Head of Commercial and Supply Chain

We are proud to be One Team at East Midlands Railway (EMR). We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers and doing the right thing.  With over 2,600 employees, our people are the reason for our success, our Fleet (Engineering) Team make a crucial contribution to this, ensuring we have our fleet of trains are safe and reliable to serve our customers. Nine times accredited as a Top Employer, and Gold accredited for Inclusive Employers we value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work. 

At EMR we want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce and recognise that we are under-represented in terms of females and ethnic minority groups. We are therefore taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture; we welcome applications from those that identify with these groups to better represent our communities.

About the Role of Head of Commercial and Supply Chain:

This role, reporting to the Fleet Director and based at our head office in Derby, offers an exciting opportunity to lead with impact. You will provide critical expertise to protect EMR’s Fleet commercial and financial interests, ensuring that we minimise financial exposure while maximising opportunities. The role will also be responsible for leading all Fleet-related contracts, including vehicle lease arrangements, depot access agreements, and Train Service Agreements, while ensuring an effective and healthy supply chain.

Who we are looking for:

We are seeking a forward-thinking leader in fleet innovation who is passionate about shaping the future of rail. You’ll engage with the industry, drive process and system improvements, and help deliver EMR’s future strategy.

Degree in a relevant engineering or management discipline, or its equivalent.Experience of managing and leading multi-million-pound contracts between a Train Operating Company and Suppliers.Significant experience of working in senior management leadership positions of either technical or operational roles, ideally in rail.Proven experience at leading, inspiring and motivating large, high performing teams; demonstrating high expectations of self and others.Excellent written, verbal communication and numerical skillsKnowledge and understanding of National Rail Contract is advantageous.

Why EMR?

Joining EMR means being part of a team that values every voice and recognizes the unique contributions of everyone in engineering. We’re dedicated to your professional growth and ensuring that you have the resources and support to thrive in your career. If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make a real difference, we encourage you to apply and bring your unique perspective to our team.

Ready to Make a Difference? We invite you to watch this video to learn more about what it's like to work at EMR.

As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:

A great pension schemeFree first-class duty travel on the EMR networkFree first-class leisure travel on the EMR network and Train Operating Companies under Transport UKFriends and Family discounted tickets on the EMR network75% discount on national leisure travel (inc partner and dependants)Flexible working hours 32 days holiday per year increasing to 34 after 2 years…and many more!

We are open minded to applications from people who wish to have flexible working. Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking. 

This role is also hybrid, we operate with “more time together than apart” usually this means 3 days in the office and 2 days at home but full time in the office is also available if preferred.

Closing Date: 23 Mar 2025

Department: Engineering

Salary: circa £79,000 dependent on experience