Head of Operational Safety
Job Introduction
Are you ready to lead how safe railway operations are delivered every day?
We’re seeking a Head of Operational Safety to join our Safety & Environment leadership team, based at our Head Office in London Bridge (hybrid working – 3 days on site).
As Southeastern continues its journey towards Great British Railways, this role sits at the heart of our railway operation, acting as the Professional Head of Operations and ensuring our operational standards, competence and assurance activities keep our customers and colleagues safe.
Can you move people? Apply now.
What you’ll do
In this role, your purpose is clear: to lead operational safety standards across Southeastern and ensure the safe delivery of train and station operations.
You’ll act as the company’s Professional Head of Operations, providing authoritative advice on Railway Group Standards, Rail Industry Standards and company instructions, ensuring consistency, compliance and continuous improvement.
You’ll oversee competence management systems for safety‑critical operational roles, lead operational assurance and audits, and review high‑level accident and incident investigations to ensure learning is embedded and risk is reduced.
Working closely with Train Services, Passenger Services, Engineering and Major Programmes teams, you’ll shape how operational safety supports change across infrastructure, rolling stock and signalling.
This is a role for someone who can set standards, influence at senior level without direct authority, and balance operational rigour with practical, real‑world delivery.
The experience you’ll need
We encourage you demonstrate how your talents align with the below in your application;
- You dare to lead – providing clear professional authority, team leadership and confident decision‑making
- You are a trusted operational safety expert – with deep knowledge of railway operations and standards (including train driving rules, instructions and Railway Group and Company Safety Standards)
- You understand competence and assurance – including assessment, verification and audit activity
- You are calm under pressure – able to lead during incidents and investigations
- You influence with credibility – guiding senior leaders and external stakeholders
- You bring relevant safety and operational qualifications/competence
- NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent
- Personal Track Safety (PTS)
- SE/WI/OPS/001 – Train Driving Management and Competence.
- Accident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis
- Use of Non-Technical Skills
- Level 3 Award in assessing (or working towards)
- You understand Network Rail‑controlled infrastructure and train operations
- Railway operational experience is essential
As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role. Find out more here.
Other things to know
- This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early.
- All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role.
- If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southeastern, please wait six months before applying again.
Find out more about our recruitment process and get tips to help you apply.
What you’ll get in return
Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:
- a final salary pension
- 25 days annual leave allowance (plus bank holidays)
- free rail travel across our networks.
Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work. Click here to see our full range of amazing benefits.
A bit about Southeastern
We’re one of Britain's busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations.
However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey.
It’s also about making our railway a great place to work and building a team that represents the communities we serve. We’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment, and we’re proud that this continues to be recognised through employer accreditations and our ongoing endorsement as a WORK180 Employer for Women.
Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeastern. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us.
At the heart of everything we do, our Safeguarding Team works to keep our customers, colleagues, and the public safe by improving safeguarding measures and knowledge making sure everyone gets home safe, every day.
SE Trains Limited
