About Network Rail

🌟 Join Our Team at Network Rail! 🌟

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here .

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us , whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

Brief Description

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway. See the diagram for a breakdown of our services. To learn more, please click here to watch our video.

This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customers moving - making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule. Watch our video Working in Supply Chain Operations

Working with us is More than a Salary

About the role (External)

In this role, you'll be responsible for continually improving how inventory is managed across a regional distribution centre network. You'll review stock management principles, adjust inventory levels when needed, and ensure the right balance of stock is maintained. Your focus will be on keeping availability high, reducing excess stock, and preventing shortages so the operational teams can run smoothly.

What are the key accountabilities in this role?

1. Engage with and support the Inventory Manager, Regional Distribution Centre teams, customers and other departments within Logistics and Supply Chain Operations to understand future business strategies and develop inventory stocking principles to support the associated supply and demand plan.

2. Analyse the metrics for stockouts, overstocks and demand/item changes to track, periodically review and report actual business performance to assist with efficient supply chain operations.

3. Collect, review, and analyse category and supplier data for an allocated discipline engaging in regular category reviews to lead changes to the inventory strategy.

4. Provide analysis, guidance, support and quantified progress reports on business improvement initiatives which will include the financial impact of changes in performance to support management with key supply chain decisions.

5. Maintain effective relationships with customers and suppliers through day-to-day activities and query management to support supply contracts achieving the most cost-effective delivery of goods.

6. Maintain sustainable inventory holding at lean and efficient levels, whilst retaining control and availability of inventory up to and beyond the KPI levels expected so that stock is available when customers need it.

7. Resolve daily queries within the allocated discipline from Regional Distribution Centre teams, customers and other departments within Logistics and Supply Chain Operations to support the overall supply chain operation.

8. Review minimum and maximum stocking levels and locations so that the right level of stock is held in the right place.

9. Review and implement changes to ordering setup during periods of change or supply issues to minimise the impact on deliveries of stock to customers.

What are the essential skills and experience we're looking for?

• Analytical, numeric and problem-solving skills.

• Good oral and written communication skills.

• High attention to detail and accuracy.

• Experience using Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and v-lookups.

• Experience of Enterprise Resource Planning supply chain management systems.

• Knowledge of the supply chain.

• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisational skills.

• Accreditation in a subject requiring mathematical or scientific competence or experience in a similar analytical role.

We would also like, but it's not essential:

• Knowledge of contract and supplier management.

• Commercial awareness.

How to apply (External)

Vacancy type: This role is a 12 month secondment / fixed-term contract post with the potential to extend or become permanent (unless a suitable redeployee is identified).

Please note that secondments are subject to your line managers approval. Please discuss this opportunity with them before applying to avoid disappointment.

Location: This position is based at The Quadrant: MK, Milton Keynes (3 days per week in the office). Occasional site visits.

Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working and travel as required. Flexible working (e.g. condensed hours) can be considered.

Salary range: £31,245 per annum.

Closing date: 24 February 2026 . Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

Please that you will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria as part of the application process - please add this to your CV in one document .

Applicants who do not complete this statement will not be shortlisted. Please see attached guide - 'How to Complete Supporting Statement'.

If you cannot access the guide, please contact RSResourcing@networkrail.co.uk and we will send you a copy.

Click 'Apply now' to submit your application. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team, please contact RSResourcing@networkrail.co.uk

If you would like any reasonable adjustments support during your application or throughout the recruitment process , please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist.

Below are some examples of adjustments we can make:

1. Changing a provision, practice or 'the way things are done'
   For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed.
2. Changing a physical feature of our workplace
   For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.
3. Providing extra equipment or assistance
   For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.

There are lots of other adjustments we can consider - please just ask!

The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following;

• Competency Based Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.

For further information about how we recruit, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/how-we-recruit/

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

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details would be shared with the successful individual as part of their formal offer, if applicable.

Network Rail operates, maintains and develops Britain's railway infrastructure managing 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and thousands of signals, level crossings and stations.