Supervisor - Train Cleaning (North East)

Job Description

BUSINESS FUNCTION: Train Presentation

GRADE: Train Presentation Supervisor Shifts

SALARY: £33,335 per annum

ROLE TYPE: On Site

HOURS: 35 per week

As part of our Train Presentation team, you’ll be more than a supervisor – you’ll be the person keeping our teams motivated, our trains spotless, and our passengers happy. Covering multiple sites across the North East, this is a hands-off but hands-on role. While you won’t be cleaning trains yourself, you’ll be out there with the team – guiding, supporting, and making sure everyone knows what great looks like. And when things go off track, you won’t be afraid to roll your sleeves up, get stuck in, and help put things right.

Based at our Heaton depot, you’ll also work across our Newcastle, Darlington and Carlisle sites – leading a team of around 100 colleagues, mostly working nights, but with day shifts too.

People come to Northern for trains they can rely on – and your work will help make sure that’s exactly what they get.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, motivating, and organising train presentation teams across multiple depots
• Being a visible presence on site – checking in with teams, offering support, and making sure standards are being met
• Managing rotas, site visits, inspections, and performance checks to keep everything running smoothly
• Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement – coaching your teams to take pride in their work and confidence in their skills
• Helping colleagues thrive – especially those who may be newer to the language or environment, with patience, encouragement and support
• Using Excel and other digital tools to manage tasks and keep records up to date
• Travelling between sites when needed – supporting operations across the North East
• Managing absence, performance and behaviours – including having the confidence to handle challenging conversations when they’re needed

About you

Leadership, teamwork, and a can-do attitude – that’s what you’ll bring to this role.

• You’ve led teams before, ideally in a fast-paced or operational setting
• You’re a strong, patient communicator – able to support diverse teams with varying needs and confidence levels
• You’re confident with Microsoft Excel and happy using other digital tools to keep everything on track
• You’re calm under pressure, organised, and able to juggle multiple priorities
• You have a full, clean driving licence and have held it for at least two years (essential for insurance purposes)
• You understand the basics of health and safety (including COSHH), or you’re willing to learn

You don’t need experience in train cleaning, but if you’ve worked in a similar operational or industrial environment, or you understand how things run behind the scenes in rail, that’s a great start.

Important to know

This is a safety critical role and is subject to Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) regulations. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of application
• Currently live within 45 minutes of our Heaton depot
• Have held a full UK driving licence for at least two years (for insurance purposes)
• Pass a safety critical medical assessment (including drugs and alcohol screening)
• Have no defective colour vision

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, after which rail quickly spread across the globe - and this year, we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back on the historic events that led us here, we also look towards the future as we move into the era of Great British Rail. 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 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.