At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead scheduling strategies and optimise driver duties for efficient service delivery.
- Company: Join First Bus, a leading UK bus operator embracing innovative technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy health benefits, discounted travel, 25 days holiday, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace welcoming diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public transport while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in scheduling and workforce planning.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 € per year.
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 or Portsmouth
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.
Rewards
- Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you, including cash back benefits for optical & dental, virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advice.
- EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support.
- Platform with many 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 + bank holidays.
- Pension scheme and chance 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.
Schedules Manager - South & West in Bristol employer: First Group
First Bus is an exceptional employer that prioritises innovation and employee wellbeing, offering a dynamic work environment in the South and West of England. With comprehensive benefits such as health support, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth, we foster a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring that every team member can thrive while contributing to sustainable public transport solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Schedules Manager - South & West in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, go ahead and hit that apply button!
We think you need these skills to ace Schedules Manager - South & West in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Schedules Manager role. Highlight your experience in scheduling, team management, and any relevant software skills. We want to see how you fit into our innovative culture!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves managing a team, don’t forget to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've driven performance and fostered collaboration in previous roles. We love seeing strong leaders in action!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to your skills and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at First Group
✨Know Your Scheduling Systems
Familiarise yourself with scheduling systems like Optibus, as well as the principles and constraints of scheduling. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles to optimise schedules and improve efficiency.
✨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 motivated your team to achieve their goals.
✨Understand Cross-Functional Collaboration
Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with different departments, such as Network Planning and HR. Highlight any experiences where you aligned schedules with strategic service objectives and improved workforce availability.
✨Demonstrate Crisis Management Experience
Think of instances where you've contributed to crisis or contingency planning. Share how you ensured scheduling flexibility during service disruptions and what strategies you implemented to maintain operational efficiency.
