At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead teams, drive cultural change, and ensure safe, efficient operations across depots.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on people and service excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £53,800, full-time role with career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative, unionised environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a leadership role while fostering a positive work culture.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 53800 £ per year.
Location: Overtown & Blantyre Depots
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: up to £53,800
We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Operations Manager to join our Operations team, supporting our Overtown & Blantyre depots. This is a key leadership role for someone passionate about people, safety, and service excellence, who is ready to help drive cultural and operational change in a complex, unionised environment.
Purpose of the Role
Working closely with the Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading cultural change across our depots, helping us realise our ambition of becoming a truly people‑centric and customer‑focused business. You will support the delivery of safe, punctual, reliable, and cost‑effective services while fostering strong engagement, high performance, and a positive working environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Operations Manager in delivering a safe, punctual, and cost‑efficient service
- Lead and manage teams of people managers across multiple depots
- Drive staff engagement across managers, supervisors, drivers, and customers
- Ensure delivery of agreed KPIs, service quality standards, and budgets
- Promote strong collaboration between operational and engineering teams
- Act as, and support, the Site Responsible Person, ensuring full compliance with governance, legislation, and company policy
- Lead collision reduction initiatives and reduce staff and passenger injuries
- Ensure effective staff planning to meet operational requirements
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with recognised trade union representatives
- Manage all aspects of people management, including development, absence, performance, and compliance
- Liaise with external stakeholders to improve punctuality and reduce lost miles
Skills and Experience
- Proven leadership experience, with the ability to provide both strategic and day‑to‑day direction
- Experience working in a unionised environment, managing collective relationships effectively
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills
- A customer‑focused mindset with a passion for service excellence
- A collaborative leader who builds and drives high‑performing teams
- A strong commitment to safety and developing a positive safety culture
- Budgetary and financial management experience, with the ability to analyse and clearly communicate performance data
- Mentoring and coaching capability to support business delivery and people development
- Strong stakeholder management skills and professional credibility
- Ability to manage and travel between multiple sites, providing cover when required
- Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Passenger Transport is desirable; willingness to work towards CPC is essential
Assistant Operations Manager in Blantyre employer: FirstGroup Internal
Join our dynamic team as an Assistant Operations Manager at our Overtown & Blantyre depots, where we prioritise a people-centric culture and service excellence. We offer a supportive work environment that fosters employee growth through leadership development and collaboration, alongside competitive benefits and a commitment to safety. This role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact in a complex, unionised setting but also provides opportunities for professional advancement within a forward-thinking organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Operations Manager in Blantyre
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at the company. You never know who might give you a heads-up about an opportunity or put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Make sure you can demonstrate how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around safety and service excellence. We want to see that you're not just a fit on paper but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've driven change, managed teams, and tackled challenges in a unionised environment. This will show us that you have the hands-on experience we’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Operations Manager in Blantyre
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership experience and any work you've done in a unionised environment. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about people, safety, and service excellence. Share specific examples of how you've driven cultural change in previous roles, as this aligns perfectly with what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate how you've improved service quality or staff engagement. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at FirstGroup Internal
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of an Assistant Operations Manager. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description, especially around leadership, safety, and service excellence. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in a unionised environment. Highlight your ability to drive cultural change and engage staff effectively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses for clarity.
✨Demonstrate Your Customer Focus
Since the role emphasises a customer-focused mindset, think of instances where you've gone above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Be ready to share how you’ve managed relationships with stakeholders and improved service delivery in previous roles.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. Inquire about the company’s approach to safety culture, team dynamics, or how they measure success in this role. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you.
