Education Transport Support Service Manager

Education Transport Support Service Manager
Location: Berkshire (Hybrid Working)
Contract: 3 months initially, potential for extension
About the Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Education Transport Support Service Manager to lead and develop a high-performing Education Transport and Fleet Management function. This role is ideal for a strategic, solutions-focused manager with a strong background in transport services, statutory responsibilities, and service transformation.
You will oversee the delivery of safe, efficient and compliant transport services for children, young people, and vulnerable service users, as well as the effective management of a diverse fleet. This position plays a critical role in shaping policy, driving improvements, ensuring operational excellence, and supporting key partners across education, commissioning, social care and finance.
Key Responsibilities

Lead Education Transport and Fleet Management teams to deliver high-quality home-to-school and social care transport services, alongside the management of the organization’s vehicle fleet.
Review workforce skillsets, identify training needs, and support effective performance management.
Ensure all transport services operate in line with statutory regulations, national guidance, strategic priorities and internal policies.
Continuously develop and update transport policy, operational guidance, and internal processes.
Drive service improvements, cost efficiencies and innovation, with a focus on customer experience and person-centered approaches.
Build strong, collaborative relationships with educational establishments, parents/carers, contractors and wider stakeholders.
Oversee robust handling of complaints and ensure staff are trained in customer resolution processes.
Support annual budget formulation, manage budgets effectively, and ensure strong financial controls within the transport teams.
Contribute to procurement activities for home-to-school transport contracts and ensure teams are confident using route tendering systems.
Ensure effective contract management, performance monitoring and safeguarding compliance for all transport providers.
Work closely with safeguarding professionals and licensing services to ensure all appropriate checks, authorizations and risk management processes are in place.
Maintain strong internal processes for staff training, compliance monitoring and safeguarding reporting.Role Scope

Line management of Education Transport and Fleet Management teams (approx. 3.5 FTE plus drivers).
Management of a £220k staffing budget and £2.5m non-staffing budget.
Oversight of a domestic fleet of 26 vehicles, primarily under contract hire arrangements.
Responsibility for education transport provision for several hundred children and young people, including those with EHCP/SEN, mainstream pupils, contracted routes and parental mileage arrangements.About You

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.
Extensive management experience, including Home to School Transport services.
Strong contract management skills in complex environments.
Experience working at managerial level within a local authority or similar public sector setting.
Proven experience developing statutory transport policies and operational procedures.
Strong safeguarding knowledge and experience.
Demonstrable success in setting performance goals and leading teams to achieve them.
Excellent communication, interpersonal and partnership-working skills.
Strong financial and resource management capability.
Ability to prioritise, plan and manage competing demands effectively.
Positive attitude towards organisational change.Why Choose Ackerman Pierce?
Ackerman Pierce calls upon over 15 years' worth of experience in recruiting directly into the Social Work Sector. We can offer a unique experience within recruitment where you have your own personal consultant, a DBS and Compliance service with a quick and easy registration process. We pride ourselves on a guaranteed weekly payment process.
To discuss this vacancy further or any other opportunities, please contact Elise Revett or email in your updated CV to us at Ackerman Pierce