Operational Planner

[AndyP]

Hello,

Does anyone know roughly what the salary is for the Operational Planner Job that Network Rail are advertising based at Milton Keynes?

Thanks
Andy

 

[Pumbaa]

Starts at 22k iirc.

 

[CatfordCat]

Hello,

Does anyone know roughly what the salary is for the Operational Planner Job that Network Rail are advertising based at Milton Keynes?

Thanks
Andy

When something looking very similar was advertised in June, the blurb said "up to 22K"

Slightly puzzled that they are advertising again - I know someone who applied and was interviewed in July, and hasn't heard anything yet. On phoning last week, the message was that the lack of a "no" yet should be considered mildly encouraging... This suggests otherwise.

 

[Pumbaa]

The Ops Planner role is entry level. The advertisement is almost permanent. Recruitment is always ongoing. Interviews can be held as often as weekly. It is rare for candidates to sit in the pool for very long. 3 months tops. They've also just finished a large intake for September time.

 

[The Planner]

Staff turnover is high, that is why the advert is pretty permanent.

 

[CatfordCat]

The Ops Planner role is entry level. The advertisement is almost permanent. Recruitment is always ongoing. Interviews can be held as often as weekly. It is rare for candidates to sit in the pool for very long. 3 months tops. They've also just finished a large intake for September time.

Hmm. That news, combined with the lack of response, implies a "no thanks" - unless the July interviews were for (say) October or later intake.

Staff turnover is high, that is why the advert is pretty permanent.

That's not exactly encouraging either. I have been led to believe (and would welcome comment) that the office at MK is gradually taking over work from offices elsewhere, and that quite a few of the existing staff (based elsewhere) are opting for redeployment / retirement / redundancy / whatever rather than going to MK.

Is it just the Milton Keynes factor, or is there anything else (that is safe and legal to publish on the interweb) behind this?

 

[Pumbaa]

No - the Quadrant is great. But with such a large organisation there are plenty of opportunities to move on to better things.

If the entry level paid better people would stick around in the role longer.

 

[The Planner]

Not sure I'd agree with that, but I'll leave it there.

 

[Pumbaa]

Fair enough. That was my impression (above). It certainly was my experience although admittedly I worked by recurring contract rather than full-time positions.

 

[AndyP]

Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately, I did not get past the Verbal and Numerical tests.
No notification of what my score was either, just a standard "we wont be taking your application further".

Those tests are very difficult considering it is an entry level role, what % do you have to get in order to pass them?
Would Network Rail tell me my score if I phoned them?

 

[The Planner]

No, they don't even tell internals what they got. They keep them on file for up to a year though incase you are asked to do them again.

 

[AndyP]

No, they don't even tell internals what they got. They keep them on file for up to a year though incase you are asked to do them again.

Is it likely then that if I applied for the same role within a year of the original application, I wouldn't get past the first stage?

 

[cjp]

With, or so I thought, the railways operating a pretty regular freight and passenger pattern of service what do Operational Planners plan that it is an entry level post?
Just asking out of total ignorance so a short reply is all I seek not detailed job description

 

[306024]

In simplistic terms operational planners, whether in a TOC/FOC or at Network Rail, spend most of their time amending the base plan.

A rough approximation is that 25% of the work is doing the permanent timetable, and 75% is then amending it for Bank Holidays, Engineering Work, Special Events and short notice freight.

Generally the more junior staff tend to learn their trade on Short Term Planning, which gives them the experience needed to work on the base plan when the opportunities arise, assuming they haven't left by then

 

[DarloRich]

There is a high turn over for these type of roles but that doesn't quite tell the whole story - many people use this kind of role as a way in and go on to a different role within a short time.