Job Specification – Track Maintenance Team Leader with COSS
Location: Reading and surrounding routes
Reporting to: Project Manager
Role Purpose
The successful candidate will have a strong practical background in railway track maintenance and a detailed understanding of working safely on or near the operational railway. They will be responsible for leading teams, coordinating work activities and ensuring that all maintenance work is completed safely, efficiently and to the required Network Rail standards.
The role requires a hands‑on leader who can make sound decisions under pressure, communicate effectively with the workforce and management, and maintain a consistently high standard of safety.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and supervise track maintenance teams during planned and reactive maintenance activities.
- Act as an experienced Controller of Site Safety (COSS) where required.
- Take responsibility for establishing and maintaining safe systems of work within the limits of the COSS role.
- Deliver clear and effective safety briefings to track teams before work commences.
- Ensure all staff understand the relevant Safe Work Pack, risks, controls and site arrangements.
- Carry out dynamic risk assessments and respond appropriately to changing site conditions.
- Ensure track maintenance activities are carried out in accordance with Network Rail standards, procedures and approved methods of working.
- Supervise track maintenance, renewals, repairs and inspection activities.
- Monitor the condition of track, track components and associated infrastructure, reporting defects and issues appropriately.
- Support planned and reactive maintenance activities, including responding to faults and defects.
- Work safely within possessions, line blockages and engineering hours.
- Coordinate with Signalling & Telecoms, Electrification & Plant, Operations and other maintenance disciplines where required.
- Liaise with Engineering Supervisors, Site Supervisors, Section Managers and other Network Rail personnel.
- Ensure plant, tools, materials and equipment are available and suitable for the planned work.
- Check that staff are competent and appropriately briefed for the tasks being undertaken.
- Monitor the quality of completed work and ensure defects are rectified appropriately.
- Ensure work sites are left safe, secure and compliant following completion.
- Report incidents, near misses, defects and safety concerns promptly.
- Support investigations and implement corrective actions where required.
- Maintain accurate site records, work documentation and safety paperwork.
- Mentor and support less‑experienced members of the track maintenance team.
- Promote a strong safety culture and challenge unsafe behaviours or working practices.
- Stop work where conditions become unsafe and escalated issues through the appropriate management channels.
Track Maintenance Experience
The successful candidate should have substantial practical experience in railway track maintenance, with knowledge of activities such as:
- Track inspection and maintenance.
- Track defect identification and reporting.
- Rail replacement and repair.
- Sleeper replacement.
- Ballast maintenance and regulation.
- Track geometry and alignment.
- Points and crossings maintenance.
- Track renewals and refurbishment.
- Fishplate and rail fastening systems.
- Joint maintenance and repairs.
- Hand tamping and/or mechanised maintenance activities.
- Use of track tools, equipment and plant.
- Working within possessions and line blockages.
- Preparation and reinstatement of the track following maintenance activities.
- Experience of working across different track maintenance environments would be highly advantageous.
Safety Responsibilities
Safety is the primary responsibility of the role.
The Team Leader must:
- Maintain a safety-first approach at all times.
- Ensure the workforce is properly briefed before work starts.
- Confirm that safe working arrangements are in place.
- Identify and control hazards associated with track maintenance.
- Maintain awareness of train movements, adjacent lines and other operational risks.
- Ensure staff use the correct PPE and equipment.
- Challenge unsafe acts and behaviours.
- Ensure the limits of the safe system of work are understood and maintained.
- Stop work when required to protect people or railway infrastructure.
- Escalate safety-critical issues immediately.
Essential Competencies & Qualifications
The candidate should hold current and relevant railway competencies, including:
- COSS – current and valid.
- PTS – current and valid.
- Relevant track maintenance competencies.
- Relevant track inspection/maintenance competencies applicable to the position.
- Appropriate track machinery/plant competencies where required.
- Relevant Network Rail safety and operational competencies.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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