Head of Engineering

Arriva London is seeking a dynamic Head of Engineering to drive day-to-day service delivery excellence and lead our engineering team to new heights. In this role, you will deploy engineering strategy, standards and direction, providing specialised technical guidance, mentor and develop our Engineering Managers and Team Leaders, and spearhead campaigns and business improvement initiatives to achieve optimal KPI performance. Join us and make a significant impact on our engineering operations and overall service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Improvement of engineering performance KPI’s impacting Engineering P&L

• Supporting and aligning with Head of Operations on technical performance and delivery

• SME for engineering and lead on Service Review Meetings with suppliers/OEM’s

• Improvement campaigns and recovery glidepaths using data analysis to drive strategic actions.

• Conduit and control between Purchasing/Procurement/HR who all have direct impact on ‘front line garage performance’

• Deputise for the Engineering Director where required

• Assist in ZEV deployment and roll-out

• Delivery of core shared capabilities e.g. Body & Engine Shops / CMF / Training Academy

• Ownership of Lean, Technical campaigns and Process improvement

• Operational controlling of standards adherence (Process Confirmations / Auditing).

• Help to ensure Engineering Managers deliver an excellent and cost-effective engineering service in accordance with Company Policies and Procedures in order to maximise operating profit.

• Utilise effective and efficient business performance management tools to engage teams to deliver KPI improvements and sustained operational reliability across the fleet with a clear roadmap to ZEV delivery.

• Glidepath adverse performance areas within targeted and measured timescales to achieve overall improvements.

• Establish and maintain business relationships critical to performance.

• Understand changing customer needs and drive initiatives or projects designed to improve the operation at a business level.

• Engage with external stakeholders to and align strategy to deliver customer requirements.

• Oversee the preparation and implementation annual budgets for engineering function, ensuring targets are challenging, achievable and motivational.

• Focus on managing engineering costs and strategically review performance to budget/forecast. Challenging managers to take appropriate action to address any variances.

• Ownership of ZEV life-cycle costing model and working alongside Finance BP’s to track financial performance across a range of metrics and fleet variability, utilising data analysis to drive decision making.

• Continuously review the operating environment; identify areas, processes and systems which through innovation can be substantially improved.

• Be a champion for creative thinking, supporting and challenging managers to develop robust change programmes in order to deliver local business objectives.

• Be accountable for new ideas, accepting some will be calculated risks. Utilise the adequate level of CapEx and business cases to drive improvement and innovation into the heart of the operation

Essential Postholder Requirements

• IOSH qualified

• Transport Manager and CPC holder, or working towards achieving

• Understanding of P&L, budget and forecasting cycles

• Understanding of Fleet strategy and life-cycle cost

• Well versed in H&S guiding principles and ISO, BSI accreditations

• Critical understanding and knowledge of Engineering KPI’s and industry regulation standards (DVSA, TfL, Local Authority etc)

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; analytical and problem solving individual.

Person Specification

• Demonstrate the Arriva Values and excellent communication skills

• A proven track record of garage/depot management, financial management, budgets and forecasting cycles, data analysis

• Experience of operating within the TfL framework of bus garages

• Background in vehicle maintenance and DVSA standards

• Capable of motivating staff, creating performance improvement action plans, delivering sustainable performance

• Experience of working in partnership with Trade Union Representatives