We have a fantastic role in our Resources Team at Preston as a Senior Resources Manager where you have the opportunity to make a real difference.

You will lead the Avanti West Coast Resources team in delivering a culture of support and engagement for the business, driving improvement in how efficiently and productively our rostered staff are deployed to meet business needs. You'll lead Avanti West Coast’s productivity strategy for all frontline staff (drivers, train managers, caterers, and station staff). You will have responsibility for train crew productivity initiatives, week-to-week staff rostering, and short-term and long-term diagramming of train crew (drivers, train managers, caterers). You will oversee the generation of quality data analysis for management information and action.

**This is a 6 month fixed term position**

What are the essentials of the job?

• Create a team culture of support, encouragement, challenge and engagement so that all stakeholders understand their responsibilities and where to go for help in delivering them.
• Responsibility for long-term manpower planning of train crew in collaboration with functional management teams, ensuring that we have sufficient crew in advance to deliver forthcoming timetables, taking into account attrition and other demands on workforce headcount / establishment. Working with the central Training Teams to ensure that plans are coordinated and can be delivered.
• Work with functional senior managers to develop strategies to improve staff productivity. Formulate plans to inform future pay negotiations for collective bargaining for all grades, ensuring value for money is realised by the business.
• In between pay negotiations, ensure that rosters and diagrams are compiled in accordance with terms and conditions, ensuring that these are cost efficient and minimise potential for Rest Day Working and overtime
• Implement, continuously develop, monitor and report on Avanti West Coast staff productivity action plans.
• Work with key stakeholders to ensure they deliver their agreed SMART performance objectives within the agreed timescales, challenging them where this is not the case and supporting them to deliver.
• Lead stakeholder management on resourcing issues ensuring that Directors, senior managers and the DfT are provided with productivity data in agreed formats and within agreed timescales.
• Develop and agree expenditure budget for activities and projects. Monitor and report spending and resolve variances.
• Implement new train crew resource planning tools and ensuring these are continually developed so they are modern and fit for purpose.
• Work with the central Training Team to understand the coordination of business-wide training plans to meet franchise objectives and timetable delivery. Direct the rostering teams to plan these out efficiently, communicating them with route management teams.
• Lead collaborative working with the train planning team to understand the effect of forthcoming major timetable changes and short-term plans to accommodate engineering work and major events on staff diagramming. Ensure that plans are made to deploy staff as efficiently as possible, including efficient retention of core and diversionary routes, and traction knowledge.

Experience, Skills and Knowledge

• A coaching style of leadership
• High level of interpersonal sensitivity
• Proven track record in leading teams and managing people and processes
• Proven track record of stakeholder engagement
• Detailed knowledge of the routes, infrastructure and rolling stock operated by Avanti West Coast
• A good knowledge of performance management systems and processes
• Able to base decisions upon factual information and numerate analysis
• Strong negotiator, able to stand ground in the face of pressure, able to see things from other people’s perspective

Please read the role profile for a full list of responsibilities

*Please upload your CV as part of your application*

Benefits include:

• Final salary pension
• Free travel on Avanti West Coast for you/spouse/partner/dependents
• Privilege Travel card (75% off other train operators fares for leisure travel)
• 30 days holiday rising by 1 for every completed year of service to a maximum of 37 days (inclusive of bank holidays)
• 10 free journeys on other First Group Train Operators

At Avanti West Coast, we value the differences that make each of us outstanding! Avanti West Coast recognises the benefits of building a diverse workforce and employing people from diverse backgrounds, which includes their race, religion, age, gender, gender identity, disability and sexual orientation.

Everyone who joins Avanti West Coast becomes part of our close-knit team. We're committed to ensuring that Avanti West Coast is inclusive, a place where people are encouraged to be themselves, and not an edited version to fit in. A place where differences are encouraged, recognised, accepted and put to good use!