Crane Operator

Job title: Crane Operator 
Salary:  £75,366.00
Contract details: Permanent 
Location*: Ruislip
Application closing date: 03/06/2026 at 2359

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks.  Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.  At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.  

Job role
London Underground is one of the world’s most famous metro systems and is responsible for more than 3.5 million passenger journeys a day. It has 11 lines covering 402km and serving 270 stations. During peak hours, more than 500 trains are in operation. 

We currently have opportunities at TransPlant within the specialist Crane Operations team.  Once trained you will operator various TransPlant equipment including road and rail cranes.  Travel to and from sites throughout the London Underground network (generally in train formation) and worksite operation. Operating to agreed standards of safety, quality and reliability in order to meet the units requirement.  TransPlant is a 24 hours operation and this position will be rostered to cover business needs.

Key Accountabilities 

• Drive and operate various equipment, Road and Rail Cranes on site and in the depot.
• Travel to and from worksites throughout the LUL network. Operational duties will also include other rail mounted plant specifically associated with lifting and loading, in addition to depot activities involving tracked excavators and forklift trucks.
• Perform Banksman Slinger /Signaller duties associated with crane and lifting operations.
• Undertake day to day servicing and assist in the rectification of electrical and mechanical machine defects to ensure plant is in serviceable condition
• Follow authorised Lift Plans or notices to ensure safe operation of plant and equipment
• Proactively liaise with Operational Managers and Maintenance Managers to inform them of condition and action required on Rolling Stock Plant and equipment.

Skills, Knowledge, Experience 

Skills

• Ability to attend, complete, pass and maintain assessments and/or licences in prescribed areas, which may involve off site and/or residential training.
  (Essential)
• Accurate written and numeracy skills in order to record situations associated with crane operating duties. (Essential)
• Verbally provide regular updates to Manager regarding execution of duties and what went well /requires improvement
• Ability to respond to problems and seek or suggest mitigation measures to reduce or remove risk to the network (Essential)
• Maintenance and checking of machinery (Desirable)
• Ability to work in all site areas including tunnels and open section, on both night and day shifts (Essential)

Knowledge

• Understands safe systems of work and able to accurately interpret working method statements (Desirable) 
• Knowledge of the practical aspects of crane operation and the railway infrastructure and geography, rules and regulations, operating procedures and practices safety and customer care standards. (Desirable)
• Competent knowledge of lifting equipment standards and conditions, maintenance methods, components and design (Desirable)

Experience

• Certified Banksman / Slinger (Essential)
• Awareness of Health & Safety arrangements when working on-site and in the depot. (Desirable)  
• Track Certification (Desirable)
• Operational experience of LUL rail-mounted and mobile cranes (Desirable)
• Experience working with crane teams and / or maintenance teams (Desirable)
• SSL certification [Desirable]
• Kirow operational experience (Desirable)

Application Process  
  

• Please apply using your CV only
• Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV
• PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images 
   

Equality, diversity and inclusion 
  
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair. 
  
Benefits 
  
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below: 
 
Final salary pension scheme  
Free travel for you on the TfL network  
Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home 
29 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays 
TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow 
Private healthcare discounted scheme 
Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme 
Retail, health, leisure and travel offers  
Discounted Eurostar travel 
  
We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice. 
 
Vetting Process 
At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout. 

This is a safety critical role so you will need to get clearance from our Occupational Health team before you start.