Newbury & District is hiring for a General Manager to be based in the West Berkshire.
About Us:
Newbury & District is a bus and coach operator providing public transport services in the West Berkshire and surrounding areas. We are committed to providing exceptional transport services, with a focus on customer satisfaction, sustainability, and innovation.
Role Overview:
The General Manager will lead and shape the future of our bus and coach operations. This position will not only oversee the operational management of the business but will also focus on development, revenue growth and identifying new market opportunities. Reporting to Reading Buses’ Operations Director, you will be responsible for driving both strategic and operational excellence across the company, ensuring we continue to lead the market while delivering outstanding service to our customers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the company’s strategic plan in alignment with business goals, ensuring both short-term and long-term objectives are met.
- Business Development: Identify and pursue new growth opportunities, including expansion into new markets, partnership development, and diversification of services.
- Operational Excellence: Deliver efficient and effective day-to-day operations across all services, ensuring that routes, scheduling, fleet management, and customer service.
- Team Leadership & Development: Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to senior managers and operational staff. Foster a positive, collaborative work culture focused on excellence and continuous improvement.
- Financial Management: Take ownership of P&L responsibilities, ensuring effective budget management, cost control, and profitability. Work closely with finance teams to monitor financial performance and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and represent the company at industry events and public forums.
- Compliance & Safety: Ensure compliance with all relevant transport regulations, safety standards, and environmental policies, whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety.
Key Requirements:
- Proven Leadership: Experience in a relevant leadership role within the transport or logistics sector, ideally with a focus on bus or coach operations.
- Business Development Expertise: Experience in identifying and developing business growth opportunities. Able to innovate, expand market reach, and drive revenue through new business initiatives.
- Operational Acumen: Strong understanding of transport operations, including fleet management, scheduling and customer service, focussing on efficiency, cost control, and service quality.
- Financial Savvy: Experience managing budgets, financial performance, and making data-driven decisions to improve profitability.
- Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and execute long-term business strategies that align with company goals and market trends.
- Communication & Influence: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage, influence, and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making: Strong critical thinking and decision-making abilities, with the capability to handle complex situations and make sound, timely decisions.
We want someone who is looking to utilise their skills in the industry and gain valuable experience in an innovative environment. An eye for detail and a desire to deliver will lead to a unique and rewarding challenge in one of the UK’s leading operators.
Salary will be commensurate with experience and responsibility.
If you’re an ambitious and experienced leader with a passion for the transport industry and a drive for business development, we would love to hear from you!
How to Apply:
If you believe that you meet – or indeed exceed – these criteria and would like to apply please email jobs@reading-buses.co.uk with your CV and covering letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the right fit for this role.
Closing date for applications is Friday 3 July 2026
