Interim Operations Lead - Bus Franchising - #2117865

Interim Operations Lead - Public Transport TransformationSheffield City Centre | Hybrid Working (Minimum 2 Days Per Week in the Sheffield city centre office) £500 - £650 Per Day Up to 12-Month requirement 6- 12 months imminent start required.

Hays are supporting a major transport transformation programme in the appointment of an experienced Interim Operations Lead to support the mobilisation and implementation of a large-scale public transport reform project.
This is an exceptional opportunity to play a key role in a high-profile programme that will reshape the future operation of public transport services across a significant regional network. Working within a specialist programme team, you will provide operational leadership and expertise during a critical transition period, ensuring operational readiness, governance, safety and service delivery arrangements are successfully developed and implemented.

The Role

As Interim Operations Lead, you will take ownership of operational mobilisation activities, supporting the transition from procurement and contract award through to implementation and service launch.

Working across a complex stakeholder environment, you will ensure operational processes, systems and controls are established to support the successful delivery of a major transport programme. This role combines strategic planning with hands-on operational delivery and requires an individual who can navigate large-scale organisational change programmes whilst maintaining a strong operational focus.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational readiness planning across a major public transport mobilisation programme.
• Develop and implement operational frameworks, policies, processes and procedures to support service delivery from day one.
• Support the mobilisation of new transport operations, ensuring all operational requirements are identified, planned and delivered within programme timescales.
• Collaborate with internal programme teams, transport operators, contractors, consultants and senior stakeholders to ensure operational alignment across multiple workstreams.
• Establish governance processes, operational controls and performance monitoring mechanisms to support a smooth transition into service.
• Provide subject matter expertise on transport operations, service delivery, business continuity and operational performance.
• Lead the development of operational risk registers, mitigation plans and contingency arrangements.
• Support procurement and mobilisation teams in responding to operational requirements arising from contract award and implementation activities.
• Ensure safety management, incident management and assurance processes are embedded within operational plans and delivery frameworks.
• Work closely with project and programme managers to monitor progress against critical milestones and identify any operational delivery risks.
• Develop and implement operational reporting and performance measurement processes.
• Contribute to organisational readiness activities, ensuring operational resources, systems and support structures are in place ahead of implementation.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities and represent operational interests across programme governance forums.
• Drive continuous improvement and lessons learned activity throughout mobilisation and implementation phases.
• Provide leadership and guidance to project resources, specialist consultants and operational stakeholders involved in programme delivery.

About YouWe are seeking applications from individuals with ideally significant experience within:

• Public transport operations
• Bus operations
• Bus franchising programmes
• Rail operations
• Transport mobilisation projects
• Network operations
• Transport authorities or regulated transport environments

Essential Experience

• Proven operational leadership experience within public transport environments.
• Experience supporting complex mobilisation, transition or business transformation programmes.
• Strong programme and project delivery capabilities.
• Exceptional stakeholder management experience across public and private sector organisations.
• Experience developing operational procedures, governance frameworks and service delivery models.
• Knowledge of operational risk management, business continuity and resilience planning.
• Experience working in safety-critical operational environments.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate effectively within complex governance structures.

Desirable

• Bus franchising experience.
• Experience supporting transport service mobilisation or network implementation programmes.
• Knowledge of operational assurance and contract mobilisation activities.
• Experience working with transport operators, infrastructure providers or public transport authorities.

What's on Offer

• £500 - £650 per day.
• Initially 6-12 months interim vacancy
• Hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week in Sheffield city centre.
• Opportunity to contribute to a major public transport transformation programme.
• Exposure to senior leadership and strategic programme delivery.
• Significant stakeholder engagement across a complex operational environment.

Please note: Due to the specialist nature of the assignment, candidates will ideally be able to demonstrate previous experience within public transport operations or closely related transportation sectors. Bus franchising, transport mobilisation and operational transformation experience will be highly advantageous

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