About The Role As the
Talent Manager (Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition) at
GB Railfreight , you will lead on shaping and delivering meaningful learning and development initiatives that build skills, capability and future readiness across the business. Alongside this you'll support talent acquisition activity to help attract and retain great people who align with our culture and values.
This is a varied and impactful role that combines people development with strategic recruitment, ensuring we have the skills and capability we need for today—and the future.
Partnering with leaders across the business, you'll drive meaningful learning, growth and succession opportunities while supporting a high quality end-to-end hiring experience.
The role offers a salary of up to
£68,000 , plus a
car allowance and annual
performance-related bonus . You can be based in
Peterborough or
Doncaster, with regular travel expected.
Closing date: 26th February - early applications are encouraged, we may close the role sooner if we find the right candidate.
Main ResponsibilitiesLearning & Development- Develop and deliver a clear, future-focused learning and development strategy aligned to organisational objectives and evolving skill requirements
- Conduct training needs analyses and design development programmes across technical, leadership and behavioural capability areas
- Own onboarding and early-career development experiences, ensuring new starters are safe, capable and engaged from day one
- Support performance management, career pathways and succession planning through targeted development interventions
- Design, create and deliver learning solutions that are clearly aligned to business objectives and operational priorities
- Implement a blended learning approach across the organisation, including coaching, workshops, e-learning and experiential learning
- Evaluate learning effectiveness using data and feedback, driving continuous improvement and measurable impact
- Utilise the Apprenticeship Levy to design and deliver sustainable internal talent pipelines, including the development of an in-house Trainee Train Manager programme
Talent Acquisition- Design, implement and continuously evolve an end-to-end recruitment strategy aligned to workforce planning, regulatory requirements and future growth within the safety-critical rail freight sector
- Partner with senior leaders to identify current and future capability gaps, proactively building robust talent pipelines for critical and hard-to-fill roles
- Lead, coach and develop a small recruitment team, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality hires across operational and corporate functions
- Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) by embedding inclusive recruitment practices and developing diverse talent pipelines, particularly within operational roles
- Upskill and coach hiring managers to deliver structured, competency-based and unbiased interviews, ensuring consistency and an exceptional candidate experience
- Develop and execute a compelling employer brand strategy, including content creation, social media engagement, recruitment campaigns and candidate experience initiatives
- Identify, implement and optimise recruitment technologies and data insights to improve candidate experience, reduce time-to-fill and enable more predictive hiring decisions
Experience & Knowledge- Proven experience operating across both Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition roles
- Strong stakeholder management capability, with the confidence to coach, challenge and influence senior leaders
- Demonstrated ability to translate business and operational needs into practical, scalable talent solutions
- Data-driven mindset, using insights and metrics to inform decisions and demonstrate impact
- Strong knowledge of modern sourcing techniques, employer branding and contemporary learning methodologies
- Experience designing and delivering leadership and management development programmes
- Solid project management skills, with the ability to plan, deliver and evaluate multiple initiatives simultaneously
- Experience working with HR systems, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Relevant qualification in HR, Psychology, Learning & Development or a related discipline
- Strong understanding of the Apprenticeship Levy, with a track record of using it to address critical skill gaps
- Experience delivering a range of learning formats, including workshops, e-learning, coaching and experiential learning
Leadership & Management- Experience in line management, or clear potential to lead and develop a high-performing team
- Ability to mentor, develop and motivate colleagues, supporting long-term talent growth and progression
- Skilled at facilitating collaboration, empowering teams and driving high levels of performance
- Confident influencer, able to gain buy-in for significant change and strategic initiatives
Interpersonal & Communication Skills- Excellent relationship-building skills with colleagues, leaders and external partners
- Confident communicator, both written and verbal, with experience presenting to large and diverse audiences
- Resilient and adaptable, able to perform effectively in a fast-paced, operationally critical environment
Innovation & Strategic Thinking- Growth mindset with the confidence to challenge established practices
- Creative and agile thinker, able to design practical, sustainable solutions to complex people challenges
Organisational Skills & Qualifications- Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives concurrently
- Degree (or equivalent) and professional qualifications such as CIPD (or working towards)
About GB RailfreightGB Railfreight are proud to be one of the UK's fastest-growing rail freight companies, recognised for our reliability, growth, and commitment to delivering high-quality service. For over 20 years, we've been so much more than just trains — we're a dedicated team, committed to working together to deliver reliable, sustainable freight services and build strong partnerships across industries nationwide.
When you join GBRf, you become part of a team that truly values its people, works collaboratively, and takes pride in what we do — keeping goods moving through smarter, greener, and more efficient freight solutions.
We pride ourselves on being genuinely value-driven. Our core values guide everything we do, shaping our culture and actions:
Our Values
Professionalism – Safety and security are paramount in our business, and we believe this forms the foundation of a high-achieving safety culture.
Support – We look after our people, and they in turn are encouraged to look after each other.
Communication – Transparency in our business is valued by both colleagues and customers.
Trust and Empowerment – We believe openness and honesty create the best relationships, building trust and confidence.
Enjoyment – Taking pleasure in coming to work atGBRfis actively encouraged, right from the top.
Key Benefits of Working With Us
As well as a competitive salary and annual leave package of 25 days, and enrolment into our Industry-Wide Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, we offer:
- A generous healthcare package
- An online benefits portal offering hundreds of discounts at nationwide retailers
- An electric vehicle scheme (available after your first 12 months)
- Regular social events, including days out for you and your family
- Training and development opportunities, including internal courses and external certifications through our industry-renowned development programs. We prioritise your growth in line with our people-centric culture.
Inclusion Without Exclusion
At GB Railfreight, we recognise that a more diverse range of people leads to greater innovation. We recruit and develop people best suited to the role requirements, regardless of background.
Our aim is to create a diverse workforce that reflects wider society. We champion diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace, in alignment with our values.
