Job Title
Programme Lead - Bus Franchising
Directorate / Team
Bus Franchising Programme, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

Role Purpose

The Programme Lead for Bus Franchising will play a pivotal role in the transformation of bus services in South Yorkshire as a senior member of the Bus Franchising Leadership Team.
The postholder will provide strategic leadership and hands-on programme direction across all phases of South Yorkshire's Bus Franchising Programme - preparation, mobilisation, transition, and business-as-usual (BAU). The role will be responsible for ensuring robust governance, effective delivery cadence, and sustained capability uplift across SYMCA, enabling the successful implementation and long-term operation of a franchised bus network.

Principal Accountabilities
(8-10 key responsibilities, in order of importance)


Programme Leadership
Act as the primary delivery lead for the Bus Franchising Programme, supporting the Director of Bus Franchising and shaping the programme's trajectory from inception through to steady-state operations. Ensure alignment with statutory requirements, regulatory milestones, and SYMCA's strategic transport objectives.


Integrated Programme Planning & Delivery
Lead the coordination of all programme workstreams, identifying required activities, delivery approaches, and interdependencies. Maintain a robust, actively managed programme plan with clear milestones, critical path activities, and named accountable owners.


Governance, Assurance & Controls
Establish and maintain effective programme delivery governance, embedding a consistent delivery rhythm ("drumbeat"), escalation routes, and decision-making frameworks. Oversee the production of high-quality programme documentation, reporting packs, assurance materials, and readiness assessments.


Team Leadership, Management & Resourcing
Lead, manage, and develop the Programme Delivery Team, including direct line management of Principal Project Managers. Define and implement a strategic resourcing model, providing hands-on leadership, coaching, and professional guidance to ensure delivery excellence.


Risk, Issue & Dependency Management
Ensure programme risks, issues, and dependencies are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, and escalated as appropriate. Maintain the programme risk register and risk management plan, ensuring risks to franchising delivery and operational readiness are actively controlled.


Operating Model Design & Capability Enablement
Ensure the successful delivery of the future bus franchising operating model, including organisational design, processes, systems, and capabilities required for long-term franchising operations and effective contract management.


Capability Building & Best Practice
Strengthen SYMCA's programme and project management maturity by embedding best practice delivery disciplines, business change methodologies, and assurance approaches. Act as a credible and authoritative voice for programme delivery across the organisation.


Stakeholder Management & Engagement
Manage key internal and external stakeholder relationships, including local authority partners, operators, regulators, and government bodies. Translate complex programme information into clear, relevant communications and enhance SYMCA's reputation for delivering ambitious, high-impact change.


Transition to Business-as-Usual
Lead planning and delivery for transition into BAU operations, ensuring operational readiness, knowledge transfer, and sustainable ownership of franchising functions across SYMCA.



Essential Experience & Knowledge


Substantial experience leading complex, multi-year programmes within the transport sector, with direct experience of bus franchising, bus reform, or regulated public transport models.


Demonstrable experience delivering programmes through mobilisation, transition, and operational go-live, ideally within a statutory or public-sector environment.


Strong understanding of bus franchising legislation, governance requirements, and regulatory frameworks, or equivalent regulated transport delivery models.


Proven experience of establishing programme governance, assurance, and delivery controls at scale.


Experience of leading and developing senior programme and project management teams.


Track record of operating in politically sensitive, multi-stakeholder environments.



Skills & Competencies