Operational Safety Manager

First Bus; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

First Bus is seeking an Operational Safety Manager to drive safety performance across multiple garages in Greater London. You will lead risk management, governance, and safety culture improvements across complex operations.

You will chair safety governance, manage incident investigations, and engage with stakeholders including unions and regulators to embed safety into daily decisions.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) is required.
• Proven experience in operational or safety-critical environments.
• Strong incident investigation and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and drive safety improvements.
• Experience implementing Safety Management Systems at site level.

Responsibilities

• Lead workplace health and safety and road-risk performance across garages.
• Own safety risk profile and ensure effective controls.
• Oversee risk-based interventions and governance at local level.
• Manage incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Engage with stakeholders to embed safety into operations.

Skills

Safety leadership

Risk management

Incident investigation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

NEBOSH General Certificate

IOSH Managing Safely

Job description

We're looking for an Operational Safety Manager to take accountability for safety performance across multiple garages. This is a key operational leadership role responsible for directing safety interventions, overseeing risk management activity and influencing operational decision making to improve safety outcomes.

As the primary safety authority for your allocated locations, you will support garage leadership teams, strengthen local governance and drivecontinuous improvement in local safety culture, behaviour and standards.

What you’ll be doing

Operational Safety Accountability

• Lead workplace health and safety and road-risk performance across allocated garages
• Own thesafety risk profile of allocated garages and ensure effective and sustainable controls
• Ensure safety performance targets are met through consistent oversight and intervention
• Provide updates and insights to seniorsafety leadership when required

Garage Safety Local Governance

• Chair depot safety meetings and monitor local safety improvement plans.
• Ensure garagemanagement maintains strong safety arrangements and compliance
• Drive consistent application of the organisation's Safety Management System
• Escalate significant risks or systemic failures through the appropriate channels

Workplace Health & Safety Performance Leadership

• Ensure risk assessments and safe systems of work are robust and effectively applied
• Lead responses to workplace safety concerns or compliance gaps
• Oversee engineering, contractor and garage safety risk controls
• Intervene where operational standards fall below expected levels

Road Risk & Driver Safety Performance

• Lead road safety improvement activity, including collision reduction initiatives.
• Oversee behavioural and telematics data to identify trends and target interventions
• Ensure route risk assessments and operational reviews are completed and acted upon
• Challenge and support garage management where road safety performance declines

Incident Investigation & Corrective Action Oversight

• Lead investigations into serious or high‑potential incidents
• Identify root causes and systemic weaknesses
• Approve andsupport corrective and preventative actions, ensuring they are delivered and effective
• Embed learning andimprovements locally

Safety Performance Monitoring & Risk Escalation

• Monitor safety KPIs across your garages and act on emerging risks
• Initiate targeted improvement activity where performance deteriorates
• Require remedial action when risk thresholds are exceeded
• Escalate unresolved ormaterial risks to senior leadership

Operational Influence & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the lead safety expert for garage General Managers
• Influence operational planning to ensure risk controls are built into decisions
• Work collaboratively with Trade Unions, Transport for London and external stakeholders
• Represent operational safety in client or regulatory discussions

What we’re looking for

• NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) and IOSH Managing Safely (minimum)
• Proven experience managing health & safety in operational or safety‑critical environments
• Demonstrable experience in road risk or driver safety performance management
• Strong background in incident investigation and root‑cause analysis
• Ability to influence operational leaders and drive safety improvements
• Experience implementing Safety Management Systems at site or operational level
• Qualification or formal training in Road Risk Management, Transport safety or incident investigation (desirable)