D-DRT Operations Manager

D-DRT Operations Manager

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £35,510 per annum

Location: Braintree

Working Style: Operational field-based worker

Closing Date: 19th March 2024

This role currently operates on a fortnightly rolling rota, Monday to Friday. One week of mornings and one week of afternoons. Details can be discussed at interview stage.

The Role

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council was awarded £2.5million from the Department for Transport to deliver DigiGo, a Digital Demand Responsive Transport (D-DRT) service. The service has begun to transform the local transport offer, piloting a passenger-focussed form of public transport, characterised by flexibility and the use of shared minibuses.

The DigiGo Operations Manager will fulfil a vital role in the continued success of the high-profile scheme. They will manage and lead a team of drivers and be responsible for the transportation of passengers; ensuring the service operates smoothly and managed appropriately according to passenger needs.

The role will also be responsible for the operation and management of the digital platform to deliver a quality experience to residents. Furthermore, the role will manage all day-to-day aspects of delivering a transport service, whilst also contributing towards the development of the service and future development of DigiGo in other areas.

This is a proactive role, using strategic thinking, planning and data for the service, to suggest innovative ideas and new ways to develop the service, thus ensuring DigiGo delivers a high-quality service.

The successful candidate must be willing to secure D1 category on your driving license, if not already obtained, with support and funding from ECC.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for ensuring all work undertaken meets the legislative requirements under which the DigiGo service operates (e.g. Section 22 licencing, drivers' hours requirements)

• Line manage 20+ drivers, coaching and mentoring them in the use of new digital technology and driving practises relevant to the service
• Develop and deliver local partnerships and innovations that contribute towards the service minimising cost to the Council
• Responsible for setting and managing drivers' rosters and shift patterns according to relevant legislation
• Responsible for ensuring that the delivery of the DigiGo service is cost-effective; maximising the use of the fleet and displaying value for money
• Responsible for managing the provision of the DigiGo service in order to ensure specific passenger needs are met
• Responsible for ensuring records are kept accurately with regards to operational data and budgetary information; and produce fortnightly reports for the Operations Board with this data
• Responsible for ensuring records are kept for all Local Bus work undertaken and providing relevant data to external transport consultants and internal teams (e.g. concessionary fares)
• Assisting with the processing of invoices and raising orders in accordance with financial regulations
• Responsible for delivering a high-level of customer service, ensuring customer complaints are brought to a satisfactory conclusion or escalated to a senior level where appropriate
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives will be defined annually within the performance management framework
• Form part of a rolling duty rota, one week in a rolling four week cycle (evenings and weekends during the one week on duty

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area (CPC Transport Manager qualification desirable)
• Demonstrable experience and skills in contract management and transport service delivery
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Working knowledge of fleet management, including Electric Vehicles
• Excellent IT skills, with ability to find 'digital-first' solutions to technical issues and delivering continuous improvement
• Ability to operate in a busy environment, under pressure, with varied hours of operation (early mornings, late evenings, weekends)

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Follow us on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.

Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours