Business Support Manager

First Bus Central Services; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

EAP 24/7 mental health support

Discounts on high street brands

Free bus pass after probation

Cycle to work

Holiday allowance 25 days + bank

Pension scheme and shares

Job summary

First Bus is seeking a proactive Business Support Manager to back two executive-led functions in London or Bristol, with regular travel across the UK. You’ll coordinate governance, planning and leadership activities, produce reporting and executive documents, and provide project management support across a varied portfolio.

You will work closely with senior leaders, manage competing priorities, and help keep priorities on track while continuously improving processes and ways of working.

Qualifications

• Experience in project coordination, executive support, business management or a similar role.
• Experience supporting senior leaders and managing competing priorities effectively.
• Strong governance, reporting and organisational skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities, with the confidence to engage at all levels.
• Exceptional IT skills and ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong planning and problem-solving skills, with proactive risk management.
• Collaborative, proactive and energetic approach to work with people.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted partner to senior leaders, supporting the delivery of strategic priorities and business initiatives.
• Coordinate governance, planning and leadership activities across two executive-led functions.
• Lead the production of reporting, presentations and executive documentation to support informed decision-making.
• Provide project management support across a varied portfolio of initiatives.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and business planning processes.
• Drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance processes and ways of working.
• Build relationships across the business, influencing stakeholders and coordinating activity to achieve shared goals.
• Anticipate priorities, risks and challenges, addressing them before they become issues.

Skills

Project coordination

Executive support

Business management

Senior stakeholder management

Governance & reporting

IT skills

Multi-project coordination

Planning & problem-solving

Proactive collaboration

Job description

About First Bus

Are you ready to advance your career with one of the UK's leading bus operators? Join a forward-thinking company that embraces cutting-edge bus technology, from innovative mobile apps to environmentally friendly vehicles. We are passionate about delivering passenger journeys that are sustainable, comfortable, and efficient. We are at the forefront of innovation in the industry, connecting communities and shaping the future of public transport. Location: London or Bristol (with regular travel across the UK)

About the Role

We're looking for a proactive, confident and highly organised Business Support Manager to support two executive-led functions within First Bus. This is a varied and influential role that combines project coordination, governance, business planning and executive support. Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across the business, you'll help ensure priorities are delivered, governance processes run smoothly, and key initiatives remain on track. This role offers a unique opportunity to be involved in a wide range of projects and business initiatives that are helping shape the future of First Bus. We're looking for someone who enjoys being at the heart of the action, working with people, solving problems and making things happen.

What You'll Be Doing

• Act as a trusted partner to senior leaders, supporting the delivery of strategic priorities and business initiatives.
• Coordinate governance, planning and leadership activities across two executive-led functions.
• Lead the production of reporting, presentations and executive documentation to support informed decision-making.
• Provide project management support across a varied portfolio of operational and strategic initiatives.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and business planning processes.
• Drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance processes and ways of working.
• Build strong relationships across the business, influencing stakeholders and coordinating activity to achieve shared goals.
• Anticipate upcoming priorities, risks and challenges, ensuring actions are identified and addressed before they become issues.
• Spend time across our network, building relationships with teams and gaining first‑hand insight into business priorities and opportunities.

About You

We're looking for someone who can confidently operate across a diverse stakeholder environment, build trusted relationships and bring energy, structure and momentum to a wide range of business activities. You'll have:

• Experience in project coordination, executive support, business management or a similar role.
• Experience supporting senior leaders and managing competing priorities effectively.
• Strong governance, reporting and organisational skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities, with the confidence to engage and influence at all levels of the business.
• Exceptional IT skills, with the ability to quickly learn new systems, tools and ways of working.
• The ability to coordinate multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously while maintaining excellent attention to detail.
• Strong planning and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, remove obstacles and keep priorities on track.
• A proactive, confident and collaborative approach, with a genuine passion for working with people.

Rewards

• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise.
• Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Cycle to work scheme
• Up to 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares

Equal Opportunities

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities, and people. We welcome applications from all. We are always looking for skilled and talented people to join us across our sixty plus depots from Aberdeen to Truro. It takes a dedicated team of specialists and professionals over just about every type of role you can think of to keep us on the road and creating amazing passenger journeys. We’ve embarked on a journey of major transformation – to make sure we put our people and customers first. Our people are the beating heart of First Bus. Without them, there would be no drivers to take customers to where they need to go and no engineers to keep our buses safely on the road. Our transformation programme is designed to reshape our business to meet tomorrow’s travel needs.