Contracts and Programme Officer - Bus

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement 28-36 days + bank

Annual leave purchase

Hybrid working

Flexible hours scheme

Reward gateway discounts

On-the-job training

Professional membership fees

Job summary

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is seeking a Contracts and Programme Officer – Bus at Sheffield Head Office. This full-time role (37 hours) is based in Sheffield with hybrid working. Salary £35,929–£38,737 plus benefits, and the appointment is permanent.

You will monitor contracts, analyse performance data and support service improvements across the regional bus network. You will work closely with operators, local authorities and stakeholders to ensure value for money and

Qualifications

• Experience of monitoring and evaluating service or contract performance.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret operational and financial data.
• Experience supporting contract administration, procurement activities or supplier management.
• An understanding of public transport operations or a related service environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to build positive working relationships with operators, partners and colleagues.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• A proactive approach to identifying issues and delivering solutions.
• Experience preparing reports, briefings and performance information for a range of audiences.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering excellent customer outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the performance of contracted bus and community transport services, ensuring services meet agreed standards and contractual requirements.
• Support contract management activities, including performance reviews, compliance monitoring and service audits.
• Analyse operational, customer and financial performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to the procurement and management of supported bus and community transport contracts.
• Support service reviews, network changes and transport improvement initiatives through analysis and evidence gathering.
• Monitor contract payments and funding arrangements, helping to ensure effective stewardship of public funding.
• Work with operators, local authorities and partners to address operational challenges and improve service delivery.
• Coordinate responses to planned network changes and disruption, helping minimise impacts on passengers.
• Prepare reports, performance information and recommendations to support decision-making and governance processes.
• Investigate service issues and enquiries, providing informed and evidence-based responses.

Skills

Analytical skills

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisational skills

Proactive problem solving

Reporting experience

Job description

Contracts and Programme Officer - Bus

Application Deadline: 27 September 2026

Department: Public Transport Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Sam Millington

Compensation: £35,929 - £38,737 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 7 - £35,929 - £38,737
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

We are looking for a proactive and analytical Contracts and Programme Officer – Bus to join our Bus Services team.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of a sustainable, reliable and high-performing bus network across South Yorkshire. Working closely with operators, local authorities and key stakeholders, you will help ensure contracted bus and community transport services deliver excellent outcomes for passengers while providing value for money and supporting wider transport priorities.

We anticipate interviews will be held on 15 and 16 October.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Bus Services, you will play a key role in monitoring performance, managing contracts and supporting service improvements across South Yorkshire's bus network.

In this role, you will:

• Monitor the performance of contracted bus and community transport services, ensuring services meet agreed standards and contractual requirements
• Support contract management activities, including performance reviews, compliance monitoring and service audits
• Analyse operational, customer and financial performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
• Contribute to the procurement and management of supported bus and community transport contracts
• Support service reviews, network changes and transport improvement initiatives through analysis and evidence gathering
• Monitor contract payments and funding arrangements, helping to ensure effective stewardship of public funding
• Work with operators, local authorities and partners to address operational challenges and improve service delivery
• Coordinate responses to planned network changes and disruption, helping minimise impacts on passengers
• Prepare reports, performance information and recommendations to support decision-making and governance processes
• Investigate service issues and enquiries, providing informed and evidence-based responses

This is a varied role offering the opportunity to influence public transport services while supporting the delivery of key transport priorities across South Yorkshire.

About you

You will be an organised and commercially aware professional with experience of working within transport, contract management, operational performance or a similar environment.

You will bring:

• Experience of monitoring and evaluating service or contract performance
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret operational and financial data
• Experience supporting contract administration, procurement activities or supplier management
• An understanding of public transport operations or a related service environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to build positive working relationships with operators, partners and colleagues
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• A proactive approach to identifying issues and delivering solutions
• Experience preparing reports, briefings and performance information for a range of audiences
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering excellent customer outcomes

Knowledge of public transport, community transport services, network planning or contract compliance would be advantageous.

Benefits

All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.

• Holiday Entitlement – From 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in addition to your normal annual leave
• Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
• Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and to take time-off in the form of Flexi-Leave or banked Annual Leave.
• Rewarding You - Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle-to-Work schemes.
• Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on-the-job training and qualifications
• Professional Membership Fees – Where membership to Professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.

Diversity and Inclusion

Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment as such all requests will be considered subject to operation requirements.

Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact [e-mail] or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.