Depot Manager – Cambridge
Location: Cambridge
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Average 37.5 hours per week (rotational days & nights)
Reporting to: Regional Operations Manager (South)
The Role
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Depot Manager to lead our Light Maintenance operation at our Cambridge depot. This is a key leadership role with full accountability for depot operation, people management, safety, quality, and performance delivery.
You will play a critical role in ensuring trains are delivered safely, on time, and to exacting standards, while driving continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and a strong safety culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, inspire, and develop depot supervisory and maintenance teams to meet production targets and customer requirements.
- Take full accountability for depot operations, safety, quality, facilities, and performance.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant Health & Safety legislation, company rules, and industry standards.
- Manage depot processes in line with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and RM3 requirements.
- Prepare, manage, and control the annual depot budget and forecasts.
- Act as a senior point of contact for customers and key stakeholders.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement across safety, quality, and productivity.
- Oversee competence management, audits, and accurate operational reporting.
- Provide clear management information and KPIs for internal and external stakeholders.
- Support business development activities and input into bids for new work.
- Participate in the senior on‑call management rota.
Customer & Stakeholder Focus
- Deliver consistently high standards of service aligned with customer expectations.
- Maintain strong relationships with customers and key stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, maximise revenue, and reduce costs.
People Leadership
- Recruit, develop, mentor, and coach high‑performing teams.
- Deliver effective communication through regular briefs and engagement sessions.
- Manage performance, wellbeing, employee relations, and succession planning.
- Complete performance reviews and support ongoing training and development.
- Authorise payroll and ensure accurate people‑related processes.
About You
You will be an experienced depot, operations, or maintenance leader with a strong background in rail vehicle maintenance or a similar regulated engineering environment.
Essential / Desirable Experience & Qualifications
- Experience managing rail vehicle maintenance and depot operations.
- Strong understanding of health, safety, and environmental standards.
- Proven people management and leadership experience.
- Ability to carry out risk assessments and drive safe systems of work.
- Knowledge of ISO management systems (9001 / 14001 / 45001).
- Engineering qualification (BTEC, City & Guilds or equivalent) – desirable.
- ILM Level 3 (People Management) or similar – desirable.
- Membership of IMechE or IET – desirable.
- Full UK driving licence.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong leadership and decision‑making skills.
- Confident communicator with the ability to engage at all levels.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Strong IT capability (Microsoft 365; SAP / Maximo advantageous).
- Comfortable working flexibly, including days, nights, and on‑call.
What We Offer
- 26 days annual leave, inclusive of standard UK bank holidays.
- Pension scheme.
- Life assurance and healthcare cover.
- Arriva UK Trains Travel Pass.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Arriva Village retailer discount scheme.
- A senior leadership role with real operational impact.
- Long‑term career development within a growing organisation.
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