General Manager Regional Rail Operations
Brisbane, QLD, AU, 4000
Queensland Rail – Where Connection Counts.
Your opportunity
Our General Manager Regional Rail Operations is where a tomorrow that counts is shaped by driving safe, reliable, and sustainable rail services that enhance regional communities and economies.
This safety-critical role is responsible for the safe and efficient movement of trains across Regional Queensland, managing both above and below rail operations. You will lead and provide strategic oversight of Regional Train Control, Train Planning, Travel Network & Customer Interface operations, supporting a regional team based in Townsville and Brisbane, while ensuring the delivery of rail services, infrastructure maintenance planning, freight customer relationships, and crisis response.
What You’ll Lead and Deliver
• Directly lead 5 senior leaders, and indirectly a dedicated team of 140 operational and support employees across regional locations.
• Ensure team deliver business targets, safety outcomes, and performance improvements.
• Contribute as a senior leader to operational strategy, stakeholder engagement, risk management, financial oversight, and people leadership.
• Build strong relationships at all levels to ensure seamless customer experiences, meet contractual obligations, and enhance service delivery.
• Guide service planning and identify opportunities to grow capacity, including freight and regional timetable coordination.
• Lead integrated freight transport initiatives with operators and transport peers.
• Oversee Network Control and day-of-operations, ensuring compliance with all safety, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Manage Travel Network and Customer Interface teams, aligning with Train Control and Planning for optimal service and disruption response.
• Drive a customer-focused, commercially minded culture to improve efficiency, service quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Promote a high-performance culture focused on teamwork, capability, risk management, and service excellence.
• Lead Regional Train Control and Planning, empowering effective operational decision-making.
• Collaborate with freight operators, regulators, government, and internal teams to ensure safe, integrated operations across Regional Queensland.
Please see full Position Description.
What You’ll Bring
• Extensive leadership experience in rail or complex, safety-critical industry.
• Proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams, focusing on people and capability development.
• Experience operating in regional markets, with an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities when serving regional areas.
• Preferred background in government or public sector, with understanding of stakeholder dynamics.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen combined with a passion for safety and operational excellence.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement across freight, government, customers, and internal teams.
Remuneration and Work Arrangement
This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based in either Townsville or Brisbane CBD, offering a competitive remuneration package and relocation if required.
The role includes regular travel to maintain strong, visible support across teams and ensure effective regional engagement.
Benefits that Count
All that Queensland Rail achieves each day relies on the hard work and talent of our teams. That’s why we offer a range of attractive benefits designed to help you bring your best, including:
• Balance your work and personal life with flexible working options
• Enjoy free rail travel to work and novated leasing
• Prioritise your physical, emotional and financial wellbeing with our range of services QRI Lifestyle
• Eligible employees can receive up to 100% reimbursement for professional membership fees
And more! See the full range of benefits available to Queensland Rail employees.
Progress that Counts
Queensland Rail stands on the foundation of true connection, encompassing the relationships we foster within our teams and the communities we serve across the state. For over 150 years, we've been instrumental in linking people and places, and now we invite you to contribute to our proud legacy, we look to the future focusing on improving customer experience, safety, and efficiency.
Supporting a Diverse Workforce
Queensland Rail acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Elders of the lands and waterways our network traverses.
Our teams are People who Count. We encourage diversity in our teams, including different genders, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religions, neurodiversity, education levels and many more aspects. No two journeys are the same, and it’s because of our differences that as a collective, we achieve great things.
Please advise if you would like to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process.
Your journey matters. Make it with us.
There’s never been a more exciting time to join Queensland Rail. If you're ready to make a real impact and help shape our future, we encourage you to submit your resume and cover letter by 11:59 PM (AEST) on Monday, 9th of June 2025.
To learn more about this opportunity please contact Candis Hockins with your specific enquiry via candis.hockins@qr.com.au