Head of Bus Partnerships and Performance

Job Introduction

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is seeking an exceptional transport leader to become its next Head of Bus Partnerships and Performance. This is a pivotal senior leadership role at the heart of an ambitious regional transport agenda, focused on creating a public transport network that is more integrated, sustainable, accessible and trusted by the communities it serves.

Over the last year, significant work has taken place across the region to strengthen bus services, improve the travelling experience for passengers and contribute to the wider national conversation on bus reform and policy change. As the latest Authority set to be granted Established Mayoral Strategic Authority status, we are looking to build on that momentum, accelerating progress against a bold agenda for better buses, stronger partnerships, improved reliability and a more seamless passenger experience.

Reporting to the Director of Bus Operations, you will lead the delivery of the region’s Enhanced Partnership and oversee a service area with a budget of approximately £15 million. You will be responsible for driving a culture of performance excellence and learning across the bus network, ensuring services are responsive to the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. This will require robust performance management, effective contract oversight, commercial discipline and the intelligent use of data to inform decision-making, identify trends, address root causes and support continuous improvement.

The Combined Authority has committed to improving reliability, reducing journey times, increasing passenger satisfaction, enhancing integration across transport modes and supporting the transition towards a zero-emission bus fleet.

This is a role of genuine regional significance. You will work closely with elected members, stakeholder authority partners, bus operators, community stakeholders and senior Combined Authority leaders, operating confidently in a highly visible and politically sensitive environment. You will need to combine strategic vision with operational credibility, commercial acumen, political awareness and exceptional stakeholder management skills. The role profile also highlights the need to influence stakeholders across and beyond the region, manage complex work programmes, use digital and data capability effectively, interpret financial and statistical information, and translate policy initiatives into measurable performance improvements.

You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, represent the Combined Authority at senior forums, deputise for the Director of Bus Operations when required, and provide clear reports, recommendations and briefings to senior leaders, governance boards and scrutiny forums. You will also hold responsibility for contracted services, concessionary fares and community transport, ensuring that public investment delivers value for money and tangible improvements for passengers.

The successful candidate will bring extensive senior experience in transport, public transport operations or a closely related service delivery environment. You will understand how transport authorities operate, how to manage complex stakeholder relationships, and how to balance community needs, commercial realities, operational performance and political expectations. Just as importantly, you will bring the confidence, judgement and collaborative leadership style required to work across organisational boundaries and build a genuine “One Team” culture across the network.

This is an opportunity to make a visible and lasting difference. Success in this role will directly influence the travelling experience of thousands of passengers every day and help shape a bus network that supports economic growth, inclusion, decarbonisation and better access to employment, education, healthcare and opportunity across the West of England. The Combined Authority’s recent Bus Plan consultation also underlines the importance of public involvement in shaping improvements, including frequency, greener travel and easier multi-route journeys.

If you are a confident, collaborative and commercially astute transport leader with the ambition to improve public transport at scale, we would be delighted to hear from you.

To find out more about the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and its transport vision, please visit https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/

If you’d like an information conversation or to apply, please contact our retained consultant:

Simon Winspear
simon.winspear@hays.com
07525 466 357

The closing date for this role is Monday 31 August 2026.

First stage interviews are currently planned for Wednesday16 and Thursday 17 September 2026, although this may be subject to change.

Please be aware that we are partnering with Hays, therefore should you apply you are agreeing for your information to be shared, for recruitment purposes, between Hays and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.