At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead scheduling strategies and optimise driver duties for efficient bus service delivery.
- Company: Join a leading bus network committed to performance and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for innovation and cross-functional collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public transport while enhancing workforce wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership and analytical skills with experience in scheduling systems.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: South or West of England - Bristol, Portsmouth, Leeds or Sheffield
The First Bus Network CoE is responsible for bus service performance and producing the day-to-day operating plan for our fleet across the UK. Data and route performance analysis is key in 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 prepare 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 organisation's 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 wellbeing, 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 wellbeing, and service delivery objectives for their respective business or area.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate 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 if a solution can't be addressed, ensuring compliance with agreements and fostering constructive relationships.
- Governance and Service Change Compliance: Ensure their team's adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Service Change Checkpoints across all scheduling teams.
- Resource Management and Team Resilience: Work with the process and governance sub function of Network to guarantee workload balancing and resource allocation across scheduling teams to ensure 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 and 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: Other duties commensurate with the role as may be 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 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 in a high-pressured environment consistently delivering on objectives within timeframe.
- Local Operational Insight: Geographical knowledge of the areas of operation and responsibility is preferred.
- Performance Under Pressure: Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and deliver to tight deadlines.
Schedules Manager in Sheffield employer: First Bus
At First Bus, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As a Schedules Manager in the South or West of England, you will lead a dedicated team while collaborating across functions to drive innovation and operational efficiency, all within a supportive environment that values your contributions. With opportunities for continuous improvement and engagement with trade unions, you'll play a crucial role in shaping the future of our bus services, making a meaningful impact in your community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Schedules Manager in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews like a pro! Research the company, understand their values, and think about how your skills align with their needs. Practice common interview questions and come up with examples that showcase your experience in scheduling and team management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Since the role involves data and route performance analysis, be ready to discuss your experience with scheduling systems and how you’ve used data to drive improvements in past roles. Bring your A-game to demonstrate your technical proficiency!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Make sure your application reflects your passion for the role and highlights your leadership experience in scheduling teams.
We think you need these skills to ace Schedules Manager in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Schedules Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant scheduling expertise. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since data analysis is key for this position, be sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. We appreciate candidates who can demonstrate their analytical prowess!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can't wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at First Bus
✨Know Your Scheduling Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of scheduling systems like Optibus. Be ready to discuss how you've used such tools in the past and how they can optimise driver duties and rosters.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing and developing scheduling teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you drove performance and innovation within your team.
✨Understand Regulatory Requirements
Familiarise yourself with the regulatory frameworks related to driver hours and scheduling compliance. Being able to discuss these regulations will show that you understand the importance of governance in scheduling.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about your communication strategies when engaging with stakeholders, including trade unions. Prepare to share experiences where you've successfully navigated negotiations or built constructive relationships.
