Planning Manager (3512)
- Salary:Competitive Salary Package
- Location:Rail Operations Centre (ROC Three Bridges)
- Contract Type:Permanent
- Closing Date:3 July 2026
Join Our Team as a Fleet Planning Manager – Line Manager
Location: Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre (ROC)
Are you ready to take the lead in shaping the future of fleet performance and reliability? We're looking for a dynamic and driven Fleet Planning Manager to join our team at Three Bridges ROC, playing a pivotal role in keeping our railway moving efficiently and safely.
About the Role
As Fleet Planning Manager, you'll be at the heart of operations—developing and delivering robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul plans across the GTR fleet. Your work will ensure a seamless balance between depot workloads and fleet availability, enabling reliable, revenue-generating service in line with the train plan.
You'll also provide direct leadership to the Fleet Team, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring staff are fully trained, competent, and aligned with fleet standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver effective maintenance and heavy maintenance (HM) plans across multiple fleets
- Align planning with SLAs, depot capacity, and resource availability
- Maximise fleet availability for service deployment
- Ensure rolling stock meets operational demands of the train service plan
- Lead, develop, and manage the Fleet Team
- Maintain high standards of staff competence, training, and assessment
Your Impact
You'll oversee day-to-day activity within the Fleet Team at Three Bridges ROC, collaborating closely with internal and external partners—including Network Rail and operational teams. Acting as a central point of contact for depots, you'll coordinate workload planning and drive operational excellence across the network.
What You'll Bring
Knowledge:
- Rolling stock maintenance planning
- Railway Rule Book principles
- GTR fleet and route geography
Skills:
- Strong leadership and people management
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Excellent communication (written & verbal)
- Analytical thinking and decisive action
Experience:
- Proven leadership in a team environment
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Background in an engineering or operational setting
Why Join Us?
This is your opportunity to play a vital role in delivering a safe, reliable, and efficient rail service. You'll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your expertise directly impacts performance and passenger experience.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now and help drive the future of fleet planning.
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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