Forward Allocator

**Job Title**: Forward Allocator, Operating Company
**Location**:Chelmsford

**About the role**

As a Forward Allocator you will effectively plan workforce resources to enable safe, punctual, reliable and cost effective delivery of services. You will proactively plan drivers to rotas and duties, to minimise costs and impact of predictable disruptions, within the operational excellence framework. A key focus and priority of the role is effective scheduling and planning, taking into account planned and unplanned downtime of drivers' holidays, sickness and training. You will engage front line colleagues though effective communication, active listening and recognition. Working within and embed the divisional governance framework set by the Operations Steering Group, ensuring that operational excellence policies and procedures are adopted within the depot.

**Key **Accountabilities**:
**Overall responsibility to ensure driving duties are allocated in line with driving hours regulations and all records of compliance are submitted to reflect.**
- Allocate driver duties within current drivers hours and working time legislation, in accordance with FirstGroup policies, standard operating procedures and all other relevant legislation-Ensure accurate capture and recording of drivers' hours, duties and attendance in the DAS GUI system, power BI and SUS tools, or other systems highlighted in the systems matrices
- Work with the Training function to ensure that operational teams are competently trained and new starters are appropriately allocated to rotas
- Support driver queries in a timely manner
- Maintain accurate records for all aspects of drivers hours
- Ensure payroll information is accurate and processed in accordance with payroll deadlines
- Effectively plan and manage annual holiday and training requirements
- Improve operational performance in a sustainable manner, with a key focus on managing driver payroll costs, resulting in delivery of agreed key performance indicators
- Work alongside depot operational and engineering team members, fostering excellent working relationships between drivers and Supervisors to ensure a consistent customer experience
- Comply with requisition to pay procedures and delegated authorities
- Ensure an effective working relationship with recognised trade union representatives and official
- Other duties commensurate with the role as may be deemed appropriate by the line manager

**Required Skills & Experience**
- Required behaviours, habits, skills and experience are outlined in the FirstGroup First Line Manager - Tier 1 Role Profile
- Performance indicators / KPIs are outlined in the FirstGroup First Line Manager - Tier 1 Role Profile
- Qualifications / Professional Membership: GCSE English language, GCSE Mathematics (mandatory); PCV licence and Omni/Opti Bus training (desirable)

**Rewards & Benefits**
- First Xclusives discount scheme: You and your family & friends can benefit from over 3,000 offers on high street & leisure brands such as: Sainsburys, Asda, Argos
- Free travel on our buses for you and your family
- £6 all-day train travel for you and your family on Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Avanti, Trans Pennine Express, Hull Trains
- 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
- Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares

One of Britain's largest bus operators, we connect communities and help people to go to school, work and the shops. Every single day around 1.6 million passengers get on board our 6,400 buses. It's why we're so passionate about providing services that are reliable, punctual and offer good value for money. We're also proud to be part of the FirstGroup family that's based all around the world from the UK and Ireland to the USA, Canada and Mexico.

**Ref**:020173

**Company**:First UK Bus

**Website Skillset**:All Other Roles

**Contract Type**:Permanent - Full Time

**Contracted Hours**:38

**Location**:UK Bus - Chelmsford

**Salary**:Competitive