Bus Policy Officer/Project Manager (Transport Strategy And Policy) - Internal

To apply for this job you must be an employee of Kirklees Council for the duration of the recruitment process – up to and including the start date - and have successfully completed your probationary period.

Please note that if you work for an Academy you are not an employee of the Council.

Huddersfield’s town’s and valley’s weave together vibrant, young, dynamic communities with breath-taking Yorkshire landscape. The Kirklees area has built on its proud industrial heritage by being a place that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.

Our vision for Kirklees is to be a district which combines a strong, sustainable economy with a great quality of life - leading to thriving communities, growing businesses, high prosperity and low inequality where people enjoy better health throughout their lives. This vision is supported by our Health and Wellbeing and Economic Strategies, and backed up by our newly adopted Local Plan and a transformative infrastructure investment programme.

The Council’s Major Projects Service takes a lead role on major infrastructure delivery and transportation. The Service is looking for talented people to join our ambitious, creative and highly collaborative team. We want project managers with a real interest in developing Transport Strategy and Policy and who can help delivery our major transportation projects.

Sitting within the Major Projects Service, the Transport Strategy and Policy Team work on a wide range of Transport Strategy and Policy matters, including bus related schemes and infrastructure projects.

Bus Reform across West Yorkshire has increased the need for Kirklees Council to work more closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and stakeholders. (including bus operators)  Kirklees Council require an additional resource to work with WYCA to support development of this important and wider bus agenda across West Yorkshire. Leading on, and championing delivery of bus-based schemes within Kirklees, including bus reform, policy development and infrastructure, to secure the best outcomes we can from this once in a generation level of investment for Kirklees residents and business.

• Work closely with WYCA on delivery of their ambitions for bus in West Yorkshire, particularly around Bus Reform, Service planning (e.g. BSIP, BSIP+), Partnerships with operators (stakeholder management) Bus Hotspots and Network Navigation
• Engage in the development of rail Bus Policy and strategy where it impacts on Kirklees Council
• To project manage on behalf of Kirklees Council, the local authority’s input into the significant bus agenda in the region.
• Working closely and reporting to officers, politicians, partners and stakeholders to ensure timely communication as delivery progresses.
• Liaison with Kirklees Highways and Streetscene on issues relating to bus-based infrastructure and operations within the district.
• Support officers with the Kirklees Bus Partnership
• Attendance as district contact at WYCA bus meetings, reporting back as required
• Respond to public on bus-based queries, including Freedom of Information requests
• Development and management of a pipeline of bus-led schemes (e.g. bus priorities/bus lanes)
• Development and implementation of Kirklees Bus Strategy
• Contribute as necessary with updates relevant to the emerging Kirklees Transport Strategy, in particular the strategic response for rail bus across the district, regionally and nationally
• Contribute as necessary to strategic and local road, rail, bus, walking and cycling initiatives
• Monitoring and data collection
• Preparation and submission of funding bids to help achieve the council’s ambitions

For this post we are seeking a Bus Policy/strategy professional with relevant experience in this kind of work. The role will act as the main point of contact for the Council and act as the council’s bus expert for specific project areas worked on.

Good project management skills will be essential. Of key importance is the willingness and ability to support the Transport Strategy and Policy Group Leader to help delivery the Bus Policy and strategy agenda including around bus reform, service planning, and partnership working.  Contributing to the delivery a resilient transport infrastructure network that supports a thriving economy, where citizens have a good quality of life and business can take advantage, and maximises our opportunities for rail investment where we can.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual, who is prepared to work flexibly, in a high profile and demanding environment, working to tight deadlines to achieve success for our programmes.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with strong interpersonal, organisational and negotiation skills along with good programme and project management experience.

The role involves partnership working across the Leeds City Region and establishing professional relationships with partner organisations. Hence, applicants should have good communication, negotiation and networking skills.

For more information about this post please contact Joanna Ward (Transport Strategy and Policy Group Leader) 01484 221000.