Engineering & Asset Director (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and 3rd Party Servicing) , DB Cargo UK

DB Cargo UK, headquartered in Doncaster, is the leading UK rail freight operator and part of the DB Cargo Group, which generated €5.4 billion in revenue with 30,000 employees across 18 national companies in FY2024. The company provides safe, sustainable, and innovative logistics solutions, connecting supply chains to domestic and European markets.

Serving a diverse customer base, DB Cargo UK operates from over 130 UK locations with c2,000 employees. The business delivers construction materials, finished vehicles, bulk materials, and containerised goods, while also maintaining rail infrastructure and offering services for scheduled passenger operators. Rail freight contributes c£2.5bn to the UK economy each year, delivering £1.65bn in benefits to customers.

Reporting to the COO, The Engineering & Asset Director will be a key member of the senior leadership team and will sit on DB Cargo UK's Operational Board. The Engineering & Asset Director will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the Asset Management and Maintenance function, overseeing a team of over 800 valued colleagues. The role involves driving operational excellence, ensuring regulatory compliance, and expanding commercial opportunities through third-party maintenance services. A strong focus on safety, innovation, and team development is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement long- and short-term strategies to optimise rail services, with a focus on asset reliability, utilisation, and customer needs.
• Operational and Financial Management: Hold accountability for the engineering budget, fleet planning, and investment proposals aligned with business and customer demands.
• Commercial Development: Grow third-party maintenance services and respond to technological advancements to enhance the value proposition.
• Safety and Team Leadership: Ensure full compliance with safety regulations, promote a strong safety culture, and lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team.

This is a role well suited to an inspiring and commercially astute engineering leader with a proven track record in asset and maintenance management within a high availability environment. The ideal candidate will bring strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of asset management within a closely aligned sector. They will be a resilient and inspirational leader, capable of driving transformation, fostering innovation, and delivering sustainable growth through both internal operations and external commercial opportunities.

The successful candidate is likely to have;

• Leadership Excellence: Proven leadership skills with experience in managing large, diverse teams and creating a high performance culture.
• Safety and Regulatory Knowledge: In depth understanding of rail safety standards (or similar) and regulatory frameworks, including ECM and WTD compliance.
• Extensive Engineering Experience: Demonstrable background in asset and maintenance management, ideally within the rail industry.
• Strategic and Commercial Acumen: Ability to develop and execute business strategies, drive profitability, and identify growth opportunities in 3 rd party maintenance services.
• Analytical and Problem Solving Skills: Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to make data driven decisions and respond effectively to market and operational challenges.

The base location of this role is relatively flexible, but the successful candidate will live within commuting distance of one of DB Cargo UK's key locations; Stoke, Toton, Crewe or Doncaster.

In order to attract the best talent in the market, DB Cargo will offer a competitive package which will include an attractive base salary plus car allowance and an excellent bonus with further additional benefits.

For an informal and confidential discussion, please speak with our advisors at Berwick Partners:

Colin Roope

Associate Partner - Manufacturing and Engineering Practice

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