Programme Delivery Lead - Bus Franchising

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional transport authority in Sheffield is seeking a Programme Delivery Lead for their Bus Franchising Programme. This role involves strategic leadership, overseeing planning and governance, managing teams, and mitigating risks to ensure successful programme delivery. Ideal candidates should have extensive experience in programme management, strong leadership skills, and excellent communication abilities. The position offers competitive salary and is a hybrid role.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

28 to 36 days annual leave

Annual Leave Purchase Scheme

Flexible Hours Scheme

Training and professional development

Reimbursement of professional membership fees

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering complex programmes and transformational change.
• Proven expertise in programme and project management, governance, and business change.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage large teams.
• Excellent communication skills to influence and challenge at senior levels.
• Commercial and financial awareness, with experience in cost control and resource management.

Responsibilities

• Drive the delivery of South Yorkshire’s Bus Franchising Programme.
• Lead the Programme Delivery Team, defining resourcing strategies.
• Oversee integrated planning across workstreams.
• Establish robust programme governance and reporting.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
• Champion best practice in programme delivery.

Skills

Programme and project management

Governance

Leadership skills

Communication

Cost control

Risk management

Job description

Programme Delivery Lead - Bus Franchising

Application Deadline: 17 January 2026

Department: Public Transport Development

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Director of Bus Franchising

Compensation: £75,061 - £83,150 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 15 £75,061 - £83,150
• Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)

Are you ready to lead one of the most transformative programmes in South Yorkshire? We’re looking for a Programme Delivery Lead to join our Bus Franchising Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of bus services across the region.

This is a unique opportunity to deliver a programme that will change how people travel, improve connectivity, and create a better experience for residents and businesses. You’ll provide strategic leadership across all phases of the Bus Franchising Programme – from preparation and mobilisation to transition and business-as-usual – ensuring delivery excellence and alignment with our ambitious objectives.

Interviews are to take place the week commencing 26 January 2026.

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.

Please note South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority does not hold a sponsorship licence and cannot provide Skilled Worker sponsorship for any roles advertised.

About the role

As Programme Delivery Lead, you will:

• Lead the Programme: Drive the delivery of South Yorkshire’s Bus Franchising Programme, ensuring governance, cadence, and strategic alignment.
• Manage and Develop Teams: Lead the Programme Delivery Team, including Principal Project Managers, and define resourcing strategies.
• Coordinate Planning: Oversee integrated planning across workstreams, managing interdependencies and critical paths.
• Embed Governance: Establish robust programme governance, reporting, and assurance frameworks.
• Manage Risks: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks to keep the programme on track.
• Build Capability: Champion best practice and strengthen SYMCA’s programme delivery maturity.
• Enable Operations: Ensure the operating model and capabilities are in place for long‑term franchising success.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build strong relationships and communicate complex programme details in clear, simple terms.

About you

We’re looking for someone with:

• Extensive experience delivering complex programmes and transformational change.
• Proven expertise in programme and project management, governance, and business change.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage large teams.
• Excellent communication skills to influence and challenge at senior levels.
• Commercial and financial awareness, with experience in cost control and resource management.
• A track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and to scope.

Please see the criteria for the role listed in the attached role profile.

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.

In addition to the above, some of benefits include -

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 at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority

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.