Professional Head of Operations

at  Freightliner

Freightliner is the UK’s largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, transporting containers from all major deep-sea ports to our national network of inland terminals, as well as a leading operator in the UK Heavy Haul rail freight market. Freightliner has operations across Europe offering both Intermodal and Heavy Haul rail freight services seamlessly connecting European countries and the UK.
In the UK the Freightliner Group operates under a number of legal entities including Freightliner Group Ltd, Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, Freightliner Ltd, Pentalver Transport Ltd, and Pentalver Cannock Ltd.
Our commitment to you, once you join our team, is to foster growth and provide developmental opportunities to ensure you reach your utmost potential.
We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their roles.
In return we can offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, a competitive pension scheme and a rewarding career in an award-winning team
Purpose of the Role:
You will lead the development of a robust, evidence led and industry leading operational risk and assurance strategy that will underpin and enable growth and expansion of our business. You will also develop, lead and champion a programme that will place proportionate and effective risk management at the heart of everything we do, and promote a culture of positive engagement in the management of operational risk. You will oversee effective delivery through suppliers, service partners and internal functions, gathering and utilising high quality management information to drive ongoing continual improvement.
You will champion effective and proportionate management of operational risk, act as an expert adviser and critical friend to the leadership team, management and staff, and engage in developing the operational risk management team, to increase reach across the business. You will also represent the company with external stakeholders including industry groups, regulators, and government.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to develop a business focussed operational risk and assurance strategy for the organisation, together with a high level, output focussed delivery plan
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop comprehensive and high-quality management information to support effective targeting and decision making, together with comprehensive metrics to measure effectiveness, performance and benefits realisation.
• Coordinate and support the management of our operating licences, and compliance with relevant industry standards, qualification and assurance schemes
• Facilitate development of ambitious delivery/improvement plans in each area of the business, to include upskilling internal stakeholders to obtain effective engagement.
• Champion the operational risk and assurance agenda, and provide advice, support and guidance to internal stakeholders ensuring effective implementation of improvement plans and projects throughout the business.
• Provide advice and supervision to ensure effective management and remediation of any operational incidents.
• Lead and develop the occupational and operational risk and assurance team, to provide high quality, professional, business focussed support in every part of our organisation
• Develop monthly reports including KPIs to illustrate key trends and inform strategy and planning within the business
• Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and best practice relating to operational risk and assurance, and engage actively in CPD as prescribed by professional body.
• Deputise where required for the Safety and Sustainability Director.
• Other tasks as required by the business

Key job requirements:

• Level 6 or 7 qualification in a relevant subject
• Membership (ideally chartered) of a relevant professional body
• Experience of leading risk and assurance ideally within the rail, transport or similar high hazard sector
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to produce clear and concise written documentation and to present technical detail in a concise, engaging and business focussed manner
• Excellent influencing skills and the ability to engage others in a shared objective
• Ability to prioritise workload and use experience and initiative to engage internal and external stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly and travel throughout the UK with occasional overnight stays
• Be competent in the use of computers including Microsoft 365 suite and relevant specialist software, as well as intranet, social media and other sharing applications

Behavioural Competencies:

• Attacks tasks and objectives with drive, energy and enthusiasm;
• Rolls their sleeves up and gets involved in a wide variety of tasks and activities;
• Demonstrates a “can do” attitude and is seen as an ambassador for the Company;
• Proactive approach to work and uses own initiative to implement process improvements;
• Embraces new challenges and gets things done;
• Sets high standards of work for self and consistently achieves these;
• Seen as friendly and approachable, always willing to assist and get involved;
• Good team player;
• Exhibits and lives the Group’s core values.

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to develop a business focussed operational risk and assurance strategy for the organisation, together with a high level, output focussed delivery plan
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop comprehensive and high-quality management information to support effective targeting and decision making, together with comprehensive metrics to measure effectiveness, performance and benefits realisation.
• Coordinate and support the management of our operating licences, and compliance with relevant industry standards, qualification and assurance schemes
• Facilitate development of ambitious delivery/improvement plans in each area of the business, to include upskilling internal stakeholders to obtain effective engagement.
• Champion the operational risk and assurance agenda, and provide advice, support and guidance to internal stakeholders ensuring effective implementation of improvement plans and projects throughout the business.
• Provide advice and supervision to ensure effective management and remediation of any operational incidents.
• Lead and develop the occupational and operational risk and assurance team, to provide high quality, professional, business focussed support in every part of our organisation
• Develop monthly reports including KPIs to illustrate key trends and inform strategy and planning within the business
• Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and best practice relating to operational risk and assurance, and engage actively in CPD as prescribed by professional body.
• Deputise where required for the Safety and Sustainability Director.
• Other tasks as required by the busines