Transport Operations Manager in Fareham

Full time 37.5 hours per week

Salary range £28,000 - £30,000 per annum depending on experience

Based in Fareham

Would you like to join a local charity committed to making life better for everyone? Would you like to support your community by helping to provide transport services for those people who find it difficult to access public transport?

You will be responsible for leading and growing our Community Transport and associated services across Hampshire. You will have specific responsibility for developing and leading an efficient, safe, accessible and high-quality transport service for residents. You will build relationships with commissioners and partners across public, private and voluntary sectors. Working closely with the Head of Transport & Mobility you will lead our transport compliance, with an emphasis on passenger safety. You will support and sustain existing services which include Hampshire Connect, Home to School Transport, Local Bus Services, Group Hire and Adult Day Centre Transport. You will be responsible for a team of Transport Coordinators. You will be our main point of contact with transport service commissioners including Hampshire County Council ensuring we are fully compliant with legislative, health and safety, training and reporting requirements. You will develop our reputation as the best community transport provider in Hampshire.

We can offer you the following in addition to a competitive salary:

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time staff)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Energetic, friendly and supportive working environment

To apply please send your CV together with a covering letter outlining why you are a good candidate for the role. For an informal discussion please contact Fabian Cook, Head of Transport & Mobility on 07508 702874. This post will require a DBS check.

Please note closing date is 30th May 2025 but applications will be considered as they are received and the advert will be closed early if the position is filled so don't delay in applying.

Job Purpose: You will be responsible for leading and growing our Community Transport and associated services across Hampshire. You will have specific responsibility for developing and leading an efficient, safe, accessible and high-quality transport service for residents. You will build relationships with commissioners and partners across public, private and voluntary sectors. Working closely with the Head of Transport & Mobility you will lead our transport business development, bidding for contracts, developing and testing new innovative models of delivery to support and sustain existing services which include Hampshire Connect, Home to School Transport, Local Bus Services, Group Hire and Adult Day Centre Transport. You will be responsible for a team of Transport Coordinators. You will be our main point of contact with transport service commissioners including Hampshire County Council ensuring we are fully compliant with legislative, health and safety, training and reporting requirements. You will establish our reputation as the best community transport provider in Hampshire.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure we deliver a safe and high-quality service for our customers. Working with Transport Coordinators you will organise and plan transport services and manage transport contracts ensuring that vehicles and drivers are allocated, and daily transport is provided in accordance with the contract service specification.
• Oversee and ensure accurate and timely recording of monitoring statistics as required by customers and commissioners/funders. This will include passenger numbers, journey miles and times, fare income and other outputs.
• Organise regular team meetings with your Transport Coordinators and Drivers and ensure that all compulsory training, supervision and performance management is carried out in accordance with Community First policies.
• Develop, market and promote new services looking for innovation in how we can move toward a more sustainable funding model and how we can generate additional revenue to subsidise essential transport services for vulnerable people.
• To communicate in a professional, constructive and non-discriminatory manner with customers, funders, partner organisations, managers, drivers, service users and their carers and lead by example for staff in your transport team.
• To proactively market and promote our transport services to a wide audience across our operating area including key decision makers, local authority partners, private sector, community groups and service users with the aim of increasing patronage, generating new income and identifying opportunities for collaboration and service innovation.
• Ensure we have a robust programme of spot and programmed quality checks on drivers standards, ensuring that each trip, vehicle, driver and contract is quality checked and recorded at least annually.
• To contribute to other quality monitoring to ensure the delivery of the specific aims and objectives of funders/commissioners.
• To take the lead role in investigating any complaints and in the event of any accident and incident reporting as required.
• Ensure that transport services are delivered safely and are compliant with Community First Health and Safety policies and all other legal requirements.
• Promote safe working practices and work environments ensuring drivers and all staff under your responsibility are appropriately trained.
• Ensure that Risk Assessments are carried out for all new and existing transport contracts/trips to assess whether they can be safely delivered.
• Oversee the management of the vehicle fleet ensuring that all vehicles are in full and safe working order utilising systems to accurately record and maintain vehicle records.
• Make recommendations and advise on the need for replacement or additional vehicles.

Key skills, knowledge and experience required:

• Good knowledge of the wide range of Community Transport and associated services we deliver.
• Resource management skills - with the ability to manage and get the very best out of staff, resources including fleet of vehicles and drivers, and manage financial resources effectively.
• Project and service management skills - with the ability to plan, allocate and monitor resources effectively.
• People management skills - ability to recruit, manage, lead and motivate staff.
• Partnership working and relationship skills - experience of successfully developing and working in partnership with a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations.
• Communication skills - ability to represent Community First through effective verbal and written communication.
• Driving licence and access to own car.
• Good awareness, understanding and commitment to the values and ethos of the voluntary and community sector.

Key competencies required:

• Achievement and Service Orientation - demonstrating tenacity and with a clear focus on delivery and quality of service.
• Concern for order - recognising the importance of working to plans and following agreed procedures particularly around health and safety.
• Initiative - demonstrating an ability and willingness to resolve issues and cope with ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Self-confidence - displays assurance, confidence and resilience in challenging situations.
• Personal credibility and impact - demonstrating an awareness of personal impact and can use a range of influencing strategies.
• Commercial awareness - ability to think strategically and understand importance of financial viability in delivering the transport function and service.