Travel Manager

JR United Kingdom; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Senior Operational Manager for its School Travel Service. This role involves overseeing travel arrangements, leading a team, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and engaging with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess degree-level education and experience in managing similar logistics operations. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills and a commitment to service excellence.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience required.
• Experience managing school travel services or similar logistics operations.
• High IT literacy including MS Office and digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, efficient school travel services for children aged 5–25.
• Manage procurement and cost-effective route optimization.
• Liaise with stakeholders for effective travel arrangements.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Service delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Database and records management

Team management

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Office

Job description

To manage the senior operational provision of the School Travel Service and supervise junior staff to ensure efficient service delivery. This role includes leading school travel planning, procurement of transport operators, and the continuous improvement of safe, sustainable, and cost-effective travel arrangements for students. The postholder will liaise extensively with stakeholders and maintain the school travel database, contributing to a healthy, safe, and attractive environment in the city.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver safe, efficient, and effective school travel services for children and young people aged 5–25, ensuring high customer service standards.
• Lead the planning and daily management of travel arrangements, including procurement, cost-effective route optimization, and staff oversight.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Children’s Services, Procurement, schools, parents/carers) to make appropriate travel arrangements.
• Maintain the school travel database to ensure it provides accurate statistical and financial data.
• Manage complex enquiries and issues (e.g., client or driver behaviour, complaints, safeguarding, accidents) through coordination with relevant parties.
• Handle casework for exceptional entitlement applications and support decision-making by the School Travel Team Leader.
• Assist in preparing for appeals, investigations, and manage incident responses.
• Contribute to risk assessments and audits related to school travel services.
• Represent the service at forums and promotional events.
• Support project delivery under direction from the School Travel Team Leader.
• Provide AM and PM office cover on a rota to support daily travel operations.

Core Responsibilities and Deliverables

Functional:

• Leadership of service delivery and junior staff.
• Support for programme and project management.
• Contribution to transformation and improvement initiatives.
• Deliver activities within budget.
• Manage procurement in line with applicable procurement regulations.
• Ensure correct purchase order and invoice processes.
• Monitor financial resources and compliance with financial policies.

Customer Relationships:

• Maintain high-quality stakeholder engagement.
• Address and respond to customer feedback to improve satisfaction.

Operational & Compliance:

• Deliver services in line with organizational policies and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety and Information Governance.
• Manage performance risks and issues.

Organisational Growth:

• Support change and transformation initiatives.
• Promote employee engagement and team development.
• Oversee performance management and talent development.
• Commit to personal and professional development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Degree-level education or equivalent experience.

Experience & Skills

- Experience managing school travel services or similar logistics operations.

- Database and records management.

- Small team management and performance oversight.

- Service delivery to SLAs and customer standards.

- Strong communication skills across stakeholders.

- High IT literacy including MS Office and digital platforms.

- Awareness of equality and diversity in the workplace.

Core Behaviours

• Takes accountability and responsibility for work and performance.
• Collaborates effectively across teams and services.
• Maintains customer focus in service design and delivery.
• Builds trusting relationships with stakeholders.
• Embraces change and drives continuous improvement.
• Balances commercial and service demands.
• Committed to service excellence and feedback-driven improvement.
• Supports transformation and innovation initiatives.

Additional Requirements

• Full-time office-based; limited home working by agreement.
• Suitable for job share with overlap on Wednesdays.
• Flexibility to undertake other related duties.
• Must uphold the organization’s Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety policies.
• Completion of all required training related to the role.

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Created on 24/06/2025 by JR United Kingdom