Continuous Improvement Manager

First Bus Central Services; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing benefits

Free bus pass after probation

Cycle to work scheme

Pension scheme

Up to 25 days holiday + bank holidays

Employee discounts

Job summary

First Bus is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational performance across Regional Bus, reporting to the Head of Continuous Improvement. You will work with depot and regional leaders to identify opportunities, tackle challenges and deliver sustainable change.

You will ensure best practices, processes and standards are consistently applied, helping teams work more effectively and deliver better outcomes across multiple sites in the UK.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence or performance improvement, ideally within a multi-site environment.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques, such as Lean or Six Sigma.

Responsibilities

• Lead data-driven improvement initiatives across depots and regions to enhance operational performance.
• Apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to identify challenges and deliver lasting improvements.
• Collaborate with operational leaders to identify performance gaps and prioritise improvement activity.
• Develop, document and share operational standards and best practices across Regional Bus.
• Analyse performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, turning insights into actions.
• Work with Data & Analytics teams to improve reporting, dashboards and insights.
• Build relationships with General Managers and Service Delivery Directors to support change.
• Monitor and measure improvements to demonstrate tangible, sustainable results.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and encourage efficient ways of working.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Operational excellence

Lean or Six Sigma

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

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: Remote, with frequent travel required across the UK

About the Role

We're looking for a Continuous Improvement Manager to help drive operational performance and improvements across First Bus Regional Bus. Reporting to the Head of Continuous Improvement, you'll work closely with depot and regional leadership teams to identify opportunities for improvement, tackle operational challenges and deliver meaningful, sustainable change.

You'll play a key role in ensuring best practices, processes and standards are consistently applied across our regions, helping our teams work more effectively and deliver better operational outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead targeted, data-driven improvement initiatives across depots and regions to enhance operational performance.
• Use structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to identify challenges, develop solutions and deliver lasting improvements.
• Work closely with operational leaders to identify performance gaps, prioritise improvement activity and support performance recovery.
• Develop, document and share operational standards, processes and best practices to drive consistency across Regional Bus.
• Analyse performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, turning insights into practical actions.
• Collaborate with Data & Analytics teams to improve reporting, dashboards and performance insights.
• Build strong relationships with General Managers, Senior General Managers and Service Delivery Directors to support and embed change.
• Monitor and measure improvement initiatives, ensuring they deliver tangible, sustainable results.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to identify opportunities and adopt more effective ways of working.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence or performance improvement, ideally within a multi-site environment.
• A strong track record of delivering measurable operational improvements through data-led initiatives.
• Experience using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques, such as Lean or Six Sigma.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex data into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience working collaboratively with operational teams in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage colleagues at all levels.
• A practical, hands-on approach, combining analytical thinking with the ability to drive and embed operational change.

Salary

Competitive, plus up to 15% annual bonus

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 be 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.

Transformation Programme

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 transformation programme is designed to reshape our business to meet tomorrow’s travel needs.

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.