Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.

We're proud to be named as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth year running. Find out more from our people here.

Our North West route covers Cheshire to Cumbria, including key cities like Liverpool and Manchester, and destinations such as Blackpool and the Lake District. Major stations include Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Preston, and Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria

This busy region sees 1.3 million daily passengers and moves 700,000 tonnes of freight weekly, with 571 stations making up a quarter of Britain's rail network.

We champion diversity and inclusion, creating safe, innovative workplaces. We also support flexible and hybrid working — if it works, we’ll make it happen. Please click here for more information.

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a Section Planner on a 6 month opportunity to join the North West Route based in Preston, to create Off-Track work plans for our Maintenance teams.

Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:

This role involves using corporate planning tools and data systems to create detailed, resource-optimised work plans for Section Manager approval.

Key tasks include planning and optimising activities, updating records, producing safety plans, submitting access requests, drafting quarterly plans, managing weekly planning meetings, representing managers in planning forums, and maintaining maintenance records.

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• Work Plan production and resource optimisation skills

• Scheduling profile in work planning/scheduling system

• Core Planning Skills Level 2

• Knowledge of access and possession processes and systems

• Safe System of Work Planning Process and System

• Good interpersonal, communication and organisational skills

We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be:

• Knowledge of maintenance delivery processes and techniques

• Rail Hub trained

• Ellipse trained

We are a Disability Confident Leader and want to make the most of the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace - skills and talents we need in our business Click here for more information

Salary and benefits:

• Salary: Starting at £27,000

• Pro-rata annual leave entitlement (28 days)
• My benefits – our discounted online shopping site
• A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets
• 75% discount on leisure travel
• A choice of contributory pension schemes
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community

Want to find out about what fantastic benefits we offer? Find out here

Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Closing date: 9th September 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click ‘apply now’ to apply.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision

We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible.

This is a fixed-term opportunity for 6 months.