Area Operations Director
leicester, england, United Kingdom
The Area Director will hold full P&L accountability and operational control, drive performance and growth to increase profitability, ahead of the market. This role will take the strategic lead to drive revenue growth through new and renewed contracts, tenders and innovative partnerships and initiatives with local authorities.
With depots across the East and West Midlands, down to Bedfordshire, this role will lead teams across operations, engineering, commercial, finance, support and Health & Safety.
Key Responsibilities
Delivery of optimal performance in the short term and profitable growth over the long term.
Agree, set and implement pricing strategy for the area delivering sustainable industry leading yield and maximize concessionary funding for the area through effective negotiation.
Ownership of overall cost control, cost efficiency and identifying initiatives to drive cost out of the area.
Lead the delivery of Performance KPIs at regional and UKB level.
Challenge and approve annual budgets for the depots within the area, ensuring targets are challenging, achievable and motivational. Focus on value-adding business activities to maximise revenue and control operating costs.
Ensure commercial competitiveness and responsiveness to changing market conditions by maintaining and developing relationships and capabilities within and external to the business.
Establish and maintain business relationships critical to local performance including local MP’s, Local authority stakeholders and major customer stakeholders In line with the overall UK Bus strategy generate strategies for growth based on a solid understanding of local customer needs.
Overall responsibility for ensuring adequate organisation and arrangements exist for the effective implementation of the Company Health and Safety Policy, and ensuring compliance with all statutory obligations.
Improve employee engagement and motivation towards the UK Bus strategy and change programmes.
Build high performing teams by providing managers with the skills to encourage and support new initiatives, develop their teams and seek opportunities for business improvement.
Create local support networks for Depot teams serving the same or adjacent customer groups and role model excellent leadership, customer and people focused behaviours. Identify and pro-actively develop future leaders of the business.
Collaboration with peers to drive Engineering Excellence and Operational Excellence to improve performance and profitability.
Drive the development and implementation of strategies to continuously improve performance and profitability.
Identify emerging trends and opportunities for innovation to ensure forward-looking excellence and market position.
Essential Post-holder Requirements
Proven experience of 5+ years in either a senior operational or commercial leadership capacity, with a track record of improving performance and profitability.
Graduate level of intellect, preferably with a higher degree in a management disciple or a professional qualification.
A wide knowledge of the bus, other passenger transport industries or similar high volume dispersed operational businesses.
Experience of identifying “bottom line” implications of decisions.
Successful background in winning and retaining business development opportunities through tender processes and robust contract management and delivery.
An understanding of financial management and wider management principles and leadership techniques.
Political awareness skills, plus an ability to effectively manage the demands of conflicting business interests and the need to meet statutory requirements
A very high level of commercial awareness
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Excellent organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills
Commitment to personal development and development of direct reports.
Person Specification
Demonstrate the Arriva Values, resilience and consistently positive attitude in a challenging and complex environment.
Able to develop coherent strategies and present to senior stakeholders and customers.
Analytical and financial mindset.
Proactive and innovative approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.
A proven track record of leading and delivering change.
Experience of multi-site, multi-functional and multi-level working
Experience of working in partnership with Trade Union representatives in a Unionised environment.