Area Director - North East

Shape the Future of Public Transport

Arriva is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in UK public transport.

Area Director

Arriva North East

Shape the Future of Public Transport

Arriva is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in UK public transport.

Backed by significant investment, a strengthened executive leadership team and a clear ambition to become Britain's leading bus operator, we're creating a business that is safer, smarter, more sustainable and relentlessly focused on our customers and the communities we serve.

We're now seeking an exceptional Area Director to lead our North East operating company. This is one of the most senior operational leadership positions within Arriva UK Bus and offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of public transport while leading one of the UK's largest and most strategically important regional bus businesses.

This recruitment campaign is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Managing Director - North, you'll have complete responsibility for the operational, commercial and financial performance of Arriva North East.

You'll lead a business generating approximately £85 million in annual revenue, operating a fleet of 366 buses and employing around 1,000 colleagues across our depots in Ashington, Blyth, Darlington, Durham, Redcar and Stockton, together with our Whitby outstation.

As the substantive leader of the North East business, you'll operate with genuine autonomy, supported by specialist UK Bus functions while retaining full accountability for local performance, customer experience and commercial success.

In addition to leading the business, you'll serve as the Statutory Director for Arriva's two North East legal entities and sit on the boards of the Group's regional ticketing companies, ensuring robust governance, compliance and strategic oversight.

What You'll Deliver

You'll be accountable for every aspect of business performance, including:

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

• Full P&L ownership, driving sustainable financial performance and long-term growth.
• Delivering the North East business strategy aligned with Arriva UK Bus's wider ambitions.
• Leading investment decisions, governance and risk management across the operating company.
• Identifying opportunities to improve commercial performance, revenue growth and operational efficiency.

Operational Excellence

• Delivering safe, reliable and punctual bus services across the North East.
• Driving improvements in operational performance, engineering excellence and fleet availability.
• Ensuring compliance with Operator Licence requirements, regulatory obligations and safety legislation.
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement across every area of the business.

Leadership & People

• Inspiring and leading the Arriva North Senior Leadership Team.
• Creating an engaged, high-performing and inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.
• Developing future leaders through effective succession planning and capability building.
• Building strong, constructive relationships with Trade Unions and employee representatives.

Customer & Community

• Ensuring customers remain at the heart of every decision.
• Working collaboratively with commercial and marketing teams to enhance the customer experience.
• Supporting the development of sustainable transport solutions that meet the evolving needs of local communities.

Stakeholder Engagement

You’ll become the senior ambassador for Arriva across the North East, building trusted relationships with:

• Local Authorities
• Combined Authorities and Transport Authorities
• Elected Mayors, MPs and elected members
• Traffic Commissioner and regulatory bodies
• Business partners and suppliers
• Community organisations
• Trade Union representatives

Working closely with Arriva's Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement teams, you’ll help shape the future of transport across the region.

Driving Transformation

As Arriva Continues Its Transformation Journey, You’ll

• Deliver large-scale business improvement initiatives.
• Embed UK-wide programmes across the North East operation.
• Champion innovation, sustainability and decarbonisation.
• Collaborate with fellow Area Directors and the UK Bus Executive Team to share best practice and influence future strategy.

About You

We're looking for an accomplished executive leader with the credibility, commercial capability and operational expertise to lead a complex, customer-facing organisation.

You’ll Bring

• Significant senior leadership experience with full P&L accountability within a large, multi-site operation.
• Strong knowledge of the bus industry, public transport or similarly regulated operational environments.
• A proven track record of leading large, unionised workforces through change and transformation.
• Exceptional commercial and financial acumen.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging at board, government and partner level.
• A passion for delivering operational excellence and exceptional customer outcomes.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with visible, hands‑on leadership.

Why Arriva?

This is an opportunity to lead at one of the UK's largest public transport operators during a defining period of change.

You’ll Join a Business Offering

• Executive-level influence within a national leadership team.
• Significant operational autonomy supported by specialist central expertise.
• Industry-leading investment in fleet electrification and sustainability.
• The opportunity to shape transport services that millions of customers rely upon every year.
• A collaborative culture focused on innovation, performance and continuous improvement.

If you're an inspiring leader with the ambition to transform public transport and deliver lasting impact across the North East, we'd love to hear from you.

Location

This role is based within Arriva North East, with flexibility to be located at one of our regional depots. Regular travel across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and the Tees Valley will be required, together with occasional travel across the wider Arriva UK Bus network.

Ready to Lead the Future?

If you're looking for a career-defining executive opportunity with one of Europe's leading public transport operators, apply today and help shape the future of Arriva North East.

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