Chief Operating Officer 
Location: York (with presence across the North) 
Salary: Executive level 

At this point in Northern’s journey, the tracks are laid – the strategy’s clear, the vision’s shared, and the transformation is well underway. What’s needed now is a proven operator who can bring it all to life. 

As Chief Operating Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering that vision – leading the teams and priorities that keep the railway moving and shaping the future of operations and engineering across one of the largest networks in the country. 

This isn’t just a key role for Northern. It’s one of the most influential operational positions in the rail industry. 

What you’ll be doing 

This is a role that stretches across the full operational and engineering landscape – with executive accountability for a £749m budget and the performance of nearly 6,000 colleagues across operations and engineering. 

You’ll lead the day-to-day running of 2,650 services, the maintenance and performance of 376 trains, and the end-to-end customer experience across more than 500 stations. That includes traincrew strategy and workforce planning, control operations, engineering, and ensuring clear customer communications during disruption, in close coordination with our Commercial & Customer team. 

You’ll lead one of the UK’s biggest rail engineering operations – with over 1,700 people, a £400m annual spend and a transformational rolling stock programme that will define Northern’s fleet for years to come. Working alongside your Directors and Heads of Function, you’ll make sure our teams, assets and infrastructure are fully set up to deliver. 

Central to all this is Northern’s ‘90/2’ performance ambition – 90% of trains arriving within 3 minutes and fewer than 2% cancelled. You’ll embed data-led decision making and build even stronger train and track integration, working closely with Network Rail and other operators to align planning, priorities and delivery. This joined-up approach will be critical as the railway transitions towards Great British Railways, helping to improve performance, reduce subsidy and deliver a more consistent, reliable experience for customers across the network. 

As the safety lead for operations and engineering, you’ll make sure every part of the railway meets the highest legal and regulatory standards. As a key voice for Northern, you’ll represent us with government, regulators, mayors, trade unions and industry partners – navigating the increasingly complex environment of mayoral devolution across the North. Building trusted relationships will be critical to keeping delivery on track through collaboration, influence and clarity of purpose. This will be hugely important as the railway moves towards GBR over the coming months and years. 

About you 

You know what it takes to deliver in high-pressure, high-profile environments, and you bring the leadership strength to drive performance, inspire teams and keep things moving when it matters most. 

What you’ll need to succeed: 

• Proven experience at director level or above within a rail or similarly regulated, operationally complex environment 
• A strong track record of performance improvement, change delivery, and cultural transformation 
• Deep knowledge of operational delivery, fleet and engineering performance, and safety management systems 
• Confidence working with and influencing senior stakeholders – from government and regulators to Network Rail and trade unions 
• Experience operating in unionised, multi-site, 24/7 environments, with a collaborative but clear-eyed leadership style 
• High levels of commercial acumen – able to manage large budgets and lead in politically sensitive contexts 
• Strong analytical skills and sound strategic judgement – comfortable using data to drive decisions 
• A values-led approach to leadership – focused on trust, inclusion and accountability 

You’ll be calm under pressure, clear in moments that matter, and motivated by the impact you can make – for Northern, for the North, and for the future of the industry. 

What’s in it for you? 

At Northern, we don’t just value our people – we go the extra mile to support them. You’ll be rewarded with an Executive package for this role including:  

Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe. 

Railway Pension Scheme: Defined benefit, we also top up your contributions by 1.5 times. 

Car Allowance 

Private Healthcare: Family level cover 

Holiday Allowance: 25 days standard with the option to buy an additional 5 days, plus bank holidays 

Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave. 

Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost. 

Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered. 

Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more. 

Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus, enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in. 

Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day. 

Why Northern? 

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,650 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment. 

The scale of investment across the North makes this a uniquely exciting and demanding time to join the railway. Northern is an enterprise partner in the £11bn TransPennine Route Upgrade, and the recent announcement of Northern Powerhouse Rail signals further long-term ambition for our region. These programmes will bring significant operational complexity, and as COO you’ll play a critical role in ensuring day-to-day performance remains strong while the network undergoes major transformation. 

A place for everyone 

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board. 

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview. 

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment. 

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.