Fleet Planning and Projects Specialist

Up to £50,000 depending on experience

As part of the Abellio Group, West Midlands Trains delivers around 1,300 train journeys a day, for more than 60 million passengers a year, across our two brands - West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway.

We are committed to delivering a safe and reliable train service, by investing in our fleet of trains, stations and employees. As part of this investment, we are looking to recruit an **Fleet Planning and Projects Specialist **on a **full-time, permanent **basis, based in **Birmingham.**

You will be responsible for operational planning associated with new fleets and significant associated projects and schemes, which impact West Midlands Trains (WMT) train service patterns.

**What does the job involve?**
- Ensure that both ‘business as usual’, and ‘new fleet’, and any associated depot constraints and considerations including maintenance throughput, are considered by the planning team and vice-versa.
- Develop, manage, and maintain the “Fleet Plan” including chairing key internal meetings to facilitate its development and communication. Work closely with Fleet & Engineering colleagues and the Project Management Office to achieve this.
- Responsible for project managing the planned introduction of new fleets (and associated depot works) in terms of timetabling, stabling and maintenance, and impact on driver training.
- Support the identification and advance planning of Network Rail significant schemes, in the context of other West Midlands Trains schemes including new trains and fleet planning, to ensure minimum disruption for our customers.
- Ensure that West Midlands Trains is represented at any planning forum that deals with significant schemes and that changes to the agreed service patterns are a “strategic fit” with Industry strategy.
- Support the Head of Planning, Access, and Timetable Strategy and their wider team with regular updates and reporting on the new trains project and other schemes as required.
- Convening / attending industry meetings where appropriate for any schemes (both WMT sponsored or from the wider industry).
- Drive a collaborative working culture within West Midlands Trains and Network Rail businesses through development and delivery of scheme plans that deliver defined industry and customer benefits, plus reducing costs.
- Produce regular, accurate reports for the West Midlands Trains Limited Board, Exec team, Business Review Group, Programme Board and Alliance Board when agreed or requested.
- Ensure West Midlands Trains meetings and workshops are held regularly and appropriately attended, to ensure full two-way communication takes place with relevant members of the wider WMT team as required.
- Manage and continue development of the Timetable Strategy and Projects Support role.
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade.

**What skills and experience do I need to do the job?**
- Educated to degree level or rail industry equivalent, with demonstrable ability to interpret various sources of information.
- Strong appreciation of importance of stakeholder engagement, and requisite inter-personal skills to engage and influence stakeholders.
- Strong appreciation of importance of customer experience.
- Knowledge of the entirety of the West Midlands Trains network (covering both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway train services) including geography, routes, and service plans.
- Ability to produce clear and concise reports.
- Experience of planning, leading, and delivering complex projects involving multi-disciplinary teams.
- Demonstrable ability to project-manage multiple schemes, to produce and update Project Plans which will then be shared with the wider business.
- Ability to communicate well and manage time effectively.
- The role will evolve; the post holder must be somebody who likes a challenge and will be prepared to seek out the information required from the wider business, and then be able to communicate plans to assist with delivery.

**What are the salary and benefits?**
- Up to £50,000 per annum depending on experience and excellent benefits
- Final salary pension - one of the best pension schemes available
- Free travel on all our trains and those of other train companies within our parent group company - for you, your partner and any dependent children
- 75% off all other train company travel tickets
- Retail discounts
- Career development opportunities

Applications will be considered from colleagues with 6 months experience, after completion of their probationary period and a full check of absence and disciplinary records.