Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours, fuelling the spirit of adventure in 21 world-famous cities across four continents. Beginning its journey 27 years’ ago, with a fleet of only three buses, Big Bus Tours has swiftly expanded to a global fleet of over 400 hundred  open-top buses, turning 5 million tourists into explorers, every year. Big Bus Tours operates in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Istanbul, Miami, Muscat, Rome, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Darwin, Sydney, Vienna, Washington DC, Dublin and Singapore, with a sightseeing concept designed to provide a flexible approach to city discovery. Each open-top bus tour provides a hop-on, hop-off facility at a variety of interesting locations, with complimentary additions to enhance the visitor sightseeing experience. In February 2015, private equity firm Exponent purchased Big Bus Tours, with a shared vision to make Big Bus Tours the number 1 thing to do in each world-famous city.  In 2016, Merlin Entertainments PLC became a shareholder, offering a natural synergy with Big Bus Tours and Merlin attractions and experiences around the world. With entertaining guides and commentary and knowledge of the latest events in each city, the Big Bus City Crew leaves every passenger with a story to tell.

This is a critical hire for the organization and the successful candidate will be required to lead, direct and control Big Bus Tours operations in Sydney. They will provide vision, leadership and direction to all the employees and be the face of the organization with all external partners and third parties.

With its ambitious growth plans, this is an important appointment for Big Bus Tours and for the right candidate this is an opportunity to make a major contribution and a chance to develop on both a professional and personal level.

The organisation can be considered as made up of three key functions – operations, finance and compliance and sales & marketing. The General Manager will have responsibility for all these areas. Because of the nature of the business there is significant interaction with different local regulatory authorities which needs to be managed effectively. The direct sales team is key to the business’s success and third-party sales via other tourism organisations need to be increased. Finally, the General Manager must also take ownership of all the team and the operational details of the business so that it provides an efficient, safe and comfortable experience for all its customers.

Key Areas of Accountability and Responsibility

• Manage and direct all company staff to achieve set objectives and to ensure the business operates effectively.
• To have accountability and ownership of the cities P&L
• Ensure the accountability & achievement of profitability for the company.
• Overall responsibility for marketing, strategic planning and staff recruitment.
• Take an active lead in brand building and business development both locally and internationally.
• To ensure the business meets all operational, regulatory, and legal requirements and to put the safety and security of the operation at the top of the agenda.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships and contracts with partners, clients and customers.
• Overall responsibility for budgeting, expenditure and cash management.
• Ensure that effective systems are in use to manage the company efficiently, in all areas including operations, technical and customer care.
• Manage operational schedules and maintenance as required.
• Ensure that all compliance policies are effectively implemented and that a safe working environment is maintained.
• Manage and monitor company performance and report monthly to the Board and explain variances
• Ensure “the basics” are in place for direct reports, and their teams, in terms of job descriptions, objectives, 121s, and performance management and appraisals.
• Take actions required for the continued success and growth of the business.

Skills

• Ability to read and speak English

Experience/Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.                                                                        
• Ten years’ relevant work experience, ideally within the tourism or hospitality industry.
• At least five years’ experience managing contracts, customers and staff.
• Strong experience in dealing and working closely with customers, suppliers and staff on complex issues on an ongoing basis.
• Ideal candidates will combine both sales and operations experience.
• Ability and right to work in Australia or to meet the criteria for the company to obtain a working visa.

Competencies

• Able to lead and motivate a diverse team.
• Comfortable and effective with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Good decision-making and strategic thinking skills.
• Able to work calmly under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Career Development

As an organization that is constantly growing Big Bus Tours provides considerable career development opportunities and has a strong track record of developing their people through the business. There is real potential for the right candidate to develop within this role and into other roles in the future.

Other Info

It is important the individual can work well within a matrix organisation, where central Group functions such as technology and marketing act as key facilitators for the City Leads to deliver their EBITDA targets.