Assistant Operations Manager

We have a fantastic opportunity for an Assistant Operations Manager to join our Caledonia depot on a full time permanent basis.

Purpose of Role

To support the Operations Manager to lead cultural change activity across First Glasgow operational depot teams which will realise our ambition of becoming a truly people centric and, ultimately, a customer centric business. Champion and sponsor business and cultural change initiatives within remit e.g. “Recover, Better, Bigger, Beyond” and “Our Way”. To support the Operations Manager to lead a team of people managers (across depots) to ensure safe, punctual, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of services. Deliver excellent customer experience, while managing a governance agenda that supports legislative and policy compliance, within the disciplined operations framework. Work with the Operations Manager to develop and lead through staff engagement the core principles of service delivery whilst demonstrating reasoned and balanced negotiation on the need to improve and change culture, to sustain business growth. Act as and support the lead Site Responsible Person for all aspects of depot compliance, governance and the engagement of our people ensuring we establish and maintain a positive working environment.

Main Duties

• Ensure cost efficient delivery of a safe, punctual service.
• Manage and deliver agreed key performance indicators.
• Drive engagement with staff managers, supervisory, drivers and customers.
• Ensure collaboration between operational and engineering team members, fostering excellent working relationships between drivers and supervisors to ensure a consistent customer experience.
• Support the Operations Manager to deliver agreed plans and budgets, including established level of service and service quality.
• Ensure staff planning at the depot meets the operating requirements of the business.
• Ensure an effective working relationship with recognised trade union representatives and officials.
• Manage and plan collision reduction and staff/passenger injury reduction.
• Effectively manage the teams in all areas of people management, development, absence management and compliance.
• Liaise with external bodies to improve performance of lost miles and punctuality.

Skills/Experience

• Proven leadership skills are essential to provide strategic and day to day direction to your team and be an effective manager of collective relationships in a unionised environment.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• Excellent customer service focus.
• A team builder and driver of high-performance teams.
• Certificate of Professional Competence in Passenger Transport would be desirable. A willingness to study for CPC is essential.
• A passion for safety and driving to deliver a high performing safety behavioural culture.
• Budgetary and financial experience with a capability in logical system analysis to communicate results in formats comprehensible to all disciplines.
• Mentoring/coaching skills in the progression of the deliverables of the business.
• Aptitude to build and maintain stakeholder relations, indicative of a professional leader.
• Capacity to manage and commute between multi-site operations, providing cover when required.

Salary - competitive, plus a bonus of up to 15% cash based on business and personal performance.

Rewards & Benefits

Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advice. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support. We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc. Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass. Cycle to work scheme. 25 days' holiday + bank holidays. Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares. Flexible working.

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all. Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.