Chief Operating Officer jobs in United Kingdom

Via is using technology to transform transportation around the world. From changing a single person’s daily commute to reducing humanity’s collective environmental footprint — we’ve got huge goals.

As a Field Manager on Via’s Transit-as-a-Service (TaaS) Operations team, you will oversee day-to-day operations using our technology platform, ensuring smooth and reliable service as Via expands across the UK. You will focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence, helping to deliver a positive experience for our passengers and supporting the growth of the service.

This role involves regular visits to Via’s services in Milton Keynes, Bristol, and Wiltshire. It works best for someone already based locally, making the travel easier to manage. The expectation that you will be onsite 4-5 days per week.

What You’ll Do:

• Ensure operational excellence and deliver an outstanding customer experience
• Oversee day-to-day operations in person; the role may occasionally require early starts or evening work, depending on business needs
• Manage driver supply to make sure the right number of vehicles are on the road to meet demand
• Act as the real-time point of contact for operational issues, prioritising effectively and coming up with practical solutions on the spot
• Respond promptly to driver feedback and live customer enquiries
• Work closely with a broad, cross-functional team to develop and scale operational processes, systems, and tools to support rapid growth
• Analyse and interpret performance metrics/KPIs to spot inefficiencies and apply insights to improve operations

Who You Are:

• A self-starter who is comfortable in a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on driving positive change
• Experienced leader with a proven track record of motivating and developing teams in operational settings, ideally including shift-based staff
• Team-oriented and accountable, taking pride in both personal work and the success of the team
• Calm under pressure, adaptable, and willing to contribute across a range of projects
• Data-driven, making decisions based on insights and metrics
• Fluent in English (C1 level) and skilled at professional communication with partners, customers, and driver colleagues from diverse backgrounds
• Holder of a valid UK driving licence (Category B)
• It’s a plus if you’ve completed your Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training and hold Qualified Transport Manager status. Experience in fixed-line bus operations would also be an advantage.

What We Offer:

• Joining a global employer with over 750 mobility deployments in 40+ countries
• Becoming part of a company that was awarded for its commitment to social good
• Salary Range: £35,000–£40,000. Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid parental leave, and health scheme offered through AXA
• Partnership with YellowNest, a salary exchange benefit that helps reduce childcare fees for working parents

We’re Via, and we build technology that changes the way the world moves. We’re driven by a simple mission: to create modern and efficient public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. With our best in class suite of products, we make transit thrive.

Our teams of world-class engineers, data-scientists, product managers, operations specialists, marketers, transit experts and more bring cutting-edge AI-powered software and innovative technology-enabled operations to our partners across the globe. Founded in 2012, Via builds solutions to digitize, automate, and enable data-driven decision making for entire transportation networks; fixed-route buses, microtransit, paratransit, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and more.

If you’re excited to be at the forefront of modernizing the future of transportation, are up for solving tough problems, and willing to become/already are a transit nerd, we are the place for you. Even if your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description for this role, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

Ready to join the ride?

Via is an equal opportunity employer.

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