Planning Manager - South
About this role
Together, we move what matters
We are at the start of something powerful. Heavy Haul Rail was created with a simple but transformative belief: the UK deserves a smarter, cleaner, more resilient freight future. And we have the opportunity to build it.
Every role in this business carries purpose. Whether you work in operational delivery, driving trains, engineering, or business support, the work you do contributes directly to reducing emissions, easing road congestion, strengthening supply chains and powering British industry. This is meaningful work, with real impact.
Who we are
Previously operating as Freightliner’s Heavy Haul business, we are now an independent company following CMA CGM Group’s acquisition of Freightliner UK’s Intermodal Logistics business in January 2026.
Heavy Haul Rail is the UK’s next-generation rail freight partner built for a sector ready to evolve. We believe it’s time to move differently. Congested roads, rising emissions, fragile supply chains. These aren’t just logistical challenges; they’re environmental and economic wake-up calls. We’re here to lead the modal shift, helping businesses transition from road to rail with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.
We move 17 million tonnes of freight a year for customers in the industrial, energy and construction markets. The company operates 95 locomotives and over 1000 wagons. Heavy Haul Rail’s team of 950 supports customer deliveries to over 100 locations across the UK, running 250 trains per week.
Heavy Haul Rail also supports the renewal and maintenance of the rail infrastructure and supports passenger train operators and rolling stock companies, including the provision of drivers and route conducting services.
But none of this happens without us, its people.
Join our team: Planning Manager - South
We are looking for a Planning Manager to lead our train planning and rostering teams, helping us deliver safe, efficient and customer-focused rail services across the UK. This is a highly influential leadership role where you'll shape both our long-term strategic planning and our day-to-day operational delivery.
What you'll do
As Planning Manager, you'll play a critical role in ensuring our network capacity, train plans and operational resources are aligned to customer requirements and business objectives.
You will:
Lead Planning Excellence
- Oversee our train planning and rostering teams, ensuring all planning outputs are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with contractual obligations.
- Drive the production of weekly train and resource plans that maximise operational performance, customer satisfaction and profitability.
- Ensure rosters are published on time and meet agreed fatigue, industry and business standards.
- Optimise the use of traincrew, rolling stock and network capacity to support business growth.
Shape the Future of Our Network
- Lead negotiations and responses relating to timetable planning, network changes and track access arrangements.
- Represent Heavy Haul Rail in industry forums and with Network Rail, influencing infrastructure, capacity and timetable decisions.
- Support strategic planning activities, business development opportunities and major industry change programmes.
- Champion improvements that drive efficiency, performance and long-term value for the business.
Deliver Safe and Compliant Operations
- Foster a culture where safety is always the priority.
- Ensure compliance with industry regulations, governance requirements and company policies.
- Support robust control processes and continuous improvement across planning and rostering functions.
- Drive operational excellence while balancing customer requirements, commercial performance and safety standards.
Develop and Inspire People
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing planning and rostering team.
- Create an inclusive and supportive environment where people can thrive.
- Build capability through coaching, development and succession planning.
- Promote collaboration and strong communication across operational and commercial teams.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a confident leader who combines operational expertise with commercial awareness and a passion for continuous improvement.
You will bring:
- Strong knowledge of freight train operations and railway geography.
- Significant experience in train planning, rostering or a similar rail operations environment.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
- A thorough understanding of industry planning and rostering processes, including Network Code requirements and timetable development cycles.
- Knowledge of planning systems such as VoyagerPlan and ITPS.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions in complex operational environments.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels, both internally and externally.
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of business performance, resource utilisation and cost optimisation.
- Outstanding organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to challenging deadlines.
- A collaborative approach and the confidence to lead change, challenge existing practices and drive improvement.
This role involves occasional travel and may require overnight stays from time to time.
What Success Looks Like
You'll thrive in this role if you:
- Put safety at the heart of every decision.
- Take ownership and deliver with confidence.
- Communicate openly and build strong relationships.
- Approach challenges with energy, curiosity and resilience.
- Lead by example and inspire those around you.
- Continuously look for better ways of working.
- Balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery.
- Embody our values and bring others with you on the journey.
This post is subject to standard pre-employment checks including employment references, medical and D&A screening, and successful DBS background checks.
Why Join Us?
Here, you’re not one small part of a big machine. You’re a key contributor with national significance and real-world impact. We want our colleagues to feel proud of the work they do, connected to our mission and empowered to shape the future of this business. As part of Heavy Haul Rail, you can expect:
Purpose that matters. Your work contributes to a cleaner, more efficient freight industry.
Opportunity to shape what’s next. We’re new, agile and ready to do things differently, your ideas help build our future.
A team that moves forward together. Collaboration, respect and shared ambition define how we work.
A commitment to excellence. We deliver with pride, precision and professionalism.
Room to grow. Your development fuels our momentum.
Our perks and benefits
Our people are our most important asset. We strive to empower our employees, ensuring they are trained and competent, fit for work, always informed, and completely engaged in our culture that places safety and wellbeing firmly at the heart of everything we do.
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 considerable career progression, and a rewarding career in an award-winning team alongside:
Competitive pay
Fantastic final-salary pension scheme after an initial qualifying period
Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
Opportunities for ongoing training and development.
Access to the company's life assurance scheme
A range of benefits to make your own so you can get the most of your work and home life which will also help save you money and hassle. From reimbursement on health treatments, to savings on new cars.
Apply now
We know where we’re heading. We know why it matters. Now, it’s time to move, to make it real, together.
For queries contact careers@heavyhaulrail.co.uk
Shaping tomorrow. Starting today
The future we want to build won’t happen on its own, we have to move it forward, together. Heavy Haul Rail has the purpose, the ambition and the opportunity to reshape how Britain moves. Whatever our roles, we are collaborators, creators and custodians of a better future. This journey starts with what we choose to do today, tomorrow and every day after that.
Our values are:
Make Every Mile Matter: We act with intention and responsibility, knowing our work shapes a cleaner, stronger future for the UK.
Build Boldly: We use our entrepreneurial spirit to challenge legacy thinking and design better ways forward, for our customers, our industry and each other.
We move as one: We collaborate with trust, respect and shared momentum, because progress is a team sport.
Deliver with certainty: We stand behind our work. We’re reliable, precise and accountable in everything we do.
Fuelling The Future: We invest in our people and our potential, championing learning, curiosity and continuous improvement. with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.