Network Rail
About Us
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter.
At Network Rail, we’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you’re not just part of a team – you’re part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
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. Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About the Role
We are seeking a Roster Clerk based in our Colchester Depot. This role ensures the creation and maintenance of effective, efficient employee rosters that meet operational needs while fully complying with company standards. It applies current national rostering principles, verified competency requirements, and agreed Terms and Conditions to support safe, fair, and sustainable workforce deployment, enabling consistent service delivery, regulatory compliance, and optimal use of resources across all operational environments through proactive planning, collaboration, continuous review, and improvement activities aligned organisation-wide.
Every day will be different, but key responsibilities will include:
- Compile and publish agreed rosters using the corporate rostering tool in accordance with Maintenance Rostering Principles, company policies and standards.
- Prepare rosters for weekly rostered duties.
- Covering sickness, annual leave, training, briefing and special arrangements.
- Liaise with relevant line managers to crosscheck roster data.
- Manage short notice roster alterations liaising with all affected employees and line managers, including gaining verbal confirmation where necessary.
- Respond to and resolve any queries relating to roster issues.
- Make roster arrangements for medical examinations and interviews.
- Make roster arrangements for safety critical competence expiries, training plans, training courses and briefings.
- Monitor competency data so that no base roster shifts are left uncovered due to expired competencies.
- Liaise with associated Competency Delivery Specialist on maintaining competency records.
- Gather and analyse fatigue data and highlight issues to the relevant line manager.
- Provide information and data to support the route and delivery unit reporting requirements.
What’s in it for you
Salary: Band 5 £29,917
Please note, this is a 12 month fixed-term contract / secondment. This role is based in Colchester but there is an expectation that you will attend other sites across the route.
Here are a few of the benefits we offer:
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass – access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform – giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we’ll do our best to assist you. Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Your Experience and Skills
We are looking for someone who meets the below essential criteria:
- Excellent knowledge of national rostering principles
- Previous successful experience in prioritising workloads and delivering to deadlines
- Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Previous successful experience of analysing data and producing reports
- Understanding of conditions of service applicable to rostering
- Understanding of roster systems
- Demonstrable ability to accurately manage data and attention to detail
- Previous successful experience of working in a team and engaging with virtual team members
- Able to demonstrate good general IT skills
It’s not essential, but we would love it if you have:
- Geographical knowledge of the route
- Knowledge of the UK rail industry
