Schedules Manager - South & West in Bristol

About First Bus

Are you ready to advance your career with one of the UK's leading bus operators? Join a forward‑thinking company that embraces cutting‑edge bus technology, from innovative mobile apps to environmentally friendly vehicles. We are passionate about delivering passenger journeys that are sustainable, comfortable, and efficient. We are at the forefront of innovation in the industry, connecting communities and shaping the future of public transport.

Location: South or West of England – Bristol, Portsmouth, Leeds or Sheffield

First Bus Network CoE

The First Bus Network CoE is responsible for bus service performance and for producing the day‑to‑day operating plan for our fleet across the UK. Data and route performance analysis is key to managing our service profitability and reliability. Our core services include designing bus routes and timetables, creating vehicle and driver duties to ensure operational efficiency, and complying with regulatory requirements. Using advanced planning systems, the team also prepares contract and tender bids for First, all with the goal of supporting reliable and customer‑focused delivery.

Position Summary

The Schedules Manager oversees the scheduling function within one of the core businesses, ensuring the delivery of efficient, compliant, and cost‑effective duty and roster schedules. Reporting to the UK Head of Schedules, they manage a team of locally aligned Senior Schedulers and Schedulers, driving performance, innovation, and alignment with operational and strategic goals. The role is pivotal in supporting workforce well‑being, service delivery, and business growth through effective planning, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The role holder will collaborate cross‑functionally with Network Planning, Operations, and HR to align schedules with strategic service and workforce goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Scheduling Strategy and Optimisation: Lead the development and optimisation of driver duties and rosters, ensuring alignment with operational efficiency, driver well‑being, and service delivery objectives for their respective business or area.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work with Network Planning, Network Process and Governance, Operations, and HR to ensure schedules support workforce availability, retention, and strategic service objectives.
• Trade Union Engagement and Escalation: Act as the primary escalation point for trade union engagement on scheduling matters that cannot be resolved internally, ensuring compliance with agreements and fostering constructive relationships.
• Governance and Service Change Compliance: Ensure the scheduling team’s adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Service Change Checkpoints across all scheduling teams.
• Resource Management and Team Resilience: Collaborate with the process and governance sub‑function of Network to guarantee workload balancing and resource allocation across scheduling teams, ensuring resilience and high performance.
• Crisis and Contingency Planning: Contribute to crisis and contingency planning, ensuring scheduling flexibility and responsiveness to service disruptions.
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Drive continuous improvement in scheduling practices, embedding best‑in‑class tools, software, governance, and performance frameworks.
• Regulatory and Operational Compliance: Oversee compliance with regulatory requirements, including driver hours legislation, local agreements, and data submissions (e.g. BODS, DAS, Ticketer).
• Bid and Franchise Support: Support integrated tender and franchise bidding processes with robust scheduling analysis and modelling.
• Ad‑hoc Support: Perform other duties commensurate with the role as deemed appropriate by the UK Head of Schedules.

Skills & Experience

• Leadership and Team Management: Strong leadership experience with a track record of managing and developing scheduling teams.
• Analytical and Planning Expertise: High level of numeracy and data literacy, with experience in workforce planning and optimisation.
• Technical Scheduling Proficiency: Proficiency in scheduling systems (e.g. Optibus) and an understanding of scheduling principles and constraints.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including trade union negotiation.
• Commercial and Financial Acumen: Commercial awareness and experience contributing to budgeting, forecasting, and tender processes.
• Regulatory and Legal Knowledge: Knowledge of regulatory and legal frameworks related to driver hours and scheduling compliance.
• EV Management: Experience in managing scheduling for electric vehicle (EV) fleets is desirable.
• Performance Under Pressure: Ability to work consistently in a high‑pressure environment, manage competing priorities, and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Local Operational Insight: Geographical knowledge of the areas of operation and responsibility is preferred.

Rewards

• Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you, including cash‑back benefits across optical and dental, virtual GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice.
• 24‑hour, 365 days a year EAP provision for mental health support.
• Platform with discounts on high‑street brands and supermarkets.
• Discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service and a free bus pass.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Pension scheme and the chance to buy discounted First Group shares.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Flexible working arrangements.

Equal Opportunities

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. We are always looking for skilled and talented people to join us across our sixty‑plus depots from Aberdeen to Truro.