Rail Operations Safety & Standards Manager
JOB_53933464796567Job type
TemporaryLocation
Newcastle (Tyne & Wear)Working Pattern
Full-timeSpecialism
RailIndustry
ConstructionPay
Excellent Day Rate (Negotiable)
Rail Safety & Standards Manager
Hays Health & Safety are delighted to be working with an established national light rail operator on this exciting role based in the North East.
This is a senior rail safety operations contract for an experienced rail professional with deep, hands‑on operational credibility.You’ll act as the technical authority for operational safety standards and Rule Book content, ensuring they are legally compliant, operationally workable and properly embedded across railway operations.
The role is hybrid, requiring three days per week on site to stay close to operations, with two days working from home.
This is not a generalist safety role, significant rail operations experience is essential.
Key responsibilities
- Own, review and maintain operational safety standards, rules and procedures
- Act as the subject‑matter expert for Rule Book content and standards interpretation
- Ensure alignment with ROGS, Railway Group Standards, RSSB guidance and ORR expectations
- Assure standards are implemented and applied effectively in practice
- Analyse incidents, assurance findings and trends to identify operational risk
- Provide expert input to operational change, including degraded and emergency operation
- Support and advise on incident investigations where operational rules are implicated
- Embed learning back into standards and procedures
- Act as a trusted adviser to senior operational stakeholders and regulators
Essential experience & background
You must be a recognised rail operations expert with safety‑critical credibility.
- Proven experience in a safety‑critical rail operational role, holding formal competence (current or previous)
- Strong experience working in a regulated, safety‑critical rail environment
- Experience developing, reviewing or owning operational standards or Rule Book content
- Involvement in incident investigations and operational safety learning
Essential knowledge & qualifications
- Strong knowledge of UK rail safety governance, including ROGS and HSWA
- Clear understanding of ORR expectations, Railway Group Standards and RSSB guidance
- Solid grasp of operational risk management across all operating conditions
- Level 3 qualification in rail operations, safety, engineering, human factors or similar
- Formal training in incident investigation techniques (e.g. RCA, ICAM, TapRooT)
Benefits
- 12‑month duration
- Excellent day rate reflecting seniority and niche rail expertise
- Hybrid role: 3 days office‑based / 2 days home‑based
- Suited to experienced rail operations professionals now operating at senior safety or standards level
Rail Operations Safety & Standards ManagerJOB_539334647965672026-05-132026-08-11
Talk to Aaron Fothergill-Breen, the specialist consultant managing this position
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JOB_53933464796567