Safety, Quality & Assurance Manager

**Location:** Derby (Hybrid Working)

**Contract:** Permanent

**Company:** Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS)

**Who We Are**

Are you passionate about driving quality, compliance and continuous improvement? Do you have the experience and leadership skills to help us deliver a game-changing 5-star service for our customers? If you're looking for a role where you can influence business performance, shape operational standards and make a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.

At **Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS)**, we exist to prove that alternative transport can be better than the journey it replaces. Every year, we deliver over **80,000 rail replacement journeys**, facilitate more than **20,000 train crew taxi journeys**, and provide dedicated frontline support to customers across the UK.

As we continue to grow, we're looking for a **Safety, Quality & Assurance Manager** to lead our quality, compliance and assurance agenda, ensuring the highest standards of governance, operational performance and continuous improvement across the business.

**The Opportunity**

Reporting to the **Head of Safety – Rail Services**, with a matrix reporting line into the **Head of Operations**, you'll be responsible for leading ARTS' quality assurance, compliance, audit and performance functions. This is a highly visible leadership role that combines quality management, regulatory compliance, operational assurance and performance improvement. You will play a key role in ensuring ARTS remains audit-ready, compliant and focused on delivering exceptional service for customers and stakeholders.

**What You'll Be Doing**

• Quality Assurance & Management Systems
• Own and continuously improve the organisation's ISO management systems, including ISO 9001
• Ensure quality systems remain embedded within operational delivery and aligned to business objectives
• Maintain effective document control processes and governance standards
• Lead internal audits, external certification audits and surveillance audits
• Manage non-conformances, corrective actions and preventative actions to completion
• Audit & Regulatory Compliance
• Develop and deliver an organisation-wide audit and assurance programme
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory and external audits
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory and operational obligations
• Provide assurance across suppliers, operational functions and key stakeholders
• Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
• Create, review and report on KPI and SLA performance across the business
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
• Lead investigations into performance issues and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Provide meaningful insight and reporting to senior leadership teams
• Develop and drive continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence
• Governance, Risk & Data Protection
• Support governance frameworks and assurance processes across ARTS
• Act as the lead Data Protection Officer for the business
• Support wider compliance, risk and assurance activities
• Ensure policies, procedures and controls are applied consistently across the organisation
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Lead, coach and develop team members where required
• Provide guidance to operational managers on quality and compliance requirements
• Build strong relationships across the business to drive standards and accountability
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to support continual improvement and assurance activities

**What We're Looking For**

• Proven experience in a quality assurance, compliance, audit or performance management role
• Experience managing ISO management systems, particularly ISO 9001
• Strong experience leading internal and external audits
• A track record of managing KPI and SLA performance and driving improvement
• Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capabilities
• The ability to translate data, audit findings and performance trends into meaningful business improvements
• Strong communication and leadership skills

**Desirable Experience**

• Experience within transport, rail, logistics or another regulated industry
• Knowledge of ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or other management system standards
• Experience working with regulatory bodies and client compliance frameworks
• NEBOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification

**Why Join Arriva Road Transport Services?**

At ARTS, you'll join an ambitious and growing business where quality, compliance and operational excellence are central to everything we do. We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working
• Free travel on Arriva branded rail services across the country
• Arriva Village employee discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24-hour confidential support
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression

**Ready to Lead Quality, Assurance & Performance Excellence?**

If you're looking for an opportunity to shape standards, drive continuous improvement and play a key role in the future success of ARTS, we'd love to hear from you.