Driver Manager

Arriva Kent & Surrey Limited; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Career development

Leadership training

Inclusive working environment

Opportunity to lead driver teams

Job summary

Arriva Kent & Surrey Limited in Hemel Hempstead is seeking a Driver Manager to lead, support, and develop our team of bus drivers while delivering safe, reliable customer service.

You will own driver engagement, operational performance, and service delivery across the depot, conducting reviews, coaching, and development initiatives.

Join Arriva to shape depot performance, promote a strong health and safety culture, and drive continuous improvement with KPI monitoring and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising bus drivers.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience managing performance, coaching employees and handling employee relations matters.
• Solid understanding of PCV/HGV regulations, driver hours and tachograph compliance.
• Excellent organisational and decision-making abilities in a busy operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of bus drivers to high safety, reliability, and customer service standards.
• Create a positive working environment where drivers feel valued and empowered.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, coaching, and return-to-work interviews.
• Support driver development through training, mentoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage driver attendance, performance, conduct, and wellbeing per company policies.
• Ensure compliance with transport legislation, tachograph regulations, driver hours, and WTDs.
• Oversee driver rotas, shift allocation, and holiday planning for efficiency.
• Investigate incidents, complaints, and issues; implement corrective actions.
• Monitor KPIs such as punctuality, safety, fuel efficiency, and customer feedback.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and customer service for depot performance.
• Champion a strong health and safety culture across operations.

Skills

People leadership

Driver management

Performance coaching

Operational excellence

IT proficiency

MS Office

PCV licence advantage

Job description

Driver Manager - Hemel Hempstead

Join Arriva and Lead the Future of Bus Operations

At Arriva, we know great service starts with great people. We are looking for a passionate and people-focused Driver Manager to lead, support, and develop our team of professional bus drivers while delivering safe, reliable, and exceptional customer service to the communities we serve.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced transport leader who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and enjoys building high-performing teams. As a Driver Manager, you will play a vital role in shaping driver performance, promoting a positive depot culture, and ensuring our passengers receive the best possible journey experience every day.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Driver Manager, you will take ownership of driver engagement, operational performance, and service delivery across the depot.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, motivating, and developing a team of bus drivers to achieve high standards of safety, reliability, and customer service.
• Creating a positive and supportive working environment where drivers feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
• Conducting regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, coaching sessions, and return-to-work interviews.
• Supporting driver development through training, mentoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Managing driver attendance, performance, conduct, and wellbeing in line with company policies and procedures.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant transport legislation, including tachograph regulations, driver hours, and working time directives.
• Overseeing driver rotas, shift allocation, and holiday planning to maintain operational efficiency and service reliability.
• Investigating incidents, customer complaints, and operational issues while implementing effective resolutions and corrective actions.
• Monitoring KPIs including punctuality, safety performance, fuel efficiency, and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Working closely with engineering, operations, and customer service teams to ensure seamless day-to-day depot performance.
• Championing a strong health and safety culture across all areas of the operation.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a confident and approachable leader who can inspire teams and deliver results through strong people management and operational excellence.

You will ideally have:

• Previous supervisory or management experience within the bus, transport, logistics, or wider operational sector.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a genuine passion for developing people.
• Experience managing performance, coaching employees, and handling employee relations matters professionally and fairly.
• A solid understanding of PCV/HGV regulations, driver hours, tachograph compliance, and transport legislation.
• Excellent organisational and decision-making abilities in a busy operational environment.
• A customer-first mindset with a focus on delivering reliable and high‑quality public transport services.
• Strong IT skills, including experience using operational systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• A valid PCV licence would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Flexibility to support operational requirements, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Why Join Arriva?

Joining Arriva means becoming part of one of the UK’s leading public transport providers. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference to both employees and passengers while building a rewarding long‑term career in the bus industry.

We offer:

• Competitive salary of £49,570 and benefits package
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Ongoing leadership and management training
• Supportive and inclusive working environment
• The opportunity to shape and develop high‑performing driver teams
• A key leadership role within a respected and growing transport organisation

If you are an experienced transport professional with a passion for people development, operational leadership, and delivering outstanding customer service, we would love to hear from you.