Safety Quality & Assurance Manager

**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** **Quality Assurance & Management Systems** * Own and continuously improve the organisation's ISO management systems, including ISO 9001 * Ensure quality systems remain embedded within operational delivery and aligned to business objectives * Maintain effective document control processes and governance standards * Lead internal audits, external certification audits and surveillance audits * Manage non-conformances, corrective actions and preventative actions to completion **Audit & Regulatory Compliance** * Develop and deliver an organisation-wide audit and assurance programme * Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory and external audits * Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory and operational obligations * Provide assurance across suppliers, operational functions and key stakeholders **Performance Management & Continuous Improvement** * Create, review and report on KPI and SLA performance across the business * Identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement * Lead investigations into performance issues and implement sustainable corrective actions * Provide meaningful insight and reporting to senior leadership teams * Develop and drive continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence **Governance, Risk & Data Protection** * Support governance frameworks and assurance processes across ARTS * Act as the lead Data Protection Officer for the business * Support wider compliance, risk and assurance activities * Ensure policies, procedures and controls are applied consistently across the organisation **Leadership & Stakeholder Management** * Lead, coach and develop team members where required * Provide guidance to operational managers on quality and compliance requirements * Build strong relationships across the business to drive standards and accountability * Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to support continual improvement and assurance activities **What We're Looking For** * Proven experience in a quality assurance, compliance, audit or performance management role * Experience managing ISO management systems, particularly ISO 9001 * Strong experience leading internal and external audits * A track record of managing KPI and SLA performance and driving improvement * Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills * Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capabilities * The ability to translate data, audit findings and performance trends into meaningful business improvements * Strong communication and leadership skills **Desirable Experience** * Experience within transport, rail, logistics or another regulated industry * Knowledge of ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or other management system standards * Experience working with regulatory bodies and client compliance frameworks * NEBOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification **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.