At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and coordinate tech solutions for UK bus franchising, driving innovation and efficiency.
- Company: Join Arriva, a leading transport partner with a commitment to sustainability and community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to influence across diverse teams and functions.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming public transport with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Doxford, Thurmaston or Lacon Drive
Arriva is one of Europe's leading passenger transport partners, connecting people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably. Operating across 11 countries and employing around 35,000 people, we deliver more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys every year. With a proud heritage dating back to 1938 and an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, Arriva continues to evolve following its acquisition by I Squared Capital in 2024.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting franchise bids, mobilisation programmes and ongoing operations by shaping and coordinating technology solutions that deliver value for our customers, stakeholders and business.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Strategy & Roadmap
- Develop and maintain a clear vision for franchising technology solutions across on-bus, depot and back-office environments.
- Ensure franchising requirements are reflected within relevant product roadmaps.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, standardisation and product reuse across the portfolio.
- Coordinate priorities across Product Managers to support franchise opportunities.
- Translate franchise and bid requirements into actionable product inputs.
- Work with business stakeholders to develop reusable technology solutions for franchise bids.
- Mobilisation & Delivery Readiness
- Support mobilisation planning by ensuring product requirements are clearly defined and aligned.
- Coordinate dependencies, risks and sequencing across teams and products.
- Work closely with operational and delivery teams to ensure successful mobilisation.
- Ensure solutions can be effectively supported by internal teams, suppliers and service management functions.
- Financial & Commercial Collaboration
- Partner with Finance teams to develop and validate technology cost models for franchise bids.
- Coordinate cost inputs from product teams, suppliers and delivery partners.
- Ensure commercial assumptions are realistic, sustainable and aligned to delivery objectives.
- Identify opportunities to optimise costs through standardisation and solution reuse.
- Supplier & Procurement Management
- Support sourcing activities and supplier selection processes.
- Collaborate with Procurement to deliver value driven technology solutions.
- Drive greater efficiency through supplier consolidation, standardisation and reuse.
- Contribute to commercial negotiations and supplier discussions.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Governance
- Build strong relationships across business, operational and technology teams.
- Facilitate workshops, governance meetings and alignment sessions.
- Act as the key contact for franchising technology product coordination.
- Ensure solutions meet contractual, regulatory and security requirements.
- Maintain oversight of documentation, governance and audit requirements.
About You
We're looking for a collaborative and commercially aware Product Manager who can bring people together, influence across functions and drive clarity in complex environments.
Essential Experience & Skills
- Experience in Product Management within operational or business critical environments.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Experience coordinating multiple priorities and product streams.
- Understanding of enterprise systems and process improvement.
- Ability to influence decision making across diverse teams and functions.
- Strong commercial awareness and problem solving capability.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within transport, logistics or other regulated industries.
- Experience working with Finance and Procurement teams.
- Knowledge of operational technology and transport systems.
- Understanding of data platforms, integrations and enterprise architecture.
Products and Technologies
- On bus technology including ticketing, CCTV, Wi Fi, AV and telematics.
- Depot infrastructure and connectivity solutions.
- Scheduling and rostering systems such as Optibus, Payroll and back office platforms.
- Data and integration platforms.
- Control room and operational systems.
Closing Date 5 August 2026
UK Bus Franchising Product Manager employer: Arriva Limited
Arriva Limited is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within the Transformation team. With a focus on employee growth, you will have access to training and development opportunities while working in a hybrid model that promotes work-life balance, allowing you to thrive in either our London or Sunderland offices. Join us to be part of a meaningful transformation journey that impacts the entire organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UK Bus Franchising Product Manager
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace UK Bus Franchising Product Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at Arriva Limited, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at Arriva Limited and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into Arriva Limited. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arriva Limited
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at Arriva Limited.
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In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to Arriva Limited.
