Schedules Manager

FIRSTGROUP PLC; Leeds; Sur place; GBP 70 000 - 90 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Health insurance

Cash back for optical & dental

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted train travel after 6 months

Free bus pass

Pension scheme

Employee share purchase plan

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Résumé du poste

FirstGroup plc seeks a Schedules Manager to lead a team of schedulers in the UK, delivering compliant, cost-efficient driver rosters. You will report to the UK Head of Schedules and partner with Network Planning, Operations and HR to align schedules with service goals and workforce wellbeing.

You will drive innovation in scheduling practices, oversee adherence to driver hours legislation, and support bids and franchise processes with robust scheduling analysis.

Qualifications

• Experience leading scheduling teams in large transit or transport operations.
• Knowledge of driver hours legislation and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to translate business goals into efficient rosters and budgets.

Responsabilités

• Lead development and optimisation of driver duties and rosters to balance efficiency and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with Network Planning, Operations and HR for aligned schedules.
• Escalate and manage trade union engagement on scheduling matters.
• Ensure SLA and change governance compliance across scheduling teams.
• Manage resource allocation and team resilience; contribute to crisis planning.
• Drive continuous improvement using best-in-class tools and governance frameworks.
• Support tender and franchise bidding with scheduling analysis and modelling.

Connaissances

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Scheduling expertise

Data literacy

Communication

Commercial acumen

Regulatory knowledge

EV fleet scheduling

Outils

Optibus

Description du poste

The Schedules Manager oversees the scheduling function within one of the organisation's core businesses, ensuring the delivery of efficient, compliant, and cost-effective duty and roster schedules. Reporting to the UK Head of Schedules, they manage a team of locally aligned Senior Schedulers and Schedulers, driving performance, innovation, and alignment with operational and strategic goals. The role is pivotal in supporting workforce wellbeing, service delivery, and business growth through effective planning, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The role holder will collaborate cross-functionally with Network Planning, Operations, and HR to align schedules with strategic service and workforce goals., Scheduling Strategy and Optimisation: Lead the development and optimisation of driver duties and rosters, ensuring alignment with operational efficiency, driver wellbeing, and service delivery objectives for their respective business or area. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with Network Planning, Network Process and Governance, Operations, and HR to ensure schedules support workforce availability, retention, and strategic service objectives. Trade Union Engagement and Escalation: Act as the primary escalation point for trade union engagement on scheduling matters if a solution can't be addressed, ensuring compliance with agreements and fostering constructive relationships. Governance and Service Change Compliance: Ensure their team's adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Service Change Checkpoints across all scheduling teams. Resource Management and Team Resilience: Work with the process and governance sub function of Network to guarantee workload balancing and resource allocation across scheduling teams to ensure resilience and high performance. Crisis and Contingency Planning: Contribute to crisis and contingency planning, ensuring scheduling flexibility and responsiveness to service disruptions. Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Drive continuous improvement in scheduling practices, embedding best-in-class tools and software, governance, and performance frameworks. Regulatory and Operational Compliance: Oversee compliance with regulatory requirements, including driver hours legislation, local agreements, and data submissions (e.g. BODS, DAS, Ticketer). Bid and Franchise Support : Support integrated tender and franchise bidding processes with robust scheduling analysis and modelling. Ad-hoc support: Other duties commensurate with the role as may be deemed appropriate by the UK Head of Schedules.

Leadership and Team Management: Strong leadership experience, with a track record of managing and developing scheduling teams. Analytical and Planning Expertise : High level of numeracy and data literacy, with experience in workforce planning and optimisation. Technical Scheduling Proficiency: Proficiency in scheduling systems (e.g. Optibus) and understanding of scheduling principles and constraints. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including trade union negotiation. Commercial and Financial Acumen: Commercial awareness and experience contributing to budgeting, forecasting, and tender processes. Regulatory and Legal Knowledge : Knowledge of regulatory and legal frameworks related to driver hours and scheduling compliance. EV Management: Experience in managing scheduling for electric vehicle (EV) fleets is desirable. Performance Under Pressure: Ability to work in a high-pressured environment consistently delivering on objectives within timeframe. Local Operational Insight: Geographical knowledge of the areas of operation and responsibility is preferred. Performance Under Pressure: Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and deliver to tight deadlines.

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.

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.