At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver high-quality bus operations while ensuring safety and performance targets are met.
- Company: Join a leading transport company committed to community service and operational excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and team development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community by enhancing public transport services.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in customer-focused and safety-critical environments.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a General Manager to join our Operations team in Aberdeen. This is a full time permanent position.
Purpose of the Role
The successful candidate will lead and deliver safe, reliable and high-quality bus operations across Aberdeen, achieving operational, safety, financial and customer performance targets while building engaged, capable leadership teams and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Role Summary
The General Manager is accountable for the end-to-end performance of a defined operating area, leading Operations Managers, Engineering Managers and Depot management teams to deliver excellent service for customers and communities. Reporting to the Service Delivery Director, the GM owns day-to-day operational delivery, performance management and people leadership, while working closely with engineering, commercial and customer colleagues to drive sustained improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational & Safety Performance
- Own local safety performance, compliance and audit outcomes, embedding a strong safety-first culture.
- Lead day-to-day service delivery across all depots in scope, ensuring safe, punctual and reliable operations.
- Deliver agreed operational, financial and performance targets, including cost control and productivity.
- Proactively manage disruption, incidents and performance risk, escalating appropriately where required.
- Engineering & Fleet Performance
- Work in close partnership with Engineering Managers to ensure fleet availability, reliability and compliance.
- Integrate operational and engineering plans to optimise service delivery and reduce cancellations and service failures.
- Ensure engineering standards and maintenance frameworks are consistently applied across all depots.
- Customer & Service Excellence
- Deliver high-quality customer experience outcomes, embedding punctuality, reliability and service standards.
- Use customer feedback and performance insight to drive targeted local improvements.
- Support delivery of customer and network change initiatives, ensuring operational readiness and minimal disruption.
- Leadership, People & Culture
- Lead, coach and develop Operations Managers, Engineering Managers and depot management teams.
- Build high-performing, engaged and inclusive teams with strong succession and talent pipelines.
- Champion colleague wellbeing, engagement and development across the area.
- Role model First Bus “Our Way” behaviours and create a culture of accountability and collaboration.
- Governance, Risk & Continuous Improvement
- Own operational risk management across the area, ensuring early identification and mitigation of safety, performance and compliance risks.
- Ensure alignment with regional and divisional operating frameworks, audit standards and governance processes.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational performance, safety, cost and customer outcomes.
- Implement regional and divisional improvement initiatives and operating frameworks locally.
- Ensure compliance with governance, audit and reporting requirements.
- Commercial Acumen
- Root operational decisions in a clear understanding of how the business makes money.
- Ensure choices support EBIT through cost control and efficient use of resources.
- Maintain lean, reliable operations that minimise waste, overtime, fuel variance and avoidable cost.
- Understand key commercial drivers (demand, mileage, lost mileage, customer experience) and act to protect them operationally.
- Make decisions that balance service delivery, customer impact and financial sustainability.
Skills & Experience
- Proven operational leadership experience within a multi-site, customer-facing and safety-critical environment.
- Strong track record of delivering service performance and managing complex day-to-day operations.
- Good understanding of bus operations, engineering or regulated transport environments.
- Proven people leader with experience developing management teams and building succession.
- Strong operational planning, problem solving and stakeholder management capability.
- Inclusive, visible leader who role models safety, accountability and customer focus.
General Manager employer: FirstGroup Internal
As a General Manager at our Aberdeen operations, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering safe and reliable bus services while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. We prioritise employee growth through comprehensive leadership development programmes and promote a collaborative work environment that values wellbeing and engagement. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the community while enjoying the benefits of a supportive workplace that champions excellence in service delivery.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
Dive into local transportation and logistics groups on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Show up to their meetups if you can – it's a great way to network with industry pros who can share insights, job openings, or even refer you to their own company.
✨Get Behind the Wheel of Job Boards
Look for job boards specific to transportation and logistics, like Logistics Job Site or TransportJobs. These platforms often have listings that you won’t find on general job boards, so they’re worth checking out regularly!
✨Leverage Internships & Graduate Schemes
Many companies in transportation and logistics offer graduate schemes and internships that can pave the way to full-time positions. Don't shy away from applying; even a short stint can make a solid impact on your CV and get your foot in the door at companies like FirstGroup Internal.
✨Apply Directly with Us!
When you find openings at great companies, make sure to apply directly through our website. It not only shows your initiative but also helps us to help you get noticed by FirstGroup Internal. Every application gets us one step closer to landing that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at FirstGroup Internal, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at FirstGroup Internal and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into FirstGroup Internal. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at FirstGroup Internal
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at FirstGroup Internal.
✨Show Off Your Attention to Detail
In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to FirstGroup Internal.
