We have a fantastic opportunity for a Colleague Engagement and Experience Manager to join our team on a full time permanent basis. 

The Colleague Engagement and Experience Manager will play a key role in executing and delivering engagement and experience initiatives that bring our people strategy to life at First Bus.

Reporting to the Head of Colleague Engagement and Experience, this role will focus on delivering insight-led programmes, supporting engagement campaigns, and driving execution across multiple workstreams. It will work closely with colleagues across HR, Internal Communications, and the wider business to ensure a consistent and inclusive experience for all employees.

This role requires strong collaboration, attention to detail, and a delivery mindset to ensure initiatives are rolled out effectively and with measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

Colleague Engagement and Experience Delivery

• Support the delivery of the colleague engagement plan in alignment with business priorities and the internal communications calendar.
• Coordinate and implement initiatives that enhance connection and inclusion, including ‘Team Time', First Line Manager (FLM) sessions, and other employee touchpoints.
• Manage the operational aspects of three annual engagement surveys, ensuring smooth rollout, timely reporting, and follow-up actions.
• Work with the people partnering team, ICE Partners, and business leaders to track and follow through on engagement action plans.
• Develop and maintain tools, templates, and content to support local engagement delivery (e.g., toolkits, guides, session materials).
• Promote and support wellness and inclusion activities in collaboration with relevant partners.

Recognition and Culture Building

• Deliver and support the ‘Our Way' recognition programme across the business.
• Partner with managers to ensure consistent and meaningful recognition practices at both local and national levels.
• Help embed First Bus values and behaviours across engagement activities.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Support

• Partner closely with Internal Communications to align messaging and ensure timely, engaging delivery.
• Support the development and execution of an annual engagement calendar that reflects business milestones and key colleague moments.
• Provide operational and administrative support to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and in line with compliance standards.
• Work with L&D and other partners to help amplify regional development opportunities and initiatives.

Data Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Assist with coordination and reporting of engagement surveys, including data analysis, insights generation, and dashboard preparation.
• Track engagement performance across teams and regions, helping to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and monitoring of Local Business Unit (LBU) plans aligned to engagement objectives

Skills & Experience 

• Experience supporting employee engagement and experience initiatives within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with engagement and survey data.
• Comfortable delivering and supporting programmes across multiple stakeholder groups and locations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate plans into compelling messages and materials.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with a focus on timely and consistent delivery.
• Experience using digital collaboration and engagement tools (e.g., intranets, survey platforms, project trackers like Trello).

Rewards & Benefits

• 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
• Flexible working

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

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.

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.