isolations
• Making sure all work meets safety, quality and environmental standards
• Managing team rotas, attendance, performance and development
• Delivering briefings, reports and updates to keep everyone aligned
• Continuously improving processes to make things safer, simpler and more effective

About you

Leadership, organisation and safety awareness – that’s the core of what you’ll bring. You don’t need to tick every box from day one, but you’ll need the foundations to build on:

• Experience leading or supervising a team in an operational or engineering environment
• Confidence planning work and making decisions under pressure
• Strong communication skills – clear, calm and effective
• A good understanding of safety standards and procedures, or the ability to learn quickly
• Comfort working with depot systems and technology
• The ability to motivate others and create a sense of accountability

If you’ve got experience with rolling stock, depot operations or rail safety standards, that’s a bonus. If not, the willingness to learn and develop matters just as much.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.