At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead scheduling strategies and optimise driver duties for efficient service delivery.
- Company: Join a leading UK bus operator embracing innovative technology and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career advancement, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public transport while enhancing community connections.
- Qualifications: Experience in scheduling, team management, and cross-functional collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € 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.
Schedules Manager - South & West employer: First Group
First Bus is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises innovation and sustainability in public transport. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing and professional development, team members benefit from collaborative cross-functional engagement and opportunities for continuous improvement. Located in the vibrant cities of Bristol or Portsmouth, employees enjoy a supportive culture that values their contributions while shaping the future of transportation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Schedules Manager - South & West
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨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! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online resources to refine your answers. Focus on showcasing your skills in scheduling and cross-functional collaboration, as these are key for the Schedules Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our innovative team at First Bus, where we’re all about shaping the future of public transport.
We think you need these skills to ace Schedules Manager - South & West
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Schedules Manager role. Highlight your experience in scheduling, team management, and cross-functional collaboration. We want to see how your skills align with our goals!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about public transport and how you can contribute to our innovative approach. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved scheduling efficiency or driven team performance. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, you’ll get all the latest updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at First Group
✨Know Your Scheduling Strategies
Make sure you brush up on the latest scheduling strategies and optimisation techniques. Be ready to discuss how you would lead the development of driver duties and rosters, ensuring they align with operational efficiency and driver wellbeing.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role requires a lot of cross-functional collaboration. Prepare examples of how you've successfully worked with different teams, like Network Planning or HR, to achieve common goals. Highlight your ability to engage stakeholders effectively.
✨Understand Compliance and Governance
Familiarise yourself with relevant regulations and compliance requirements, such as driver hours legislation. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure your team adheres to Service Level Agreements and other governance frameworks.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Think about ways you've driven continuous improvement in past roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented best practices or innovative tools in scheduling, and how that positively impacted service delivery.
