Operations Officer
Operations officers are responsible for providing support to ensure that the day-to-day running of services is reliable and efficient.Operations officers help to manage schedules and staff rotas and also ensure that trains are maintained and kept clean.
Other tasks for operations officers can include keeping records of bus use including passenger numbers and fares taken, and managing the issue of bus passes. They may also help the central planning team in the case of emergencies, such as the need to re-route buses if accidents have occurred. Operations officers may also deal with customer complaints, and provide support the customer service assistants who have initial contact with customers.
The starting salary for an operations officer is around £13000. This can rise with experience.
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Working environment
Operations officers work in an office based at a bus depot or station. They use a computer and may work on specialist systems designed for the bus company, as well as the standard computing packages.Operations officers are normally expected to dress smartly, though they usually do not have to wear a uniform. If they spend any time in the depot, they will be expected to wear high visibility clothing for their own safety.
The normal working hours for an operations officer are up to 40 each week. Most operations officers work standard office hours although some companies may employ officers who work shifts which can include weekends, early mornings or late nights.
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Skills and interests
Operations officers need to be well organised and capable of undertaking more than one task at any one time.The skills required to be an operations officer include:
- good communication
- organisation and planning
- numeracy
- able to work as part of a team, but also to take own initiative when required.Go Back
Entry into the role
Bus employers will normally require that applicants for the role of operations officer have a sound standard of literacy and numeracy, such as GCSEs (or national equivalent) in maths and English. The ability to be organised is very important.Jobs are available in every part of the country, but most work is in larger towns and cities at bus stations/depots. Jobs can be advertised in the local press or at employment agencies or organisations such as Jobcentre Plus. Some bus companies also use their own company website to advertise vacancies.Go Back
Opportunities
Operations officers can progress to take on added responsibilities for planning or service performance.There are qualifications that are relevant to the role of operations officer:-
- EDI level 2 certificate in road passenger transport
- NVQ level 2 in road passenger transport operations (offered by Edexcel and EDI).Go Back
Useful links
- Confederation of Passenger Transport
- Arriva
- First UK Bus
- GoAhead
- National Express
- Stagecoach
- Route One (magazine)
- Bus & Coach Professional (magazine)
- Coach and Bus Monthly (magazine)