Who We Are
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.
Our North West route covers Cheshire to Cumbria, including key cities like Liverpool and Manchester, and destinations such as Blackpool and the Lake District. Major stations include Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Preston, and Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria
This busy region sees 1.3 million daily passengers and moves 700,000 tonnes of freight weekly, with 571 stations making up a quarter of Britain's rail network.
In the North West & Central Region, we're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply.
If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail.
About the role
Are you highly organised, commercially aware and confident turning complex information into clear actions and decisions?
We're looking for a Route Support Manager to play a key role in supporting the effective planning and performance of the Route. Working closely with the Area Director and senior stakeholders, you'll help bring together business planning, performance reporting, investment and risk, providing the insight and coordination needed to keep priorities on track.
You will provide support and coordination to the Area Director team on business planning and reporting on business performance, programmes of work and improvement initiatives.
Please note this is a 12 month fixed-term opportunity with the potential to be extended or made permanent.
What you'll be doing
In this varied and influential role, you'll:
- Support the development of Area Director business plans, helping translate priorities into clear and deliverable plans.
- Bring together the periodic business report, providing a clear picture of performance, progress and emerging priorities.
- Coordinate delivery unit business reviews, ensuring meetings are well organised and actions are captured, tracked and driven through to completion.
- Develop investment proposals and supporting business cases, coordinating review, feedback and approvals.
- Produce Route-level progress reporting across key programmes of work, giving stakeholders clear visibility of delivery.
- Lead and coordinate the integrated risk management process, ensuring risks are actively identified, monitored and managed.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date risk information within the Active Risk Manager database.
- Build strong relationships across the Route, bringing people and information together to support effective decision-making and continuous improvement.
Why this role?
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being at the heart of a busy operational business, working across multiple priorities and engaging with stakeholders at different levels.
You'll have the opportunity to influence how the Route plans, monitors performance, manages investment and responds to risk, making sure senior leaders have the right information at the right time to make informed decisions.
If you're proactive, organised and comfortable connecting the dots between performance, planning, investment and risk, we'd love to hear from you.
What's in it for you:
We are a Disability Confident Leader and want to make the most of the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace - skills and talents we need in our business Click here for more information.
Salary and benefits:
Want to find out about what fantastic benefits we offer? Find out here
Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.
Closing date: 25th November 2026. Late applications may not be accepted. We reserve the right to close the advert early should there be a high number of applicants.
Click 'apply now' to apply.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision
We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible.
This is a fixed-term opportunity for up to 12 months.
Your experience and skills
In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:
- Knowledge of business planning, commercial and financial management processes and techniques.
- Good analytical skills
- Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisation skills
We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:
- Experience in maintenance management, processes and techniques
- Knowledge of operational railway environment
- Degree qualification
- Membership of a professional body
- Knowledge of coaching techniques