Assistant Operations Manager

Description - External

Please note:

Applying for this role means you have read and understood this advert and any associated links.

This campaign is to recruit to a waitlist for permanent opportunities as they arise. We will be offering roles on an ongoing basis over the next two years.

Due to the expected high response to these vacancies, we reserve the right to close this campaign once we have a suitable pool of applicants, which could be prior to the published application closing date.

Organisation – SPE (Security, Policing and Enforcement)

Position Type – Full Time

Contract Type – Permanent

Grade – Band 2

Description

Salary - £54,950, which includes a non-consolidated, pensionable shift allowance of 15%

Location: You could be based anywhere in the Greater London area, depending on business requirements. This is not a hybrid role - this is a full uniformed role

Contract Type – TfL

The closing date for applications is 18th November 2026 @23:59 hours.

The Role

Security, Policing and Enforcement Directorate (SPE) is responsible for enforcement, compliance, policing and security and community safety across TfL. Our work contributes to keeping our transport network safe and secure, improving passenger confidence, and ensuring that the rules and regulations are enforced in a fair and proportionate manner.

SPE provides a professional, highly visible security and enforcement service across the breadth of TfL services. This could mean working at our bus stations, our train stations, on the bus, underground and rail network or across the Taxi and Private Hire industry.  As an Assistant Operations Manager you will typically lead a team of ten to fifteen professional and highly capable Transport, Support and Enforcement Officers, you will be working alongside your team, supporting them with the challenging work they carry out, helping the development of your people and ensuring we maintain the highest level of standards, honesty and integrity which will contribute to customer and staff trust and confidence in our services.

We have ambitious and challenging plans to grow our teams - we are looking for experienced people leaders, who have a real passion for people, not only those you may lead, but those who TfL supports. You will want to make a real difference and will be used to working with tight deadlines, able to make sense of ambiguity, always focusing on doing what’s right for our people and our customers

Across our network you will provide uniformed on street People Leadership of operational resources contributing to improved compliance through on-network activities, as part of a customer service focused team delivering safety, security and reliability through engagement and enforcement 

You will work with the wider TfL Operations team to deliver operational improvements in alignment with SPE objectives, including prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour.

You will manage a geographically dispersed operational team, working a varied shift pattern, which may include working a shift pattern covering weekends, nights, and bank holidays (rosters are always subject to change).

Please note that due to the nature of this role, you may encounter situations which involve violence and aggression either aimed at you, colleagues that you work with, or between members of the public. You may also encounter situations which raise safeguarding concerns (such as situations involving children and vulnerable adults) where you will be required to act in support of the individuals involved.

We encourage open communication about any challenges you face and have a well-established support system in place to assist you - including comprehensive training that includes trauma-informed practices and self-care strategies, access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and a wide range of mental health support and wellbeing resources.

For more information about this aspect of the role, contact us at HighVolumeCampaigns@tfl.gov.uk 

To view the Key Accountabilities, Skills, Experience & Knowledge, click below

Key Accountabilities, Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Insight Sessions

To help you gain deeper insight into this opportunity, the hiring managers will be hosting an Insight Session to discuss the key responsibilities and answer any questions you may have about the role. These will be held on Thursday 12 November 2026 10:00 am -12:00 pm and Friday 13 November 2026 11:00am - 13:00pm. To register your interest please contact Highvolumecampaigns@tfl.gov.uk.

Location: MS Teams - An MS Form to register your interest will be sent closer to the date for those unable to attend, the session's will be recorded and posted on Platform.

Application Process and Assessment Process

Cheating and plagiarism in any part of the assessment process undermine the core values and behaviours of TfL. We uphold strict policies and standards to ensure fairness, originality, and ethical conduct.

Thinking of using AI for your application?

AI can help, but over reliance often makes the applications sound generic and less personal. We want to know you, let your own voice and experiences come through in your application.

The recruitment process consists of 4 stages. You will need to pass each stage to progress onto the next:

Stage 1: Online Application form and screening questions

Stage 2: Online tests

Stage 3: CV and Covering Letter Review

Stage 4: Assessment centre consisting of competency and scenario-based interview

Please note it will take 10-14 days after the final assessment event to hear the outcome

Please apply using a maximum two-page CV and a maximum two-page covering letter using Microsoft Word, Font Arial 12. Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter.

As part of the application process for this position, you are required to upload both a CV and a Covering Letter to your application before submitting. To be compatible with our anonymisation software, these must be in Microsoft Word doc.x format. Failure to upload documents in this format means that they may not be processed. Applications with either CV or Covering Letter missing will be classed as incomplete and will not be progressed.

The tests will be sent out via panpowered.com (Talogy). You will have 7 days (168 hours) in which to complete from the date and time it was sent. If you have not received the email within 48 hours of applying (excluding weekends), please check your junk/spam emails. If you are unable to locate your invite, please contact the Recruitment Team on the contact details provided at the bottom of this job description.

No extensions will be granted, therefore If you are unable to complete your test within the 7 days, we would advise you to refrain from submitting your application at this time. If you do not complete the tests within 7 days of receiving the email, you will be automatically removed from the process.

Please note: If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to assist you, then you will need to advise us before you begin the test. Requests for reasonable adjustments cannot be made after the test has been started.

Campaign Timetable

The campaign is running to a very specific delivery timescale as determined by the business and there will only be enough slots for the number of candidates invited. Dates for the Assessment Centre will be opened on an ongoing basis, therefore if there are no slots available please check again the following day. You are encouraged to schedule into an assessment event as early as possible. If you do not book an assessment, you will be withdrawn from the campaign.

Confidentiality of the recruitment process

Please be aware that sharing any details of your assessment process, or internal information with others may result in your offer being withdrawn immediately.

This includes posting or discussing details in online forums, social media groups, or messaging platforms. Maintaining confidentiality is essential to ensure fairness and compliance throughout the recruitment process.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact us directly rather than seeking advice in external groups. Failure to comply with this requirement will lead to withdrawal without notice.

Candidate Charter

You can download a copy of the Candidate Charter here.

This outlines our commitment to you as a candidate by providing insight into our recruitment process.  It also outlines our expectations with regards to your engagement with us, to ensure that you receive the best recruitment experience possible, as we believe you should know the standards of service you can expect from us. You must read this document prior to submitting your application in order to understand every aspect of the process.

Reasonable Adjustment Process

If you require reasonable adjustments, you must notify the recruitment at least 48 hours (excluding weekends) prior to your scheduled assessment event to allow us to accommodate your requirements. You will then be sent a confirmation email which you will need to bring to your assessment. If you fail to bring this on the day your adjustments will not be granted, and you will be unable to re-book. We will consider that you are the expert regarding your own requirements, and we will consider all requests fairly within the context of the role. 

Please note: The online test is a timed test, therefore if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to assist you, then you will need to advise us before you begin the test. Requests for reasonable adjustments cannot be made after the test has been started. 

Please take the time to read the Disability Charter here.

Notice of Cancellation

We require you to give a minimum of 48 hours' notice of cancellation or re-schedule. Non-attendance at your Assessment Event may lead to your application being withdrawn.

Please note: Your assessment may be rescheduled once only and reschedules will only be granted if there are assessment slots available, so please make sure you check you can make an appointment before booking. Subsequent cancellation may lead to your application being withdrawn. If you do not follow the process outlined in the Candidate Charter you risk being withdrawn from the campaign.

Outcomes

Outcomes for the assessment will be provided 10-14 days after your assessment event.

Feedback

Due to the nature of the SJT we cannot provide individual feedback, however, we can provide your score against the benchmark.

Visa Sponsorship

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks.  Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.  At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Appointment to post 

Candidates must successfully pass our pre-employment checks such as a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check and employment referencing. Failure to pass any of these will result in the offer of employment being withdrawn at any stage.

Although you may be successful and offered the role – you may not commence employment in the role or start training immediately. There may be a requirement to delay your start date until you are required.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks.  Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.  At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Vetting Process 

Vetting

The role requires Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) & Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS) authority. This means that all Operations Officers will be police vetted to Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2 with Counter Terrorism Check (NPPV2/Full).

More information regarding vetting can be found here - https://www.college.police.uk/app/professional-standards/vetting

You will be required to maintain your vetting status throughout your employments, this includes renewals which presently take place on a 3 yearly cycle or to a frequency as determined by the police service. If for any reason you are unable to maintain your vetting status, your employment will be terminated.

The vetting process will commence before you have started in the role. If you fail the vetting process, the job offer will be withdrawn. It is important to be aware that the vetting process includes detailed checks, including but not limited to checks related to:

·       Financial history

·       Family members’ criminal history (or other police intelligence about this matter)

·       The criminal history (or other police intelligence about this matter) of everyone living at the same address as you