Travel Manager

Carbon60; Southampton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in transport and planning seeks a Senior School Travel Officer in Southampton. This role involves managing school travel services, ensuring efficient travel delivery, engaging with stakeholders, and overseeing operations while maintaining high standards of service and safety. The ideal candidate will have experience in logistics and strong leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Experience managing school travel services or similar logistics operations.
• Strong communication skills across stakeholders.
• High IT literacy including MS Office and digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Manage the operational provision of the School Travel Service and supervise junior staff.
• Lead travel planning, procurement of transport operators, and improve travel arrangements.
• Maintain the school travel database with accurate data.

Skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Database Management

Team Management

Customer Service

IT Literacy

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title: Senior School Travel Officer

Service Area: Transport and Planning

Job Purpose

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

1. Deliver safe, efficient, and effective school travel services for children and young people aged 5–25, ensuring high customer service standards.
2. Lead the planning and daily management of travel arrangements, including procurement, cost-effective route optimization, and staff oversight.
3. Liaise with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Children’s Services, Procurement, schools, parents/carers) to make appropriate travel arrangements.
4. Maintain the school travel database to ensure it provides accurate statistical and financial data.
5. Manage complex enquiries and issues (e.g., client or driver behaviour, complaints, safeguarding, accidents) through coordination with relevant parties.
6. Handle casework for exceptional entitlement applications and support decision-making by the School Travel Team Leader.
7. Assist in preparing for appeals, investigations, and manage incident responses.
8. Contribute to risk assessments and audits related to school travel services.
9. Represent the service at forums and promotional events.
10. Support project delivery under direction from the School Travel Team Leader.
11. 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.

Financial:

• 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.
• Continuously improve service delivery.
• 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

Criteria Essential Desirable

Qualifications

Degree-level education or equivalent experience.

Experience & Skills

- Experience managing school travel services or similar logistics operations.

- Problem-solving in high-pressure settings.

- 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.