Career opportunities

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Performance Manager

A performance manager is responsible for ensuring that the coach services provided by a company run efficiently and according to plan. They have to make sure that coaches meet any punctuality targets and that they are providing a reliable for passengers.

Performance managers also help with the planning of services, and with the management of staff, ensuring that there are enough staff scheduled to work on every shift so that coach services can perform as required. They can also be involved in the recruitment and training of staff, in particular drivers, and ensure that staff are appropriately trained and licensed where necessary.

As well as this performance managers take responsibility for ensuring that coach operations are health and safety compliant and that they adhere to any industry regulations.

Performance managers also maintain detailed records of service performance, including coach usage and mileage and staff working hours. It is important to keep records so that the performance managers can ensure that the services being delivered are reliable and also cost effective. The records also allow for detailed evaluation of performance and identification of areas requiring improvement.

The starting salary for performance managers is approximately £25000. This will rise with experience.Go Back

Working environment

Performance managers spend much of their time in an office in a coach depot. They will also spend some of their time out and about, meeting with other company colleagues or working with planners/schedulers and drivers.

The normal working week for a performance manager is up to 40 hours. This can be worked in shifts, which can include early mornings or late evenings, although it is more usual for them to work to regular office hours.
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Skills and interests

Performance managers should have:
- good people management skills
- ability to work with large amount of data and information
- strong planning and organisational skills
- good communication skills
- an in-depth understanding of the regulations affecting the coach industry.Go Back

Entry into the role

Performance managers normally progress into the role from other positions within the coach industry, such as operations officer or service planner.

Applicants for the role should have experience of working in areas relating to performance management and should be able to demonstrate sound abilities in working with numbers. Many employers will expect applicants to have degree level education, or to have a suitable amount of experience if not.
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Opportunities

Performance managers can take responsible for increasing numbers of services and depots. They can also move into director roles, or into more focused training roles.
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Useful links

• Confederation of Passenger Transport
• Route One (magazine)
• Bus & Coach Professional (magazine)
• Coach and Bus Monthly (magazine)

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Case Studies

• BUS - transport manager
  See a bus company transport manager talk about her job (links to Virtual Work Experience from Learning and Teaching Scotland).
  View case study (external website)
• COACH - operations manager
  Buzzlines employee Gary Creasey talks about his role as an operations manager.
  Download case study document

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