Transport Support Services Manager

CRA GROUP RECRUITMENT AND PAYROLL LTD; Easthampstead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Easthampstead is seeking a Transport Support Services Manager for a 3-month contract. The role involves leading education transport and fleet management services, ensuring compliant operations, and implementing policy improvements. Candidates should have extensive experience in transport services and strong management skills. This position offers both hybrid working and a salary of £220k staffing and £2.5m non-staff budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage transport services.
• Ensure compliance with regulations.
• Update strategies and policies.
• Oversee contract management.
• Conduct budget setting and monitoring.
• Develop new working methods for efficiency.
• Cultivate relationships with stakeholders.
• Maintain risk management practices.
• Ensure staff training and support.
• Provide expert advice to leadership.
• Support safeguarding and compliance.

Skills

Managing Home to School Transport

Contract management

Team management

Policy writing

Safeguarding knowledge

Financial management

Service improvement

Building relationships

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Adaptability to change

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary :

• The Transport Support Services Manager will lead Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s Education Transport and Fleet Management Services, ensuring the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of Home to School Transport, Social Care transport, and fleet operations.
• The role will drive policy development, service improvement and cost efficiencies while maintaining strong safeguarding practice.
• Working within the SEND and wider People directorate, the post-holder will build collaborative relationships to deliver high‑quality transport solutions for children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Key Duties / Accountabilities (Sample) :

• Lead and manage Education Transport and Fleet Management teams to deliver statutory and non‑statutory transport services.
• Ensure transport operations meet statutory regulations, government guidance and local policy.
• Review and update transport strategies, policies, operational handbooks and safeguarding processes.
• Oversee contract management, compliance monitoring and performance of transport providers.
• Support commissioning activity, including tendering, framework development and procurement.
• Conduct robust budget setting, monitoring and financial control across staffing and non‑staffing budgets.
• Develop and implement new ways of working to improve efficiency, customer experience and value for money.
• Lead service co‑production with families, schools, commissioning partners and other stakeholders.
• Maintain effective risk management practices across all transport operations.
• Ensure staff are trained, supported and performance‑managed to deliver high‑quality services.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders, councillors and educational settings.
• Support safeguarding processes and ensure safe recruitment and compliance in line with LADO and licensing requirements.

Skills / Experience :

• Extensive experience managing Home to School Transport or similar statutory transport services.
• Strong contract management and supplier‑performance oversight skills.
• Experience of managing teams in a local authority environment.
• Proven ability to write policies, procedures and processes that meet statutory transport regulations.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding frameworks and safe operational practice.
• Experience in human and financial resource management, including large budgets.
• Evidence of service improvement, transformation, and delivering high‑quality provision.
• Ability to build effective relationships across teams, partners and political environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and plan effectively.
• Positive, adaptable approach to change.

Additional Information :

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Enhanced DBS clearance required.
• Hybrid working (Time Square / remote).
• Temporary role from 1 December 2025 to 27 February 2026, full‑time at 37 hours per week.
• Smart‑casual dress code.
• Works within the SEND team and collaborates across Education, Adult Social Care, Licensing, Commissioning and Finance.
• Responsible for a staffing budget of £220k and a non‑staffing budget of £2.5m.
• Manages a domestic fleet of 26 vehicles and transport provision for 735 children and young people across 123 contracted routes.

Requirements

• Extensive experience managing Home to School Transport or similar statutory transport services.
• Strong contract management and supplier‑performance oversight skills.
• Experience of managing teams in a local authority environment.
• Proven ability to write policies, procedures and processes that meet statutory transport regulations.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding frameworks and safe operational practice.
• Experience in human and financial resource management, including large budgets.
• Evidence of service improvement, transformation, and delivering high‑quality provision.
• Ability to build effective relationships across teams, partners and political environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and plan effectively.
• Positive, adaptable approach to change.