Senior Operations Manager; Transport

Job Advert

Job Role:

Senior Operations Manager (Transport)

Location:

North West, Wales, Yorkshire, North East (LS11DN
)

Job type:
Permanent, Full Time

Contracted: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday – adaptable working hours to meet operational requirements

Salary: £60,000 per year + £500 per month based on KPIs

Contractual benefit:
Company Car or Car allowance

• Cycle to work and Smart Tech Salary sacrifice Schemes – Employees have the option to participate in our Smart Tech Salary Sacrifice scheme, allowing them to access the latest technology devices through convenient, tax‑efficient deductions directly from their salary (subject to T&Cs)
• Exclusive discount scheme:
  You and your family & friends can benefit from over 3,000 offers on high street & leisure brand
• Access to company reward & recognition platform

Welcome to Sasse, the Home of a family, a business that thrives on the potential of our people and the success of our teamwork. We are currently recruiting for a Senior Operations Manager to support Arriva, a major international bus operator. Covering four regions (North West, Wales, Yorkshire and the North East), this role offers a rare opportunity to contribute to one of the UK’s most recognised transport networks.

The bus cleaning and processing industry plays a critical role in keeping public transport moving safely and reliably. Services span the full lifecycle of vehicle presentation, including daily cleans, periodic deep cleaning, interior and exterior detailing, fuelling, AdBlue top‑ups, and end‑of‑service processing. Operations typically extend beyond the fleet itself, covering workshop, yard, and office cleaning to maintain safe and compliant depot environments.

It’s a fast‑paced, service‑driven sector that demands strong coordination, quality assurance, and seamless delivery to support operators in keeping their fleets on the road.

As a Senior Operations Manager, you will take full ownership of the operational performance of multiple cleaning contracts, ensuring services are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards. You will lead and develop operational teams, drive continuous improvement, ensure contractual and financial compliance, and maintain strong client relationships. You will also support strategic planning and act as deputy to the Head of Department when required.

• Lead, motivate and develop managers and site teams, providing clear direction, coaching and support to ensure consistently high performance and alignment with company leadership principles.
• Oversee rota planning, performance management, absence control and employee engagement across all sites, ensuring teams are fully resourced and operating effectively.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training and development activities, working closely with the People & Practices team to build capable, high‑performing operational teams.
• Ensure compliant management of HR processes, including disciplinaries, grievances, investigations and capability procedures, maintaining fairness and alignment to company policies.
• Maintain a strong leadership presence across all sites, providing visibility, support and guidance to both managers and frontline staff.
• Ensure the delivery of high‑quality cleaning and facilities services that meet contractual KPIs, SLAs and customer expectations.
• Conduct regular site audits, inspections and quality assurance checks, identifying performance gaps and implementing corrective actions promptly.
• Drive operational efficiencies and continuous improvement initiatives, analysing performance trends and implementing initiatives that enhance productivity and service quality.
• Manage workforce planning, ensuring optimal staffing levels, effective equipment deployment and appropriate stock control across all operational areas.
• Support full budget management, including labour, materials, equipment, overheads and forecasting to ensure financial performance targets are met.
• Oversee accurate scheduling, wage processing and financial forecasting, ensuring transparency and alignment with the contract budget.
• Monitor financial performance, identify…