Competence Manager (NW) - Internal applications only (Talent Bank)

We are looking for a Competence Manager to provide professional guidance, operational expertise and safety leadership across our Customer Experience (CEX) team.

This is a key role in ensuring the safety of our colleagues and passengers across the Avanti West Coast network, supporting a culture of competence, compliance and continuous improvement.

About the Role

As Competence Manager, you will play a vital role in maintaining and improving operational competence and safety standards across our frontline teams. You will lead competency assessments, support risk management activities and work collaboratively with colleagues across the business to promote safe working practices and operational excellence.

You will also support the investigation of accidents and incidents, contribute to safety initiatives and ensure compliance with relevant railway legislation, standards and company procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Competence Management: Conduct competency assessments in accordance with Avanti West Coast Competence Management System (CMS) standards and maintain accurate records on the ACMS system.
• Safety Assurance: Conduct risk assessments in collaboration with the Avanti West Coast Management Team and staff representatives, identifying hazards and implementing appropriate control measures.
• Trainer Verification: Verify Train Manager Peer Trainers in line with CMS requirements, ensuring consistent and effective assessment standards.
• Safety Leadership: Work with Route Safety Business Partners to develop and deliver effective frontline safety-critical briefings and support initiatives that improve safety across the rail network.
• Incident Investigation: Support Operational Business Managers (OBMs) and Station Managers in investigating operational and occupational accidents and incidents, helping identify learning opportunities and prevent recurrence.
• Contractor Safety: Review risk assessments and method statements in accordance with the Permit to Work process, ensuring contractors can undertake work safely across the Avanti West Coast network.
• Continuous Improvement: Promote a proactive safety culture, support operational compliance and identify opportunities to improve competence, safety performance and working practices.

About You

You will be a confident and experienced rail professional with a strong understanding of operational safety, competence management and the requirements of working within a safety-critical environment.

You will have the ability to build effective relationships across teams, provide clear professional advice and challenge unsafe practices where necessary. You will be proactive, organised and committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety for our colleagues and customers.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Be a competent Train Manager
• Have a sound understanding of Avanti West Coast operational requirements.
• Have experience of using Safety Management Systems.
• Possess knowledge of Railway Group Standards and Avanti West Coast standards.
• Have a good understanding of relevant railway legislation.
• Demonstrate proven experience in safety management.

Essential Skills

• Ability to identify, assess and mitigate safety risks.
• Confidence in conducting and reviewing risk assessments.
• Ability to undertake safety-critical competency assessments.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with operational teams and safety stakeholders to deliver positive safety outcomes.

Essential Qualifications

• IOSH Managing Safely.
• A1 Assessor qualification or working towards it
• V1 Verifier qualification.

Desirable qualification

• NEBOSH General Certificate.

Interested? Take a look at the role profile for more information.

As well as working with a fantastic team you will also receive:

• Railway Pension Scheme

• 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.