Marketing Operations Manager

About First Bus:

Are you ready to advance your career with one of the UK's leading bus operators? Join a forward-thinking company that embraces cutting-edge bus technology, from innovative mobile apps to environmentally friendly vehicles. We are passionate about delivering passenger journeys that are sustainable, comfortable, and efficient. We are at the forefront of innovation in the industry, connecting communities and shaping the future of public transport.

Location – Home based

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Marketing Operations Manager to join our Marketing team on a full-time basis. This is initially a 12-month FTC with the potential to go permanent.

The Marketing Operations Manager is the central coordinator and “front door” for all creative asset requests entering the First Bus Production Hub. This role ensures that all briefs are reviewed, scoped, resourced, and delivered efficiently and to a high standard.

It’s vital that this person understands the 'how' in terms of content delivery, is comfortable at processing swiftly and understands priority.

You will be responsible for managing workflow from intake to output across the department, optimising processes, and keeping the Production Hub running smoothly. This is a pivotal role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume creative environment and brings both calm organisation and strong relationship-building skills.

Key Responsibilities

Workflow & Project Intake

• Serve as the primary contact for all requests entering the Production Hub.
• Review and interrogate briefs in collaboration with the Head of Content Strategy to ensure clarity, completeness, and alignment with business objectives.
• Assess project requirements, scope complexity, and determine the most suitable creative resource to deliver the work.

Scheduling & Resource Management

• Allocate and schedule the appropriate internal and/or external creative talent, i.e. using freelance creative talent (design, copy, video, digital, etc.).
• Manage the Production Hub schedule, ensuring workloads are balanced and deadlines are realistic and achievable.
• Maintain visibility of all active projects, identifying bottlenecks early and adjusting resourcing as needed.
• Support budget tracking for freelance, production and external resource spend.
• Manage freelancer onboarding, briefing standards, quality control, and performance evaluation of external suppliers.

Process Development & Operational Excellence

• Design, document, and continually optimise Production Hub processes to improve speed, quality, and consistency.
• Implement tools, workflows, and reporting mechanisms that enhance transparency, efficiency, and communication.
• Champion best-practice creative operations within the marketing team.
• Monitor operational KPIs such as turnaround time, SLA adherence, resource utilisation, campaign delivery efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Produce regular Production Hub performance reporting and insights to improve operational effectiveness.
• Ensure all creative output adheres to brand guidelines, accessibility standards, legal & regulatory compliance and stakeholder approval processes.
• Support the organisation and governance of digital assets, templates and creative documentation to ensure efficient reuse, version control and rights usage.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Act as the bridge between internal stakeholders (marketing, comms and others) and creative teams, providing clear timelines, expectations, and updates.
• Confidently challenge briefs, timings, and priorities when needed, delivering constructive feedback while maintaining strong relationships.
• Collaborate with wider marcomms teams, as well as digital and customer experience to coordinate integrated campaign delivery.
• Mentor stakeholders on effective briefing and campaign planning practices.
• Foster collaboration and clarity across teams to ensure smooth delivery of all creative work.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate and implement AI-assisted workflows for briefing, scheduling, content ideation, tagging, asset management and reporting.
• Identify automation opportunities that reduce manual administration and improve delivery speed.
• Experiment with new approaches that increase productivity or expand the Production Hub’s capabilities.
• Support a culture of innovation and efficiency within the marketing function.

Skills/Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience managing creative workflow in a busy studio, agency, or in-house environment.
• Strong understanding of creative and production processes across design, copy, digital, and content disciplines.
• Outstanding organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• A calm, solution-focused approach, even under pressure.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to assess briefs, challenge assumptions, and guide teams towards the best creative outcomes.

Desirable

• Experience within transport, consumer, or complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Knowledge of project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar).
• An interest in AI tools and a willingness to experiment with new methods to improve creative output.

Salary - £60,000-£70,000

Rewards

Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
• Enhanced maternity / paternity pay
• Flexible working

Equal Opportunities

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities, and people. We welcome applications from all.