Volks Railway Seasonal Technician

Job introduction

A unique opportunity has arisen to become totally involved in the maintenance, operation, and development of Brighton’s famous seafront railway during the six-month summer season March to September. Responsibilities include assisting with the supervision and effective management of staff resources, assisting/covering for the railway engineer ensuring the safe operation of the railway and trains, while promoting the service to the public.

Fixed term for: 6 Months

Interview date: w/c 09/02/2026

This role is available as a secondment to internal applicants in line with our secondment policy. Before applying, please ensure you have read the Secondment policy to ensure you are eligible to apply. In accordance with the policy, please ensure you have the written approval of your line manager before applying. Evidence of this must be included with your application.

For an informal discussion, please contact James Barton- Railway Manager on 01273 292718

About the role

• The person will be required to show that they have proven skills in woodworking, mechanics, and particularly electrical engineering to carry out repairs and maintenance, candidates must be able to use hand tools and workshop machinery, as the trains are maintained on site. Experience in basic electronics and fault finding is essential. Checking under the trains is a regular duty each morning and full training will be given in this.
• The position requires the candidate to be physically fit, as you will be required to assist the Volk's Staff and volunteers in repairing the track, line & sleepers and work in and out of a pit under the trains. Minor woodwork and metalwork structural repairs are also carried out to the fleet of six wooden trains which date back to 1892.
• Proven fitting skills, and a willingness to work a roster, including two weekends a month throughout the season from March to the end September should be demonstrated in order to ensure a quality service is provided to the railway customers. An understanding of Health and Safety is essential.
• Candidates should be computer literate in Microsoft Excel and Word as you will write up daily train test reports. Taking five short exams will be a requirement of the position to show competence in railway matters after training has taken place. 

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your Application Form and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Application Form guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Shortlisting guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).