Careers

Operations Manager

Bolton

Job Purpose

  • As an Operations Manager, you will help us drive our business forward and provide our customers with brilliant experiences, support the General Manager in supervision of all aspects of operational performance, delivering excellent customer experience, while managing a governance agenda that supports legislative, process and policy compliance.
  • You’ll coach, develop, and inspire everyone in your team to perform at their best every day. You’ll lead by example and you’ll always put safety first

Main Responsibilities

  • Analyse and manage information, systems, and data, in accordance with the systems matrices, to both retrospectively and proactively ensure continuous improvement of operational performance.
  • Deputise for the General Manager when they are away from the operation, including reporting information to external stakeholders, such as TfGM.
  • Engage front line colleagues though effective communication, active listening, and recognition.
  • Ensure that the operational excellence policies and procedures are adopted within the depot.
  • Management of the depot operations team in accordance with Go North West policies, standard operating procedures, and all relevant legislation.
  • Work with the training function to ensure that operational teams are competently trained, and to achieve agreed establishment requirements.
  • Manage driver performance, carry out job chats and catch ups.
  • Support the induction and development of an engaged, talented, and high performing operations team, nurturing an innovative and continuous improvement culture.
  • Conduct any disciplinary, grievance or absence management reviews in accordance with Go North West policies.
  • Maintain accurate records for all aspects of operational standards and performance, including maintenance of employee files and records.
  • Self-motivated to achieve stretching targets as agreed with the General Manager.
  • Work alongside operations and performance team members, fostering excellent working relationships between drivers and supervisors to ensure a consistent and excellent customer experience.
  • Improve operational performance in a sustainable manner, resulting in delivery of agreed KPIs.
  • Local custodian and point of contact of escalation of faults all on time performance and other business systems.
  • Ensure collaboration between operational and engineering team members, fostering excellent working relationships between drivers and supervisors to ensure a consistent excellent customer experience.
  • Deliver agreed performance improvement plans and operational costs within budget.
  • Ensure an effective working relationship with recognised trade union representatives and officials.
  • To review driver establishment levels to ensure that they are appropriate and to maintain a sufficient level of drivers to cover work as economically as possible.
  • To ensure driver turnover is kept to the lowest possible level, including ensuring probation reviews and exit interviews are conducted, whilst high standards of colleague conduct and attendance are maintained.

Knowledge and Experience Requirements

  • Previous experience (at supervisory or management level) of operational management in a unionised environment.
  • Knowledge of the bus and/or coach sector.
  • Transport Manager CPC qualification or willingness to work towards this accreditation.
  • Well-developed communication and relationship building skills.
  • Computer literate with ability to use Microsoft Office to write reports and emails clearly and precisely.
  • Excellent knowledge of relevant legislation, performance indicators, company procedures and agreements relating to people.
  • Building and maintaining key internal and external stakeholder relationships.

 Key Safety Responsibilities

  • Acting in a manner as to ensure the health, safety, welfare, environment and fire safety of yourself and others in the organisation, as well as any customers, clients, and visitors.
  • Ensuring that you and any guests to any company premises understand emergency and evacuation arrangements.
  • Ensuring your working environment is maintained in a safe and tidy condition. 
  • Acting proactively in identifying any unsafe practices or safety risks in the organisation and reporting these through the appropriate channels.
  • Ensuring adherence to all relevant company and Go-Ahead group company policies and procedures.

 Behaviour Requirements

  • Information seeker – regularly assess information and data, looking inside and outside the organisation for ways to improve.
  • Ideas generator – value fresh thinking and develop innovative ideas to drive the business forward.
  • Flexible thinker – consider business challenges from different perspectives, considering the views of others.
  • Effective communicator – communicate with others in clear, concise, and engaging ways, while being unafraid to challenge practices, behaviour, or ways of doing things.
  • Collaborative team worker – value others’ contributions, encouraging teamwork and collaboration.
  • Active influencer – build long-term relationships to develop mutually beneficial networks.
  • People developer – create a learning and development environment where people can fulfil their potential.
  • Confidence inspirer – adopt a positive attitude and builds confidence in others.
  • Trust builder – achieve results through building relationships based on treating people with respect and dignity.
  • Action enabler – make things happen; being accountable for delivering results especially during times of change.
  • Continuous improver – look to improve performance through better measurement and evaluation.
  • Customer champion – keep the organisation one step ahead of the customer.

How to apply

Closing date

  • 9th January 2026

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