Lead Policy Manager (Transport)

£60,905 pa | Grade N |

Leeds

Do you want to work for an organisation that values you as an individual?
An organisation that will support your professional development?
What about an organisation that has Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the heart of everything that it does?
How about an organisation that does all these things and more?
Yes? Then look no further than the West Yorkshire Combined Authority! Listen to what our staff say on our 'Life at West Yorkshire Combined Authority' webpage.

Exciting opportunity to lead the Rail and Bus Transport Policy team to produce transport policy and strategies that help drive our region’s economy and will allow the efficient movement of goods and people.

Covering a broad range of activities, interfaces with disciplines across the transport agenda at local, regional and national level. This will involve using transport technical experience to deliver a challenging set of priorities.

Opportunity to develop leadership skills and to work closely with our district partners, operators, Network Rail, Rail North and Transport for the North to deliver successful rail and bus policies and future pipeline and implementation plans for the region.

It is an exciting time to be joining the Mayoral Combined Authority. We have a wide variety of exciting projects that we are working on which will help shape the West Yorkshire region.

In 2021 the £1.8bn devolution deal was secured for West Yorkshire. This meant the first Mayor of West Yorkshire was subsequently elected, with Tracy Brabin taking up post in May 2021. The devolution deal and election of the Mayor has enabled us to start to drive up living standards for local communities while tackling the climate emergency and helping to deliver our commitment to become a net zero carbon city region by 2038.

To find out more about the work the Combined Authority is involved with take a look at our latest news stories.

The Role

Reporting into Head of Transport Policy and your key responsibilities will include:

Policy development – Setting out the strategic role transport needs to play within the city region’s transport network to support our transport and economic objectives.
Strategy development – Making the case at all levels for investments including for infrastructure, service provision and to improve the customer experience.
Scheme development – Specific business case development for transport schemes that are being promoted by WYCA, working to industry guidelines (the current value of this work is over £2m).
Operations – Oversight of performance, issues and relationships with the current transport franchisees.
Providing leadership for the planning, delivery and strategic development across a broad area of economic and transport policy and strategy, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and other policies. In respect of that function(s) shape and influence pan-northern and national policy developments.
The development and implementation of the region’s rail strategy, and to influence Government, Transport for the North and Rail North and rail industry policy and investments.
To lead the development of bus policies and pipeline of schemes and providing policy support to the Bus Reform team.
Within each area of responsibility, you will cover a significant number of policy initiatives. These areas currently have significant national resources working across them and you will be expected to provide strategic direction and shape and deliver objectives to support the CA in achieving its vision.
Taking a pro-active corporate role in the management of your function including participating in delivering your directorate’s objectives.
Influence, develop and motivate your team, taking a positive approach to their development.
Shape and deliver the objectives of your function to support the CA in achieving its vision.
Responsible for providing strategic direction for corporate processes and ensuring that these are delivered at all times.
Be a visible and ardent leader, promoting partnership working across the organisation.
Influence, develop and motivate your team, taking a positive approach to their development.

Review the Role profile and Addendum provided for more information about the responsibilities.

About you

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

Hold a Degree or have equivalent relevant experience in transport or economic policy.
Relevant Professional Qualification (within economic or transport policy or project development, such as RTPI and/or TPP accredited).
Extensive practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role and successfully championing local or regional priorities.
Demonstrable extensive experience of developing successful, evidence-based transport or economic policy and strategy in at least one of the functions and in a challenging context.
Extensive experience of shaping a team to deliver high standards in policy and strategy development.
Experience of prioritising, planning and organising workloads to manage expectations and deadlines.
Experience of managing a multi- disciplinary team including appraisals, performance management, disciplinary, recruitment and selection.
Demonstrable experience of managing and championing change successfully.
Highly developed communication skills with the proven ability to strongly lead, influence, negotiate and challenge.
Experience of making compelling presentations and written reports for a range of audiences.
Demonstrate experience of successfully managing budgets.
Proven experience of confidently and professionally conveying information both written and oral in a clear, concise, and persuasive style.
Comprehensive experience of leading, negotiating and influencing stakeholders.
Experienced in forming and developing effective senior level working relationships with Members, Government, and partner organisations to achieve the best outcomes for the organisation.
Comprehensive experience of providing leadership in a complex public private sector partnership context.

Our offer

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

28 days Annual Leave (increasing upon years of service) plus bank holidays
Generous Employer-Contribution Pension Scheme
Free Travel on rail and buses across West Yorkshire with the M-Card (Zones 1-5)
Flexible Working Practices with Health & Wellbeing initiatives to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.

We have also recently undergone a major office refurbishment and have bright, airy, modern office space, with all latest technology, and just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station. We also have agile working options too if you would rather work from home, or another suitable location, as well as a generous flexi-time scheme.

Have a look at our Employee Benefits webpage to find out more.

To apply

If this sounds like your next role, please upload your anonymised CV, and complete the application form on our application website telling us why you would be a great fit for our role.

Please apply by 11:55pm on Thursday 28 September 2023.

Further Information

Applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neurodivergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity. or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neurodivergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Whilst agile working is an option for most staff, there is an expectation that employees are able to attend the office in central Leeds as and when required.

Candidates will be notified of invitation to interview by e-mail and interviews will be carried out either by phone, video or face to face. If you have any difficulty with the type of interview you are invited to, please inform the recruiting manager at your earliest convenience to enable them to consider an alternative solution.

Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases, on an annual basis.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to respond to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has not been successful. We do however thank you for your application and encourage you to continue looking for roles on our Careers with Us website page.

Candidate information will be retained by the Combined Authority for six months.

Terms and conditions

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has recently been in consultation with employees and Trade Unions to review the Terms and Conditions of Employment and Staff Benefits.

We are pleased to announce that these proposals have been accepted and work is currently underway to implement these.

Lead Policy Manager (Transport) - PSC/T7