WM Trains
Control Competency & Development Manager
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Control Competency & Development Manager
Application Deadline: 12 October 2026
Department: Operations
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Rugby
Reporting To: Alex Curtis
Compensation: Competitive DOE
Description
As the Control Competency Manager, you will lead the development, assessment, and ongoing maintenance of skills across the Control team, ensuring colleagues are competent, confident, and fully equipped to carry out their safety-critical responsibilities.
You will act as the custodian of the Control competence management framework, driving both competence and capability development to support the safe, effective, and resilient delivery of train services. Drawing on your operational Control and assessment experience, you will design, develop, deliver, and continuously enhance training materials, briefings, and competency programs for Controller grades, helping to build a high-performing and professional Control function.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and maintain the Control Competency Management System (CMS), ensuring compliance, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
- Manage and develop the Risk Based Training Needs Analysis (RBTNA) for Controllers, aligning training with industry standards, business requirements, and best practice.
- Deliver and oversee a robust competency assessment and verification program for Controllers, including undertaking assessments across varying shift patterns.
- Develop and implement the Control competency and development strategy, promoting a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
- Act as the operational subject matter expert within Control, driving operational excellence, safety performance, and service quality.
- Monitor and assure communication standards across Control, reviewing written, verbal, and digital communications to support consistency and quality.
- Create and lead the Control briefing program, sharing safety updates, operational learning, best practice, workshops, and simulation exercises.
- Analyze incident investigations and learning reviews to identify trends, implement improvements, and strengthen operational performance.
- Develop, maintain, and deliver training materials, supporting onboarding, progression, and development pathways for Controllers.
- Lead and support a network of Control mentors and trainers to ensure effective knowledge transfer across all operational roles.
- Ensure all training content and delivery remains compliant with relevant Rule Book requirements, operational procedures, and safety standards.
- Represent Control at internal meetings, reviews, workshops, and cross-functional forums, providing operational expertise and insight.
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Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
- Holds competency in Controller desks (e.g., Duty Control, Fleet Manager, Train Service Manager), and be willing to maintain competence through actively working on desk on a periodic basis.
- Thorough Control Operational Knowledge, such as (but not limited to) routes, depots, infrastructure, Traincrew Terms and Conditions, exam mileage, fleet requirements, safety of the line incidents.
- Thorough knowledge of WMT Operational Standards, rules & regulations relating to WMT operations.
- Must hold or be working towards a qualification in assessing (A1 or equivalent).
- Must hold or be working towards or willing to obtain a qualification in verification (V1 or equivalent).
- Knowledge of software including Word, Excel, Genius, Integrale, Tyrell, Trust, CFF, and P2 CCIL.
- Able to deliver presentations and group learning activities to both new and existing Controllers.
- Experience of coaching or training Controllers to required WMT Competency levels.
- Hold or be willing to work towards Learning and Development qualifications, such as City & Guilds 001 and 008 modules.
- To ensure continuity and an effective delivery of service, successful candidates will be required to commit to a minimum 14-month period in role after achieving competence. This also includes existing colleagues who move by internal promotions and transfers. This time allows our future colleagues to support personal career development by allowing time to build strong knowledge and expertise.
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Benefits
- A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
- Free travel on all London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
- A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing.
- Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
- A retail discount portal – offering savings, discounts, and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.
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