Shared Services Transformation Manager – Doxford, SR3 3XP

Overview

Shared Services Transformation Manager – Doxford, SR3 3XP

Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe. The company employs around 35,000 people, delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys connecting people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably.

We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with I Squared Capital – a global infrastructure investment fund manager – who acquired Arriva in 2024.

We are looking for a Shared Services Transformation Manager to join our Transformation Team on a fixed term basis for up to 12 months based at either our Sunderland or London office.

The Shared Services Transformation Manager is responsible for responsible for planning and establishing the successful setup of a Shared Service Centre (SSC). The role involves overseeing the design, implementation, and optimisation of centralised support services across Finance, HR, IT and Procurement, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. This role sits as part of the Transformation Office (Programme Elevate).

Direct responsibilities :

Planning & Design:

– Develop and define the vision and objectives for the SSC aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals.

– Conduct a thorough analysis of business needs and operational requirements across departments to ensure alignment.

– Design the service delivery model and determine service scope, governance structures, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Stakeholder Management:

– Engage with senior management, department heads, and business units to gather input, align expectations, and ensure buy-in for the SSC initiative.

– Work as part of a multidisciplinary programme team to provide the shared service lens to process and systems workstreams

Process Optimisation & Standardisation:

– Conduct process mapping and assessment to identify opportunities for standardisation and optimisation across multiple functions.

– Lead initiatives to streamline workflows, remove redundancies, and improve operational efficiency.

– Ensure seamless transition from decentralised functions to the SSC model.

Compliance & Risk Management:

– Ensure the SSC complies with local regulations, industry standards, and corporate policies.

– Manage risk by identifying potential issues and developing mitigation strategies related to the establishment of the SSC.

Continuous Improvement & Reporting:

– Establish continuous improvement processes to enhance SSC performance over time.

– Develop regular reporting mechanisms and dashboards for monitoring KPIs, service levels, and operational performance.

– Ensure that feedback loops are in place to drive refinement of processes and services.

Knowledge, skills and experience:

– Proven experience in managing or setting up a Shared Service Centre or transformation initiatives.

– Experience in business process reengineering, service delivery optimisation, or operational efficiency.

– Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams and engage stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

This job description sets out the main duties and responsibilities of the job–holder. It does not constitute an exhaustive or comprehensive description of duties and the job holder will be required to carry out any additional tasks as and when requested to do so by their manager. Responsibilities and duties may also change in light of future business needs and personal development.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 30th September 2025. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.

 

IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.