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FlixTrain is seeking a Director of Operations & Safety to lead the operational heart of Germany's largest private long-distance rail operator. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will oversee all operational functions and build the leadership team across the organization.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own operational and production planning, shift scheduling, and personnel deployment to ensure safe, reliable, and punctual train service
- Lead the control center (Leitstelle) managing real-time operations, incident management, and personnel disposition with composure under pressure
- Jointly oversee railway safety with the Safety Manager, ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a strong safety culture across safety teams and operational controllers
- Ensure fleet availability and disposition in close collaboration with maintenance partners
- Define and continuously optimize service standards and operational quality, including cleanliness, waste management, and customer experience
- Manage operational partners and subcontractors, harmonize standards with partner rail operators, optimize interfaces, and drive process excellence
- Define requirements for software development, automation, and digitalization of workflows; harmonize the software landscape for usability across all functions
- Own the operational budget and key performance indicators including reliability, safety, punctuality, cleanliness, shift staffing, and fleet availability
You will work in a hybrid model (3 days office, 2 days remote per week) with significant autonomy to shape the operations of a high-growth transportation company. The role offers direct influence on strategy and immediate visibility of impact.
Requirements:
- Approximately 10 years of professional experience with demonstrated responsibility and leadership capability
- Essential: Railway industry background with operational understanding of dispatch and planning
- Leadership experience in operational functions and proven ability to build teams and structures
- Fluent German (business proficiency required)
- Ideally, foundational railway training followed by career progression (e.g., consulting roles leading to operational leadership)
- Desirable: Experience scaling operations in high-growth environments, railway safety management systems (SMS) background, and fleet management experience
- Entrepreneurial mindset with passion for building processes and driving optimization
