Who We Are
Join the Southern Region - where your work truly matters.
Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day. This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key-and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail. From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.
Section Manager - Communications: Lead, Direct & Deliver Excellence
Location: Three Bridges Telecoms Depot
Salary: £60715 (IMC51)
Hours: Full-Time
Shifts: Days, Nights & Weekends (Safety-Critical Role)
About the role
As a Section Manager - Communications, you'll lead a crucial part of the Infrastructure Maintenance function, ensuring communications assets remain safe, reliable, and compliant.
You'll direct delivery teams and contractors, oversee inspections, faulting, maintenance and renewals, and ensure all work meets safety, performance, cost and quality expectations.
This is a high-impact leadership role requiring strong communication, operational expertise, and flexibility in responding to out-of-hours issues.
What You'll Do
Lead & Support People
Manage and direct the Infrastructure Maintenance delivery team and contractors to meet business and functional objectives.
Develop individuals, strengthen team engagement, and ensure staff competence and welfare.
Promote and embed safe working behaviours, following all company policies and procedures.
Carry out staff surveillance, performance monitoring, and ensure work quality standards are met.
Drive Operational Delivery
Manage and direct inspections, faulting, maintenance and renewal of assets to required standards.
Work within agreed resource levels, budgets and cost targets to achieve performance, safety and quality goals.
Produce and deliver a fully compliant and effective work programme.
Prepare and manage work specifications, method statements and resource plans.
Implement improvements in safety, reliability, productivity and efficiency.
Verify the quality of work delivered and ensure asset compliance.
Identify, assess and recommend asset renewals.
Maintain accurate updates to systems, databases and operational records.
Respond quickly to operational issues, including out-of-hours emergencies.
Support your professional development and contribute to the development of others.
Fulfil duties under the Construction, Design and Management (CDM) Regulations.
Your experience and skills
What You'll Need
Experience managing and directing a team in a technical or safety-critical environment
Strong leadership skills with experience developing and engaging teams
Experience delivering a compliant and effective work programme
Ability to demonstrate, promote and embed safe working behaviours
Ability to lead change and deliver continuous improvement
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to coach, influence and develop others
Knowledge of communications systems or conductor rail maintenance processes, systems and standards
Understanding of budget management, cost control and waste reduction
Knowledge of Construction, Design & Management (CDM) Regulations
Ability to hold and retain required competencies
NVQ Level 3/4 (or equivalent), or equivalent experience
Willingness and ability to drive for business needs
Important Information
This is a safety-critical role, which means you'll need to pass a medical assessment and be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Your role will involve working days, nights, and weekends, so flexibility is essential.
Perks That Pack a Punch
We offer excellent benefits, including:
- Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
- Defined benefit pension scheme.
- 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
- Up to 75% off leisure travel.
- Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.
- Carer's leave to support those who matter.
- Healthcare Scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.
- Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees.
Plus, more...
We're All About Inclusion
We believe diversity drives innovation. Whoever you are, however you identify, wherever you're from - if you've got the skills and the spark, we want you on our team. No suits required. Just bring your authentic self.
About Your Application
As part of the application process, you'll be asked to complete your three-year employment history and upload your CV.
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader 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. You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. 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. Click here for more information.
Safety and Compliance
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.
Drugs and Alcohol Standard
All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.