Head of UK Overhaul (Manchester)

What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: You will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: Our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: We will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide 'what' and 'how'.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting-edge technology: You will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company?

The Head of the UK Overhaul Facility will take a lead role in developing the business case and subsequent mobilisation of a new CAF UK Overhaul facility that will be capable of supporting the overhaul of major components for all CAF UK light and heavy rail fleets. In consultation with CAF Group partners, you will lead the initial design of the workshop layout to enable the search for a suitable workshop facility. You will work closely with Operations to agree overhaul project delivery plans and manage supplier contracts accordingly. You will be at the forefront of CAF UK overhaul activities and you will hold regular business unit review meetings with key stakeholders. The role will involve some UK travel to specific project locations to engage with our clients and operational teams.

Your daily duties will include:

• Produce a detailed business case and high-level plan for an initial five-year overhaul program.  
• Working with colleagues in the UK and wider CAF Rail Services business units to develop a detailed plan to take the overhaul facility from concept stage to functional including: detailed overhaul workshop layout, facility lease requirements, manage facility civil works and facility fit-out, oversee equipment specifications, installation and test and commissioning, develop process flow maps, generate the staff recruitment plan and training plans, identify supply chain logistics requirements, health, safety and environmental plans, ISO 9001 certification.
• Lead the search for a suitably located and sized workshop facility.
• Deliver overhauls against the Operational demands, working within budgets
• Manage key supplier relationship management with a focus on delivery vs plan, business reviews and continuous feedback through agreed reporting methods.
• Promote the CAF Rail UK Overhaul capabilities, with a view to securing additional business on non-CAF fleets, or CAF fleets where there is no longer a maintenance contract in place.
• Remain up to date on maintenance and overhaul activities and trends in the wider rolling stock market.

What salary will you be paid for this role?

As a Real Living Wage Employer, we are proud to pay competitively at CAF. For this role you will be offered a salary in the region of £80,000 and £90,000 per annum.  

What will make you successful in this position?

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Business management and/or Engineering 3rd level qualification
• Previous experience of successfully delivering significant projects to agreed time plans and budget
• Team Management and Leadership
• Proven management of key suppliers who feed into a wider programme of overhaul.
• Demonstrable supplier relationship management, engagement with senior level stakeholders and other key decision makers
• Ability to identify, propose and implement modifications and upgrades to major components.
• Previous experience working in an engineering or rail environment is desirable.
• Excellent Communicator – internal, upstream, and downstream and to external sources
• Strong negotiation skills
• Relation builder and problem solver
• Able to organize and prioritize work activities
• Creative and innovative
• Language: English. A knowledge of Spanish would be beneficial but not essential