Sentinel Manager – Rail Compliance & RISQS Lead
Reporting to: Operations Director
Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 per annum
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Type: Full-time, Permanent
The Role
An established and growing rail contractor is seeking an experienced Sentinel Manager / Rail Compliance Lead to take full ownership of rail compliance across its Rail Division.
Reporting to the Operations Director and working closely with the Compliance function, you will be responsible for maintaining a fully compliant, audit-ready Rail operation year-round. A key part of the role will be leading and successfully passing the annual RISQS audit, while ensuring all Sentinel, training, fatigue, medical and D&A requirements meet client and Network Rail standards.
This is a critical role supporting rail operations and ensuring compliance is embedded across the business.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead the annual RISQS audit, including ownership of the Rail Compliance Matrix and audit evidence library
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Manage all Sentinel activities, including Primary Sponsorship, Sub-Sponsorship (in/out) and De-Sponsorship
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Ensure pre-sponsorship checks, competence validity and compliance requirements are fully met
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Maintain and reconcile the rail matrix, Sentinel dashboard and sub-sponsor trackers, completing monthly reconciliations against Fatigue360 and medical/D&A records
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Own the Rail Training Matrix, monitoring competence profiles, expiries and gaps
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Produce regular compliance reporting packs for operational and compliance teams
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Manage operative medical requirements, ensuring auditable and well-controlled records
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Own D&A compliance, including random unannounced testing and for-cause processes (supporting a 24/7 for-cause arrangement)
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Ensure all training and shifts are correctly scheduled in Fatigue360, monitoring hours, travel and rest compliance
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Update Fatigue360 with actual shift data and complete fatigue assessments where required
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Maintain rail equipment registers and support internal rail audits, NCR logging and close-out
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Coordinate rail governance and communications, including:
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Monthly rail review meetings
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Rail TBT annual programme
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Network Rail safety bulletins, briefings and response logging
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RISQS portal monitoring
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CIRAS membership administration
About You
Essential:
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Significant experience in a Sentinel Coordinator, Rail Compliance Coordinator or Rail Compliance Manager role
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Proven experience leading or heavily supporting successful RISQS audits
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Strong working knowledge of Network Rail standards, RISQS audit requirements and Sentinel Scheme Rules
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Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
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Confident communicator, able to challenge and escalate where compliance is at risk
What’s On Offer
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Supportive and collaborative working environment
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Free on-site parking
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Learning and development funding and structured support
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Mentorship and progression opportunities
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Private healthcare (following successful probation)
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Cycle to work scheme
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Regular team socials and events
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Access to on-site leisure facilities, including open-water swimming