Job Title: Head of Ops
Company: Arriva Road Transport Services
Salary:£60k-£75k
Location: Derby
Hybrid Working
Main purpose of the position
Arriva is one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe, employing more than 40,000 people and delivering more than 2.2 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries every year. We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with I Squared Capital, who acquired Arriva in 2024.
Arriva Road Transport services (ARTS) is a commercial business that sits within the Arriva Rail Services portfolio within Arriva UK Trains. ARTS is a market leading rail replacement and transport solutions provider across the UK, partnering with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and commercial businesses to provide pre planned and emergency transport for engineering works, staff and passenger movements and special events. After securing contracts with it’s current customer portfolio, ARTS is looking to expand it’s presence in current markets across the UK such as rail replacement, taxi operations, and special events as well as invest in the business to grow for the future.
The remit of the Head of Operations is to oversee the management of Transport Solutions across the Arriva UK Train Operating Companies, and external contracts. It will incorporate oversight of daily activities to ensure efficient and productive delivery to target and budget, safely and compliantly. Business planning, resourcing strategy, process improvements, budget management, target setting and tracking, stakeholder, client and supplier management.
Direct responsibilities
Business Planning, and supporting the ARTS Director in diversification & growth
Operational Delivery, day to day business and management of supply chain and relationship management
Ensure team overall performance & productivity are in line with delivery targets
Safety and operator management & compliance
Team leadership and management of operational meetings, line management of delivery teams
Business & process improvement, review of ARTS SLA performance and improvements. Collaborate on strategies to maintain and enhance overall service levels
Contract and relationship management of internal/external clients, including escalation of complaints
Reporting & KPI’s and data analytics to inform and drive business decisions,
People Management, including recruitment, development sickness & absence, succession, disciplinary and recruitment processes
Actively contribute to responses for new tender opportunities
Drive the implementation of the ARTS digitisation roadmap
Budget management, working with Head of Finance
Knowledge, skills and experience
Educated to GCSE level as a minimum
Experience of managing a Rail Replacement operation is desirable
Proven experience and knowledge of passenger transport operations
Management of large stakeholders internally & externally
Experience of people management
Experience of managing contracts to delivery targets and SLA’s
Leading others and maintaining high employee engagement
Capable and willing to motivate teams
Ability to work on multiple tasks and prioritise workload appropriately
Self motivated and driven
Analytical thinking & data interpretation
Highly organised and ability to manage multiple priorities
IT literacy, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Powerpoint
Success criteria and indicators
Sourcing new business to support diversification strategy
Growing, maintaining and developing supplier relationships
Commercial Contract Management
Leading & Developing high performing teams
Growing organically in line with business objectives in appropriate accordance with economy and operating environment
Achieving personal and business objectives
Demonstrates and lives by the company values
Understanding of Rail Industry (desirable not essential)
Stakeholder relationships
UK Trains
ARTS Director
ARTS Head of Finance
ARTS Management teams
ARTS Supplier network
Head of Safety (Rail Services)
External clients and industry networks