Head of Customer Transport – Saga Travel Group
Salary £60,000 to £75,000 DOE
Permanent
FT – 35 hours per week
Hybrid – Home and Crawley Hub*
Close date 13th June 2024
This is a strategically important newly created role in our Saga Travel Group Operations function. We are encountering an exciting business transformation with new technology plus rapid growth in our market.
Working as our Head of Transport, you will be directly reporting into our Chief Commercial Officer to build and scope out this new post in our growing organisation. You will be the lead for the commercial and operational success of the Transport team within Saga Travel Group.
You will be accountable for every aspect of this exceptional and unique service proposition, taking customers from home to their UK departure point and back, providing a hassle-free start and end their holiday. Operating across both our large in-house fleet of vehicles and affiliated partners, you will be focused on delivering and improving the commercial performance of the business through exceptional commercial acumen, people management, innovative thinking, and a customer first approach. You will manage a dedicated team of back-office colleagues and a large community of casual fleet drivers. They plan and deliver the transport service for all our Cruise and Tour passengers. The journeys could start from anywhere in the UK to either an overnight hotel, airport or port. We have a fleet of 130 executive vehicles. A busy day could have up to 1600 journeys in total!
** Hybrid working ** With a hybrid approach we require 2 to 3 days in the office in Crawley and there could be visits to other Saga locations as part of this role. (Kings Cross - London, Ashford – Kent and Southampton.)
Package DescriptionEveryday our colleagues deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. We believe exceptional work deserves even more exceptional rewards, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package.
25 days holiday + bank holidays
Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 15% (level 2)
Car Benefit – car allowance scheme - £4800 per annum
Option to purchase additional leave up to 5 extra days
Pension scheme matched up to 10%
Life assurance policy on joining us
Wellbeing programme
Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises and holidays!
Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Grandparents leave
Income protection
Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform
Private Medical Insurance after 1 year service
Main ResponsibilitiesWorking as our Head of Transport for Saga Travel Group, you will be fully responsible for delivery and management of the following areas;
Delivery of the Transport business P&L ensuring we achieve planned revenues and costs and grow profitability across a 5-year plan.
Development and delivery of the Transport strategy, aligned to the growth ambitions of Saga Travel Group
Enhancement and development of the customer proposition, that drives new and innovative ways that deliver an exceptional experience for customers and retains our market leading position.
Expand and develop external partnerships that maximise the use of our vehicle fleet, creating innovative partnerships that optimise the use of our fleet and support revenue and profit generation through maximum on the road usage.
Lead, motivate and energise a highly experienced and skilled team of office colleagues and casual drivers, providing clear direction, communication, and vision.
Establish and maintain high levels of stakeholder engagement including with own team; third parties and the remote casual worker driver team.
Ensure adherence to all relevant regulations, licensing and compliance both internally and externally, and ensure appropriate risk management and quality standards are in place, understood and applied across the Transport team and any third parties.
Establish and foster continuous improvement and curiosity within the Transport team on ways in which the VIP Service can continue to evolve and improve – e.g. fleet size and type; selection, onboarding and management of third parties; blend of fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles; improved routing; driver and customer communication and customisation of the service to meet changing customer needs; measurable actions to maximise service delivery; quality and minimise costs.
Maintain an awareness of travel and transport industry developments including developing a network of applicable contacts. Recommending strategies to take advantage of or mitigate risks from change.
The Ideal CandidateWe require candidates to be commercially astute and have come from a similar people transport operation model or be able to demonstrate operational management and be an expert in their area.
A credible leader, you have been the first line of management for people or projects, either within or across business units, to deliver a service within budget.
Able to use information, analysis, experience, expertise and judgement to resolve non-routine problems. With the following skills;
Have a commercial and growth mindset.
Strong leadership and an entrepreneurial vision.
Able to communicate affectively at all levels.
A strategic thinker with a customer centric mindset.
Can take the full accountability for delivery of a P&L in a 6 figure operation.
Led a busy customer facing service operation.
Used to managing teams and change in a large organisation.
Proven success on delivering projects, change programmes and new ideas that enhance a service or product offering.
About The CompanyOver the past 70 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has become one of the most recognised and trusted brands amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for its high quality products and exceptional standards of service. These include cruises and holidays, insurance, personal finance and the Saga Magazine.
At Saga we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better.
Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities and those over who are over 50 as we are champions of age inclusivity. We are an official Disability Confident Committed employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible and we will make reasonable adjustments as required. For more information on our DEI policies please visit our Saga Careers page.
Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.
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