Head of Operations

**Description**

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Everything we do here is full of life. And we’re committed to developing infrastructure that benefits even more people. From the iconic bullet train in Japan, to sustainable metro systems in Europe and inspiring the next generation in North America. We’re connecting, evolving, protecting and investing in even more. And there’s so much for you to get involved in, learn from, and flourish doing.

**Your new role**

Hitachi Rail is in the process of preparing to introduce the Class 810 Fleet, which is being built at our Newton Aycliffe factory for our customer, East Midlands Railway. Once the fleet is introduced, the team lead by the Head of Operations are responsible for the maintenance and delivery of the fleet into service from our Train Maintenance Centre at Etches Park in Derby, and the management of the fleet whilst in service across the East Midlands network.

Acting as a core member of the Midlands team, the Head of Operations will work closely with Project, Engineering and Contractual colleagues as well as the core business partners to deliver a positive service for East Midlands Railway and their customers. Initially focussing on the East Midlands project, the role may be required to support other Hitachi locations in future.

Specifically, you will be responsible for the following deliverables:
**Main Responsibilities**
- To lead the operational teams who undertake train preparation, light and heavy maintenance activities across Train Maintenance Centre (TMC), outstations or other locations including in-service support.
- To ensure a strong culture in relation to occupational safety and environmental compliance.
- To liaise with the customers operational teams, to support their aspirations for operational performance and provision of the train service whilst ensuring that Hitachi’s contractual position is protected.
- To develop and support a positive workforce engagement culture supporting staff wellbeing, driving improvements in D&I standards and supporting apprenticeships and staff development.
- To drive continuous improvement across the teams, working with other HRL locations and industry to learn from and implement best practice.
- To set the strategy for and act as an escalation point for trade union relationships.
- To deliver strong operational performance, working closely with engineering teams to develop and implementing strategies to ensure that targets are consistently achieved and to take appropriate remedial action to drive improvement.
- To act as a key member of the contract core leadership teams, supporting the delivery of the contracts and achievement of the required business targets including safety, quality and financial measures.
- To act as a role model for professional behaviours and support good working relationships with all stakeholders.
- To establish positive business relationships between EMR and Hitachi and take a leading role in managing the relationship.
- To develop and foster a quality improvement culture, setting standards and ensuring standards and best practice relating to ECM, competence and overall product quality and maintained at all times.
- Manage annual operating costs, including achievement of Under Over Absorption (UOA) and headcount targets set out in S&M business plan.
- Provide coaching and development support to help direct reports succeed in their role, in line with business talent management processes.
- Develop and mobilise new depots and sites.
- Deputise for relevant directors as required.
- To undertake similar duties for other Midlands team, OS&M and Hitachi locations and contracts as may be required in future.
- To undertake ontinuing professional development as part of the role.
- To undertake other duties as instructed by the line manager

**About you**

**Essential**

**Licences / Competences**
- Demonstrable experience in working at a senior operational level delivering service based operations within rail, with direct team management experience
- Strong interpersonal and commercial competence
- Strong leadership and management experience
- Experience of train maintenance and overhaul operations
- Understanding of business systems and ERP solutions, such as SAP

**Qualifications**
- Relevant Degree, HND or equivalent experience.
- Leadership and management training / experience.

**Behavioural**
- Proven people and operational leadership skills
- A role model of strong safety leadership
- Self-starter, comfortable working in a fluid and evolving environment with an ability to prioritise and deliver on time
- Confident and determ