Team Leader - Heavy Maintenance

Job Title: Team Leader - Heavy Maintenance

Hours: 40 hours per week Monday-Friday, 07:00-15:30 Salary: £46,500 Location: Bristol Contract: Permanent

Client Summary

An established rail engineering and train maintenance business, responsible for the heavy maintenance and servicing of passenger rolling stock. The organisation operates within a highly safety-focused and regulated environment, with a strong emphasis on quality, operational performance and continuous improvement.

Position Summary

The Team Leader will oversee day-to-day depot operations, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards. This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for supervising and developing a team of maintenance staff while coordinating with Project Engineering and other functions to resolve technical issues and deliver planned maintenance programmes. The role is safety-critical and requires someone with strong rail vehicle maintenance knowledge, people management skills and the ability to operate effectively in a depot environment.

Expected Roles

• Lead and supervise day-to-day depot operations and maintenance activities.
• Manage, mentor and coach Team Members, ensuring competence, training and performance standards are maintained.
• Ensure all work is completed safely and in accordance with relevant procedures, work instructions and industry standards.
• Coordinate with Project Engineers to deliver efficient maintenance programmes and resolve technical issues.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, company policies and operational procedures.
• Oversee the safe movement and operation of rail vehicles within the depot.
• Operate/drive rail vehicles where required, within relevant depot limits and procedures.
• Monitor safety, quality and production efficiency across the depot.
• Ensure work areas are fit for purpose and comply with required health, safety and environmental standards.
• Support the development of competence assessments and training for maintenance staff.
• Keep teams informed of relevant business, safety and operational communications.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to improve depot performance.
• Assist with the investigation and resolution of operational or technical problems.
• Maintain effective communication with Team Members, Project Engineers and wider stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate reporting and documentation is completed as required.
• Support safety, environmental and incident-reporting processes.
• Undertake exceptional/out-of-hours duties or travel when required.

Requirements

• Proven experience within rail vehicle maintenance, preferably heavy maintenance.
• Experience managing or supervising rail depot operations.
• Engineering qualification such as BTEC Engineering, City & Guilds or NVQ Level 3; Rail Traction & Rolling Stock preferred.
• Strong understanding of mechanical and electrical engineering principles.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and technical information.
• Good understanding of rail safety, health, safety and environmental requirements.
• Experience leading, coaching and managing a technical/maintenance team.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work to demanding delivery deadlines.
• Good understanding of production efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT and report-writing skills.
• Driver Operator/Shunter competence for the relevant class of rail vehicle, or the ability to undertake the required assessment.
• People management/supervisory training or experience.
• PTS and the ability to meet the required safety-critical medical standard.
• Willingness to undertake required safety-critical training, including depot safety and relevant operational competencies.
• Comfortable working in a safety-critical environment, including random drugs and alcohol testing.