Network Rail
Operative x2
Location: Leicester, GB
Department Name: MA SM(S), Leicester, Direct (900611) G4
About Network Rail
Join Our Team at Network Rail! This is an exciting time to join Network Rail as we celebrate 200 Years of Passenger Rail: Innovating for the Future. It is not just a celebration, though – it’s a commitment to continue delivering a simpler, better, greener railway. Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7, 365 days a year. From the first passenger railway in 1825 to today’s AI-driven predictive maintenance, the rail industry has continuously evolved. Now, as we enter Network Rail’s Control Period 7 (CP7), the focus is on modernisation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. We’re passionate about great service and commit to our service equation vision by “Putting Passengers First”. Performance, safety and getting the fundamental basics right is something we strive for, as well as asking ourselves – what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do?
Are you ready to make a difference in people’s lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We’re an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. We’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
- 28 days annual leave – with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days
- Access to a range of contributory pension schemes and the potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
- A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train
- Privileged staff travel – Leisure travel discount of 75%
- We can offer you a season ticket loan; annual season tickets are discounted.
- A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
- Hybrid working and enhanced family-friendly support
- Take advantage of childcare vouchers, healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
- 5 days of paid volunteering leave
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community
Brief Description
You’ll help keep our nation moving every single day. A critical part of the work we do is the daily upkeep of the rail network. As an operative you’ll work outdoors in a small team, supporting essential maintenance to keep the railway running safely and smoothly for passengers and freight users. Our operative community comes from a variety of different backgrounds, and this might be the first time that you’ve even considered a career in rail. We’re focused on your transferrable skills and behaviours and if you can demonstrate that, then we will provide you with all the necessary training to have you working safely and competently out on the network.
Please Note: we have 2 opportunities available, and if successful, there may be a requirement to work on call in this role.
About the role (External)
Operatives can specialise in a range of disciplines but for this role you’ll become a specialist in Signalling & Telecoms. You’ll be working with equipment including signals that control when trains can run, level crossings, and points systems. With your willingness to learn, you’ll develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment. Our operatives work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day, or night. You’ll be involved in demanding manual work often with the need to transport kit, across tricky terrain. Being safety focused, respectful of rules and a team player will be critical as you’ll often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed.
You matter to your team
The team depends on you. You’re the one who shows up first and leaves last, who makes sure the van and equipment are checked and ready for every shift, and who drives the team from site to site. Every day you’ll support your team in maintaining equipment and will provide lookout duties to keep the whole team safe.
You matter to us
Your commitment to self-development and continuous learning is hugely important in this role and we’ll provide you with all the training to develop both technical skills and non-technical skills. If you’re joining us from another industry, the structured training will give you the skills and confidence to move into a rewarding career in rail. Today’s operatives are tomorrow’s technicians and team leaders, and we offer a clear career path for you.
Your skills matter
Our operatives play a key role in our maintenance teams. You don’t necessarily need rail experience, but you do need to show how your transferrable skills meet the following:
- Team-working: Our maintenance teams depend on each other and you’ll be able to work closely with the team to deliver safe and efficient work delivery.
- Communication: You’ll have good communication skills so you can work safely and effectively.
- Proactive planning: Being punctual, having the van and equipment ready and anticipating the needs of the team are essential to keeping our passengers and freight moving.
- Working under pressure: Working outdoors in all conditions, and with trains passing close by means you’ll need to remain calm under pressure.
- Following rules and instructions: It is important that you understand and respect the rules, but also feel confident to challenge if you see a situation is unsafe.
- Willingness to learn: You’ll consistently develop your skills and competencies relevant to your discipline, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures, and instructions.
It matters that this is the right role for you
Here’s some additional information which might help you:
- Shifts: Operative roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights, and weekends.
- Outdoor working: Our operatives work outside in all weathers and so you’ll be comfortable working in different conditions.
- Safe working: Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
- Driving: As an operative you’ll also need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.
- Commute times: You’ll also need to be within a 45-60 minute commute of the location that you’re applying for.
How to apply (External)
Salary: Spot Rated £38,482
Closing date: 16th April 2026. Please get your application in as soon as possible; we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications may not be accepted.
What does our recruitment process look like? Once you have applied, our Recruitment Specialist & the hiring manager will look at your CV. If your experience matches what we’re looking for, you’ll be contacted by our Resourcing Team and invited to an interview.
Recruitment timeline:
- Interviews: held mid–late April
- Start date: September 2026
- Training: from 7 September, based in Lincoln
We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.
