Senior Allocations Supervisor

Pulhams Coaches Limited; Bourton-on-the-Water; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two free bus travel passes

Job summary

Pulhams Coaches Limited, the Bourton-on-the-Water-based operator, part of the Oxford Bus Company within the Go-Ahead Group, seeks a Senior Allocations Supervisor to lead the Allocations team and ensure safe, efficient deployment of drivers and vehicles.

You’ll plan duties, manage rotas and coordinate with depots to maximise coverage while upholding regulatory standards. The role requires PCV and full UK licences, plus strong communication and planning skills.

Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Full UK manual or automatic driving licence.
• PCV licence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Ability to remain calm and make decisions under pressure.
• Flexible approach with willingness to support operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Allocations team, ensuring duties are allocated accurately, efficiently and with appropriate notice for driver colleagues.
• Plan and allocate driver duties in compliance with Domestic, Assimilated and Mixed driving regulations.
• Maximise duty coverage and make the most efficient use of drivers and vehicles to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective services.
• Manage driver rotas, holidays and flexible working arrangements to maintain operational coverage across the business.
• Work closely with the Private Hire team to ensure client requirements are consistently met.
• Provide day-to-day operational support, including managing sickness absence, staffing shortages, vehicle breakdowns and emergency work allocation.
• Coordinate vehicle movements between depots and outstations to support local bus, home-to-school and coaching operations.
• Maintain accurate operational records and monitor compliance across driver duties, vehicles and schedules.
• Use tracking systems to monitor service delivery, proactively manage disruption and keep customers informed where required.
• Support driver welfare initiatives, including sickness monitoring and promoting colleague wellbeing.
• Participate in an on-call rota, providing out-of-hours operational support when required.
• Provide driving cover when necessary to ensure business continuity.
• Respond effectively to operational incidents and emergencies while following company procedures.
• Promote a positive safety culture and ensure compliance with company policies, Health & Safety requirements and risk assessments.

Skills

Strong organisational and planning

Excellent verbal and written comms

Calm under pressure

Flexible approach

Decision making under pressure

Education

GCSEs English & Maths

Full UK manual or automatic driving licence

PCV licence

Job description

We’re looking for a Senior Allocations Supervisor to play a vital role in ensuring our drivers, vehicles and services are planned and deployed safely, efficiently and effectively.

We are Pulhams Coaches, a long-established, family-focused bus and coach operator based in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, with a heritage dating back to 1880. Now part of the Oxford Bus Company within the Go-Ahead Group, we’re investing in our people, fleet, and services.

As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a Senior Allocations Supervisor to lead our team of Allocations Supervisors and play a vital role in ensuring our drivers, vehicles and services are planned and deployed safely, efficiently and effectively.

• Lead and develop the Allocations team, ensuring duties are allocated accurately, efficiently and with appropriate notice for driver colleagues.
• Plan and allocate driver duties in compliance with Domestic, Assimilated and Mixed driving regulations.
• Maximise duty coverage and make the most efficient use of drivers and vehicles to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective services.
• Manage driver rotas, holidays and flexible working arrangements to maintain operational coverage across the business.
• Work closely with the Private Hire team to ensure client requirements are consistently met.
• Provide day-to-day operational support, including managing sickness absence, staffing shortages, vehicle breakdowns and emergency work allocation.
• Coordinate vehicle movements between depots and outstations to support local bus, home-to-school and coaching operations.
• Maintain accurate operational records and monitor compliance across driver duties, vehicles and schedules.
• Use tracking systems to monitor service delivery, proactively manage disruption and keep customers informed where required.
• Support driver welfare initiatives, including sickness monitoring and promoting colleague wellbeing.
• Participate in an on-call rota, providing out-of-hours operational support when required.
• Provide driving cover when necessary to ensure business continuity.
• Respond effectively to operational incidents and emergencies while following company procedures.
• Promote a positive safety culture and ensure compliance with company policies, Health & Safety requirements and risk assessments.
• Full UK manual or automatic driving licence
• PCV licence
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organisational and planning abilities
• Ability to remain calm and make decisions under pressure
• Flexible approach with a willingness to support the needs of the operation
• Competitive salary (dependent on experience).
• Two free bus travel passes valid across our operators.
• Pension scheme, lifestyle benefits, and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Career development opportunities within Oxford Bus Group and the wider Go-Ahead Group.