Transport Manager - SEND; Bus

Transport Manager - SEND (Bus)

Department: Office & Management

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: West Norwood

Reporting To: Director of Commercial Services

Compensation: £50,000 / year

London Hire Community Services (LHCS) are a leading specialist passenger transport company in the capital. Operating from several depots across London, the home counties, and beyond, LHCS provides quality, accessible SEND home-to-school transport services for children and day centre transport for vulnerable adults – completing almost a million journeys every year using a range of electric vehicles, taxis, minibuses and larger midi-coaches.

We’re proud of our excellent ‘can do’ approach to our work, as well as our ISO accreditations for quality, health and safety and environmental impact.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Transport Operations Manager to join us at our West Norwood depot. The Transport Operations Manager will lead and support onsite office teams to uphold strong processes and procedures that enable efficient, safe and high-quality service delivery. Alongside this, you will apply your expertise to carry out central, senior level duties that help maintain overall compliance and operational standards across the business.

This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver contracts to multiple Local Authorities, and we’re looking for an engaged, motivated individual who shares our excitement for the future.

• Provide leadership, line management, coaching, and operational support to office teams, in the delivery of the employee lifecycle through effective communication, talent and performance management.
• Oversee the employee lifecycle, including talent and performance management, training, investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, DBS compliance, and professional development.
• Maintain full Operator’s Licence, fleet, driver, and regulatory compliance, ensuring vehicles are inspected, safe, roadworthy, and all licences, qualifications, insurance, and training remain current.
• Monitor Tru Tac, Cordic, and other IT systems, managing defects, infringements, compliance issues, KPI reporting, and corrective actions.
• Lead the successful delivery of transport services across assigned business areas, ensuring contractual, operational, and service specification requirements are achieved.
• Develop and maintain strong local authority and stakeholder relationships, acting as a key point of contact and providing regular KPI, utilisation, and performance information.
• Monitor operational and financial performance, including contract profitability, invoicing, budgets, route planning, scheduling, cost efficiencies, and commercial opportunities.
• Support tender and re-tender activities, preparing documentation, identifying new opportunities, and supporting the securing of additional/ad-hoc work.
• Lead or support risk assessments, accident and incident investigations, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and lessons learned.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, contracts, service specifications, and industry requirements, communicating changes and ensuring ongoing compliance.
• Develop contingency and business continuity plans for staff shortages, vehicle breakdowns, adverse weather, route disruption, and other operational challenges.
• Prepare and present monthly KPI, performance, utilisation, and opportunity reports to Senior Management and the Leadership Team.

• Act as a named ‘Transport Manager’ on the Company’s Operators Licence, uwith a strong understanding of the responsibilities and compliance requirements associated with the role.
• Experience in managing passenger transport services is essential, including financial understanding.
• Strong leadership and people management skills,with the ability to motivate teams, build positive working relationships and develop genuine relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Excellent IT skills and an ability to learn and utilise new software packages
• Knowledge of delivering public sector services and projects by the private sector on a for profit basis.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and ensure services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
• Full driving licence

• Generous annual leave at 28 days PLUS bank holidays per annum.
• Enhanced family friendly policy dependent on length of service.
• Access to our Employee Assurance Programme.
• On-site parking.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Regular social functions.