Career opportunities

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Operations Manager

Operations managers for community transport oversee the delivery of transport services. Their responsibilities can include:
- developing service and staff rotas
- overseeing the booking service
- financial management, including applying for funding support
- monitoring the performance of transport services
- keeping a schedule of planned vehicle maintenance
- providing training
- staff recruitment and management
- marketing and advertising
- ensuring services are legally compliant.

Operations managers make sure that their community transport organisation is able to deliver the services required by their target clients. The majority of people who use community transport are not able to easily access other forms of passenger transport, and so can be reliant on the services offered by local community transport.

Starting salaries for Community Transport Operations Managers are around £25000 rising to £30000 or above based on experience and size of organisation.

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Working environment

Community transport operations managers are mostly based in an office at the organisation's base. They spend a lot of their time working on a computer, and also much of their time liaising with other staff.

Operations managers may, from time to time, have to provide passenger assistance - working on the transport services and giving support to passengers during a journey.

Usually, operations managers will work between 37 and 40 hours a week. They may work early mornings and late evenings, as the organisation operates outside of normal business hours as well. Weekend working is also not uncommon.
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Skills and interests

Operations managers need an interest in working with, and managing, other people. They should also have an interest in, and a sound understanding of, the delivery of transport services.

Important skills for operations managers include:-
- organisation and planning
- the ability to interact with and manage a wide range of people
- an understanding of customer service
- communication, both verbal and written
- knowledge of health and safety, and legal regulations governing transport services
- the ability to use IT systems and software
- knowledge and experience of financial management

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Entry into the role

Operations managers can work their way up into the position from other roles in community transport. Experience of managing and supervising other people and services can be essential.

Academic requirements for applicants can include education to A level standard (or national equivalent) with high levels of literacy and numeracy. Strong IT skills can also be an advantage.

Applicants for the position also need to be able to show an understanding of the particular services that community transport provides, including the importance of community transport to people with mobility issues.

Jobs can be advertised in the local press or at employment organisations such as Jobcentre Plus. Many community transport organsations are run by the local authority, and vacancies can also be advertised on local authority websites.
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Opportunities

Community transport operations managers can progress to manage other transport operations, taking on planning or people management roles for other companies. They can also move up within community transport, taking on more senior roles, including positions such as service director.

There is also the opportunity for operations managers to gain industry related qualifications including the Certificate of Professional Competence in National Passenger Transport (offered by OCR). 
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Useful links

• CTA Journal (magazine)

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Case Studies

• COMMUNITY TRANSPORT - supervisor
  Derrick Campbell, a Service Delivery Supervisor explains his role.
  Download case study document

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