Safety, Quality & Assurance Manager
Location: Derby (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Permanent
Company: Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS)
Who We Are
Are you passionate about driving quality, compliance and continuous improvement? Do you have the experience and leadership skills to help us deliver a game-changing 5-star service for our customers?
If you're looking for a role where you can influence business performance, shape operational standards and make a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.
At Arriva Road Transport Services (ARTS), we exist to prove that alternative transport can be better than the journey it replaces. Every year, we deliver over 80,000 rail replacement journeys, facilitate more than 20,000 train crew taxi journeys, and provide dedicated frontline support to customers across the UK.
As we continue to grow, we're looking for a Safety, Quality & Assurance Manager to lead our quality, compliance and assurance agenda, ensuring the highest standards of governance, operational performance and continuous improvement across the business.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Head of Safety – Rail Services, with a matrix reporting line into the Head of Operations, you'll be responsible for leading ARTS' quality assurance, compliance, audit and performance functions.
This is a highly visible leadership role that combines quality management, regulatory compliance, operational assurance and performance improvement. You will play a key role in ensuring ARTS remains audit-ready, compliant and focused on delivering exceptional service for customers and stakeholders.
What You'll Be Doing
Integrated Management Systems & Governance
Lead and continuously improve the ARTS Integrated Management System (IMS), ensuring ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22301 requirements are embedded across the business.
Drive continual improvement and move the organisation beyond compliance-focused auditing to deliver measurable operational benefits.
Coordinate Management Reviews and monitor management system effectiveness and maturity.
Maintain governance of management system documentation and processes.
Audit, Assurance & Compliance
Own and deliver the annual risk-based audit programme.
Coordinate internal audits, external certification audits and Rail Services assurance reviews.
Monitor audit outcomes and corrective action effectiveness.
Provide assurance reporting and insight to leadership teams.
Incident Investigation & Continuous Improvement
Lead or support investigations into significant incidents and non-conformances.
Ensure robust root cause analysis, corrective actions and lessons learned processes are in place.
Support operational leaders in identifying and implementing improvements that reduce risk and improve performance.
Risk Management & Business Resilience
Support the identification, assessment and management of organisational risks.
Maintain management system risk registers and monitor control effectiveness.
Support business continuity and resilience planning activities.
Reporting & Performance
Develop KPI reporting and assurance dashboards across Safety, Quality, Environment and Business Continuity performance.
Identify emerging risks, trends and opportunities for improvement.
Deliver meaningful reporting that supports effective decision-making.
What We're Looking For
Experience managing and improving Integrated Management Systems in a regulated environment.
Strong knowledge of ISO management systems, particularly ISO 9001 and ISO 45001.
Experience leading internal and external audits and managing assurance programmes.
Experience conducting incident and non-conformance investigations.
Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills.
The ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
Experience driving continual improvement and embedding compliance into operational activities.
Desirable Experience
Experience within rail, transport, logistics or another regulated industry.
Knowledge of ISO 14001 and ISO 22301.
Experience working with regulatory bodies and client compliance frameworks.
NEBOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification.
Essential Qualifications
Why Join Arriva Road Transport Services?
At ARTS, you'll join an ambitious and growing business where quality, compliance and operational excellence are central to everything we do.
We offer:
Competitive salary
Hybrid working
Free travel on Arriva branded rail services across the country
Arriva Village employee discounts
Employee Assistance Programme with 24-hour confidential support
Opportunities for professional development and career progression
Ready to Lead Quality, Assurance & Performance Excellence?
If you're looking for an opportunity to shape standards, drive continuous improvement and play a key role in the future success of ARTS, we'd love to hear from you.
