First Rail
Bid Solutions Specialist - Network
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About Us
FirstGroup plc is a leading provider of transport services in the UK and Ireland, and a member of the FTSE 250. Our 30,000 colleagues work across the UK to provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities.
Location
Remote - based anywhere in the UK, with occasional travel
Contract
Full-time, permanent
Salary
Competitive - dependent on experience
As the UK’s local bus market undergoes transformative reform, First Bus is at the forefront of this evolution. With large-scale franchise and B2B contracts becoming pivotal to our growth strategy, we are building a dynamic bid team to drive our success.
About the Role
As a Bid Solutions Specialist (Network), you will play a crucial role in designing creative, efficient, and commercially valuable solutions that position First Bus as the partner of choice for our clients. If you thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments and are passionate about delivering impactful, innovative solutions, this role is your opportunity to make a difference while contributing to the future of sustainable transportation.
What You'll Do
Your work will directly support First Bus’s growth agenda by designing high-performing, client-focused networks that exceed expectations. You will:
- Quickly assess client requirements for new opportunities, developing innovative, competitive solutions.
- Analyse current network performance, leveraging data and industry insights to model and enhance routes, timetables, and schedules.
- Create compliant and efficient driver and vehicle schedules that balance operational efficiency and robustness.
- Collaborate closely with Finance to ensure timely, accurate costing of resource requirements.
- Articulate your solutions through clear, concise verbal and written summaries to support compelling bid submissions.
- Stay ahead of industry best practices, continuously improving our approaches to scheduling, route planning, and network design.
- Work alongside operational teams to ensure a seamless transition from bid assumptions to real-world application for successful contracts.
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What We're Looking For
We’re seeking an experienced scheduler who thrives on innovation, analysis, and collaboration. You’ll bring:
- A proven track record in large, complex operations and expertise in computerised scheduling tools such as Optibus and Prospective.
- Strong analytical skills to process complex data sets, identify trends, and drive actionable insights.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, enabling you to clearly articulate complex solutions to a range of stakeholders.
- The ability to stay calm, focused, and organised under pressure, particularly when working to tight deadlines.
- A proactive, self-sufficient approach with a genuine passion for teamwork and continuous improvement.
Your Impact
Your contributions will directly influence our success in winning new contracts and driving our growth agenda. Success in this role will be measured by:
- Improved contract win rates and high-quality scores.
- Positive feedback from clients and colleagues on the strength and innovation of your solutions.
- The confidence and trust you inspire within the bid team.
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We will be reviewing applications for this role as they come in, so we recommend you apply as soon as possible.
Equal Opportunities
We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer because we believe that diversity brings benefits for our customers, communities, and our people. Valuing our differences and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience helps us develop new services, open up new markets, and broaden our customer base.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome everyone regardless of social background, gender or gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or age.
Your Journey Starts Here!
Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match.
FirstGroup is a leading private sector provider of public transport. We provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities. Our services are a vital part of society – transporting customers for business, education, health, social, and leisure purposes. We create solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier, and work hard to reduce our impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more responsible methods of transport. Our businesses are at the heart of our communities, and the essential services we provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social, and environmental goals.
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