Transport Commissioner

Joining our School Transport Service as a Transport Commissioner, you'll help ensure that eligible students access suitable school transport efficiently and safely for Mainstream, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Post-16 years, Education Inclusion Service and Social Care settings. In this fast-paced and demanding role you will manage a large and varied workload and identify practical solutions to complex transport challenges while ensuring value for money and delivering excellent outcomes for children and families. What you'll do:

• Commission school transport for mainstream, SEND, post-16 and social care children, identifying the most appropriate and cost-effective transport solutions.
• Procure and allocate transport provision, negotiate with operators, and manage capacity to ensure services meet children's needs.
• Use route planning technology to design, optimise and maintain transport routes, data and reporting information.
• Resolve complex operational issues and make informed decisions to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of transport services.
• Investigate and manage customer enquiries and complaints, delivering excellent customer service and positive outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with families, schools, transport operators and colleagues across the service.
• Act as an escalation point for operational queries, providing advice, guidance and timely solutions.
• Maintain accurate records, follow standard operating procedures, and uphold safeguarding responsibilities at all times.
  
  Experience of managing complex workloads and competing priorities, making sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify practical and cost-effective solutions.
• Experience of working with customers and stakeholders, handling complex enquiries, resolving complaints and building positive relationships.
• Confidence using IT systems and data to support decision-making, with experience of maintaining accurate records and managing information.
• Ability to interpret policies, exercise judgement and take ownership of decisions while balancing customer needs, service delivery and value for money.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with families, schools, transport providers and colleagues at all levels.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, with the confidence to follow policies and procedures, recognise concerns, take appropriate action and uphold professional standards at all times.