Travel Operations Manager

As Travel Operations Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring the Council meets its statutory responsibilities to provide safe, reliable and accessible travel assistance for eligible residents. You will lead the effective day-to-day management of passenger transport operations, ensuring services are delivered to the highest standards of quality, legal compliance, value for money and sustainability, while supporting the Council's net zero ambitions and Luton 2040 vision.
Working closely with the Service Manager, you'll provide both operational and strategic leadership across the Passenger Transport Service, helping to shape and deliver efficient, customer-focused transport solutions. You'll oversee the effective use of the Council's transport fleet and externally commissioned services, ensuring transport commitments are met through a seamless end-to-end service that balances statutory requirements, customer needs and financial sustainability. You'll also support the implementation of transport policies, champion health, safety and safeguarding standards, manage travel demand within budget, and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve service efficiency while ensuring the best possible use of public funds.

We're looking for an experienced and proactive transport professional who can lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. You'll have the ability to review, audit and challenge existing practices, ensuring work is delivered to a high standard and identifying compliance, coordination and service delivery issues before driving effective resolutions.
You will be a confident communicator, able to influence, negotiate and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, service providers, schools, parents and partner organisations. With strong analytical and problem-solving skills, you'll use data and insight to make informed decisions, develop innovative solutions and identify opportunities to improve performance, efficiency and customer outcomes.
A strong understanding of passenger transport operations is essential, particularly in relation to Home to School Transport for children and young people with SEND and those with ASC. You'll also be experienced in managing change, using performance management techniques to deliver sustainable service improvements, ensure compliance and support the delivery of high-quality, value-for-money transport services.

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

Please to learn about Luton Council Employee Benefits.