Head of Bus Franchising Network Development.

It is an exciting time at Transport for West Midlands, the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority, as the region develops and delivers a franchised bus network. To support the procurement and mobilisation of the network we are recruiting for the new position of Head of Bus Franchising Network Development on a 2 year fixed term basis.

Working in the Integrated Transport Services Directorate leading the Bus Reform (network) Client Team providing strategic leadership, the role is critical to supporting the effective delivery of this complex Programme and Mayoral priority.

What you will be doing:

• You will provide strategic leadership for the development of the franchised bus network for the West Midlands, setting the strategic direction for network design and determining the services to be procured through franchising, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives of the Local Transport Plan.
• You will ensure that an affordable network is provided within the franchise programme within financial availability, as each phase of franchising is delivered working closely with the bus and commercial teams.
• You will provide senior professional assurance to ensure the longer-term viability of the network, customer satisfaction, accessibility requirements and wider strategic objectives of the Authority are embedded at the earliest stages of network planning and development.
• You will help shape the contracts to be fully aligned with the procurement strategy, providing strategic direction and assurance for service schedules, procurement documentation and the evaluation of tender submissions.
• Working closely with the bus and commercial teams you will also provide strategic leadership on the development of the operational performance framework required to manage franchised services effectively and will ensure a planned and supported handover to the TfWM Bus Team following each tranche of procurement.
• You will act as a senior industry leader, engaging nationally with other Combined Authorities and transport authorities, Government teams and departments, and industry representatives, leaders and partners to share best practice and contribute to the development of bus franchising policy and practice.

What’s essential:

• As the successful candidate you will have experience of strategic leadership, governance and risk management in transport operation and / or delivery of large-scale transport programmes.
• You will have or gain enough senior experience in bus operations, bus network development, service delivery and gain an understanding of franchising management.
• Ideally you will have experience of strategic planning, option appraisals and decision making in a public sector and/or regulated environment.

This role is a Fixed Term Contract for a duration of 2 years

Please refer to the job description for further details of the Essential and desirable criteria for the role.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply.

Applying for a role internally is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

• Create our Careers Account. Register with your name, work email address and a password. Please add your personal email address as a secondary contact method.
• Build your profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details
• Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
• Inform us you already work for WMCA. You’ll be asked ‘Already work for WMCA?’. Please answer ‘Yes’ to this question.
• Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. it’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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For more information on how to apply, please visit the Applying for a Role Internally page on our intranet or speak to one of the Recruitment Team.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

Looking for a more flexible way of working.

If you are currently working on a part-time basis and wish to be considered for this role, please indicate your preference when you apply. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all our team members and will assess applications based on individual merit.

Before you apply.

Before diving into a new opportunity, we encourage you to have a conversation with your current line manager. Sharing your career aspirations with them is important, as they can provide valuable guidance and support your development journey. They can also assist you throughout the recruitment process and continue to help you grow, even if this opportunity isn't the right fit.

Eligibility.

Only current employees of WMCA, and those considered temporary agency workers, are eligible to apply through this platform. If you are not currently employed by WMCA, please visit our external careers site to view and apply for available positions.

Please note that positions advertised as Fixed Term Contracts may also be offered as an internal secondment. If you are considering an internal secondment, please ensure you have discussed it with your current line manager. This will ensure that they keep your substantive job open for your return.