Overview
Senior General Manager – responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, high‑performing bus operations across a complex operating area or cluster of depots. Reports to a Service Delivery Director and provides senior operational leadership across multiple locations, integrating operational and engineering performance while leading service recovery and sustained performance improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Own end‑to‑end service delivery performance across the operating area, ensuring safe, punctual and reliable services across multiple depots.
- Lead recovery and stabilisation in complex or underperforming locations, addressing systemic operational and engineering issues.
- Integrate operational and engineering planning to ensure fleet reliability, compliance and service continuity.
- Provide leadership, coaching and direction to depot management teams, strengthening capability and building succession for future operational leaders.
- Use operational and customer insight to identify performance risks, prioritise interventions and drive sustained service improvement.
- Ensure strong governance, safety and regulatory compliance across all operational activity within the area.
- Support delivery of regional operational improvement initiatives and transformation programmes.
- Make operational decisions with a clear understanding of commercial impact, protecting revenue performance, cost efficiency and customer outcomes.
About You
- Senior operational leader with experience managing complex, multi‑site operations in safety‑critical or regulated environments.
- Proven track record of delivering operational performance and leading recovery or improvement across multiple locations.
- Strong experience working closely with engineering or technical teams to deliver fleet reliability and operational performance.
- Highly capable people leader with experience developing senior managers and building leadership capability.
- Commercially aware, able to balance operational decisions with financial and customer outcomes.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, able to use data and insight to drive improvement.
- Resilient and visible leader who builds trust, drives accountability and role‑models strong leadership behaviours.
- Passionate about delivering safe, reliable services that support customers and local communities.
Salary & Bonus
Competitive salary, plus up to 30% annual bonus.
Benefits
- Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost.
- Cash‑back benefits across optical and dental, virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advice.
- 24‑hour, 365‑day Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for mental health support.
- Platform with many discounts on high‑street brands and supermarkets.
- Discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months of service, plus a free bus pass.
- Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays.
- Pension scheme and opportunity to buy discounted First Group shares.
- Enhanced maternity / paternity pay.
- Flexible working.
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.
Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.
