Area Operations Manager (3657)
- Salary:Competitive along with great benefits
- Location:Train Crew Depot - Selhurst
- Contract Type:Permanent
- Closing Date:28 August 2026
Job Title - Area Operations Manager
Salary - Competitive along with great benefits
Location - Selhurst Train Crew Depot
Contract Type - Permanent
Closing date - Friday 28th August 2026
Get your career on track with a team where you can grow, belong, and make an impact from day one.
What You'll Do
The Area Operations Manager (AOM) role is responsible for ensuring the Daily Train Plan is delivered effectively and safely for the depots within their area by effectively leading and managing the Driver Managers in line with GTR's specific standards in safety, competence, performance, and customer service expectations. The AOM is expected to be a highly visible people-focused leader driving improved employee engagement and positive results.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Drive team performance by ensuring that Driver Managers are effectively utilising the attendance procedure and other policies/procedures to effectively deal with all people issues including absence management, welfare, disciplines, grievances, and poor performance.
- Work with key stakeholders to proactively identify and deliver improvements to train service performance.
- Provide advice and guidance to depot managers on ER/TU issues to promote collaborative and positive relations
- Lead, motivate and develop Driver Managers in their area to create an engaged and committed driver community who deliver for GTR's customers.
What You'll Bring
- Appreciation of relevant legislation, industry standards and railway rules and regulations, including how the industry operates in relation to key stakeholders such as the DfT, ORR, Network Rail etc.
- Significant experience of working in a railway operating environment.
- Excellent verbal/written communication.
- Good Negotiation skills.
- Experience of safety management systems and compliance.
What We Can Offer You
At GTR, we are committed to supporting our colleagues both professionally and personally. In return for your skills and dedication, we offer a competitive benefits package including:
- Final salary pension
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Healthcare
- Free travel on GTR and sister groups for you and your family
- 75% off travel on other train operating companies for you, and leisure for your family
- Discounted Oyster Card
- Family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
- Access to StarHub – our employee benefits platform offering discounts with a wide range of retailers and services
- Career development and progression opportunities across the UK's largest rail networks
- The opportunity to make a real difference to millions of customer journeys every year
How to Apply
Please attached a cover letter and CV detailing why you have applied for this role.
We look forward to hearing from you and exploring whether GTR could be your next career step.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Benefits
Pension
Staff Travel
Childcare Vouchers
Extra Holidays
Discount Scheme
Long Service Awards
Employee Assistance Programme
The Transport Benevolent Fund
In-House Occupational Health Department
Cycle to Work Scheme
Testimonials
What our staff say
“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”
Hannah Richards
Fleet Infrastructure Administrator
“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”
Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion
“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first-hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”
Jack Gow
Mobile Station Manager
“I love the freedom that comes with being a train driver. Obviously, there are rules and regulations to follow as well as duties and commitments to carry out, but in a way, you’re sort of your own boss, which is nice.”
Ashley John
Train Driver
“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”
Bob Bryce
Passenger Host Team Leader
“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”
Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager
“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”
Harriet Dee
Team Administrator
“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”
Maggie Luckhurst
Platform / Train Dispatch
“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”
Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager