Operations Manager

First Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Travel Pass

Nominee Pass after three months

Cycle to work scheme

Discount platform

Job summary

First Group is seeking an Operations Manager for our Wandsworth Garage to oversee daily bus operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with contractual requirements. You will lead multiple teams, manage resources, and drive improvements in service quality and performance.

The role requires senior experience in the bus or transport sector, strong financial acumen, and excellent communication. A CPC qualification is desirable, with a focus on achieving high standards and robust

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in the bus/transport or logistics sector.
• Strong understanding of performance metrics (KPI/KQI) and contractual requirements.
• Ideally CPC qualified.
• Proven people management with performance and conflict handling.
• Strong financial acumen to manage budgets and analyze KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily bus operations to meet customer and contractual expectations.
• Maximise QIC/QSI performance and operated mileage.
• Lead and manage administrative and operational teams with high engagement.
• Coordinate staffing, vehicle availability, and service delivery with other departments.
• Monitor driver quality and promote safety initiatives.
• Manage financial performance and ensure the operation stays within budget.
• Analyse KPIs and drive continuous improvements.
• Oversee payroll accuracy and adherence to policies.
• Maintain robust administrative processes to ensure contract compliance and audits.
• Handle public correspondence, lost property and uniform management.
• Support General Manager during absences and coordinate resource allocation.
• Champion health and safety across garage operations.

Skills

People management

Budget management

KPIs & analytics

Excellent communication

Health & safety procedures

Education

BTEC Higher National Diploma

Diploma of Higher Education

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Job description

Join our team as an Operations Managerat Wandsworth Garage, where you'll play a key role in delivering exceptional bus services that meet both customer and contractual requirements. In this dynamic role, you'll oversee the operational and financial performance of our garage, ensuring services run safely, efficientlyand to the highest standards. You'll be responsible for leading and motivating staff, managing resources and driving improvements in service quality, performanceand compliance.

What You'll Do

• Oversee daily bus operations to meet customer and contractual expectations
• Maximise QIC/QSI performance and operated mileage
• Lead and manage administrative and operational teams, ensuring top performance and engagement
• Liaise with other departments to ensure adequate staffing, vehicle availability, and service delivery
• Monitor driver quality standards and promote accident prevention initiatives
• Manage financial performance, ensuring operations remain within budget
• Analyse key performance indicators and take proactive action to drive improvement
• Oversee payroll accuracy and ensure adherence to company policies
• Maintain robust administrative processes to ensure contract compliance and successful audit outcomes
• Handle public correspondence, lost property, and uniform management
• Support the General Manager during periods of absence and coordinate with the Chief Controller to optimise resource allocation
• Champion health and safety compliance across all garage operations

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience within the bus or transport/logistics industry at a senior level
• Strong understanding of QIC/QSI performance measures and TfL contractual requirements
• Ideally CPC qualified
• Proven people management skills with experience handling performance and conflict
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage budgets and analyse KPIs
• Excellent communication, analytical, and IT skills (MS Word & Excel)
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures in a transport environment
• Education: BTEC Higher National Diploma, Diploma of Higher Education, or equivalent

Benefits:

• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platformwith many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Staff Travel Pass
• Nominee Pass after three months of service
• Cycle to work scheme