Senior Contracts and Programme Manager - Bus

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Local government pension scheme

Job summary

South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) seeks an experienced Senior Contracts and Programme Manager - Bus to shape the future of bus services across South Yorkshire. You will lead contract strategies, oversee major service improvement programmes and ensure value for money and excellent customer outcomes through joined-up transport planning.

Reporting to the Head of Bus Services, you will provide strategic leadership across contracts, network development and programme delivery, driving

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading transport, service delivery, contract management or major programme activity.
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic planning skills.
• Experience managing complex funding arrangements, budgets and investment programmes.
• Knowledge of procurement, contract management and governance within a regulated or public sector environment.
• Ability to analyse complex information and translate evidence into strategic recommendations.
• Experience leading service improvement, transformation or network development initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with the ability to work collaboratively across organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and transformation of bus services across South Yorkshire, supporting regional transport priorities and customer needs.
• Oversee contract strategy, procurement approaches and performance frameworks for bus services.
• Manage investment and funding programmes, ensuring resources are prioritised effectively and deliver maximum value.
• Lead network reviews, service redesign projects and major transport improvement initiatives.
• Develop performance measures and assurance arrangements to drive service quality, reliability and continuous improvement.
• Use data, analysis and forecasting to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
• Manage risks, governance requirements and compliance across a diverse portfolio of contracts and programmes.
• Build strong relationships with bus operators, government departments, local authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Prepare strategic reports, recommendations and business cases for senior leaders and governance boards.
• Support the integration of bus services with wider transport programmes and infrastructure investments.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement to enhance service delivery and customer outcomes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Contract management

Programme delivery

Commercial & financial planning

Stakeholder management

Governance & procurement

Data-driven decision making

Change and transformation

Job description

Senior Contracts and Programme Manager - Bus

Application Deadline: 27 September 2026

Department: Public Transport Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Sam Millington

Compensation: £39,153 - £41,772 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 8 - £39,153 - £41,772
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Senior Contracts and Programme Manager - Bus to join our Bus Services team and play a leading role in shaping the future of bus services across South Yorkshire.

This is a high-profile leadership role responsible for shaping the future of bus services across South Yorkshire. You will lead the development of contract strategies, oversee major service improvement and transformation programmes, and ensure investment delivers value for money, excellent customer outcomes and alignment with regional transport priorities.

Working across a complex network of partners, operators and stakeholders, you will play a key role in delivering a more integrated, sustainable and reliable public transport network for South Yorkshire.

We anticipate interviews for this role will take place on 8 and 9 October 2026.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Bus Services, you will provide strategic leadership across bus contracts, network development and programme delivery, helping to ensure services meet the needs of passengers and communities now and in the future.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and transformation of bus services across South Yorkshire, supporting regional transport priorities and customer needs
• Oversee contract strategy, procurement approaches and performance frameworks for bus services
• Manage investment and funding programmes, ensuring resources are prioritised effectively and deliver maximum value
• Lead network reviews, service redesign projects and major transport improvement initiatives
• Develop performance measures and assurance arrangements to drive service quality, reliability and continuous improvement
• Use data, analysis and forecasting to support strategic planning and informed decision-making
• Manage risks, governance requirements and compliance across a diverse portfolio of contracts and programmes
• Build strong relationships with bus operators, government departments, local authorities and other key stakeholders
• Prepare strategic reports, recommendations and business cases for senior leaders and decision-makers
• Support the integration of bus services with wider transport programmes and infrastructure investments
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement to enhance service delivery and customer outcomes

About you

You will be an experienced transport, programme or contract management professional with a strong track record of leading complex programmes and delivering strategic outcomes.

• Significant experience leading transport, service delivery, contract management or major programme activity
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic planning skills
• Experience managing complex funding arrangements, budgets and investment
• programmes
• Knowledge of procurement, contract management and governance within a regulated or public sector environment
• The ability to analyse complex information and translate evidence into strategic recommendations
• Experience leading service improvement, transformation or network development initiatives
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills
• Strong leadership capabilities, with the ability to work collaboratively across organisations and partnerships
• Experience preparing business cases, reports and recommendations for senior leaders and governance boards
• A proactive, solution-focused approach with the ability to operate effectively within a complex and evolving environment

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 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.