Network Rail
Operative x2
Location: Derby, GB
Department Name: MA SM(Tr), Loscoe, Direct (901211) G4
About Network Rail
Join our team at Network Rail! This is an exciting time as we celebrate 200 years of passenger rail and innovate for the future. We are committed to 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. As we enter Control Period 7 (CP7), our focus is on modernisation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. We’re passionate about great service and committed to “Putting Passengers First”. Performance, safety, and getting the fundamental basics right are paramount.
Are you ready to make a difference? 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.
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.
Network Rail Employee 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%
- Season ticket loan; annual season tickets are discounted
- A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options
- Hybrid working and enhanced family-friendly support
- Childcare vouchers, healthcare offers, 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 backgrounds. We’re focused on your transferable skills and behaviours, and if you can demonstrate that, we will provide you with all the necessary training.
If you make the grade, you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that recently joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor’s 2021 Best Places to Work.
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 Track. You’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and repairing the track network (also known as the Permanent Way or P-Way) to keep the railway safe and efficient. This is a very manual role as you’ll be working with rails, sleepers, and ballast that support the trains, together with their associated drainage and ancillary structures.
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 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 transferable 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, 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 60-minute commute of the location that you’re applying for.
How to Apply (External)
Salary: Spot Rated £32,639
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 and 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.
