Project Manager – Bus Franchising
Application Deadline: 4 June 2026
Department: Public Transport Development
Employment Type: Fixed Term – Full Time
Location: Sheffield Head Office
Reporting To: Amy Sutherland- Jarvest
Compensation: £42,840 – £46,142 / year
Description
- Hours: 37 hours
- Contract: Fixed Term – 12 months (Maternity leave cover)
- Salary: £42,840 – £46,142
- Location: Sheffield(This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 29th June.
Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.
Are you ready to lead transformative projects that will shape the future of public transport across South Yorkshire? Here at SYMCA, we’re on a mission to deliver a world-class, integrated transport network — and we’re looking for a passionate Project Manager to help make it happen.
As a Project Manager at SYMCA, you’ll take the lead on high-impact projects from concept to completion — delivering on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety. You’ll play a key role in delivering our Capital Programme, either by managing your own projects or leading workstreams within larger programmes.
You will be working on our Bus Franchising Programme, helping to bring South Yorkshire’s bus network into public control by September 2027. This includes everything from depots and fleets to routes, fares, and service standards. More specifically, you will lead the design, implementation and rollout of fares policy, ticketing products and supporting retail systems for franchised bus operations. The role is key to delivering a seamless, customer-focused and commercially robust fares and ticketing ecosystem across operators and channels.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead and manage projects through all stages — from planning and risk management to delivery and benefits realisation.
- Develop and maintain project documentation including schedules, reports, risk registers, and cost forecasts.
- Manage budgets, contracts, and resources, ensuring value for money and timely delivery.
- Prepare and submit business cases, ensuring alignment with governance and compliance standards.
- Collaborate with internal teams, local authorities, operators, and the public to ensure successful outcomes.
You’ll be joining the Transport Development and Capital Delivery team delivering across three major portfolios:
- Bus Franchising – Transforming how buses operate across the region.
- Transport Capital Programme – Delivering new and improved infrastructure including park & ride, mobility hubs, EV fleets, and more.
- Supertram Renewals – Upgrading tracks, fleets, depots, and passenger facilities.
Skills, knowledge & expertise
We’re after someone who’s not just organised and detail-oriented, but also a great communicator and collaborator. You’ll have recent, hands-on experience managing projects through every stage — from shaping the business case to final delivery — using robust controls and processes to keep things on track, on budget, and aligned with strategic goals.
You’ll be confident interpreting policies, strategies, and plans, and turning them into clear, compelling documentation — whether it’s a board report, a stakeholder update, or a public-facing summary. A strong customer focus and the ability to tailor your communication to different audiences will be key.
We’d especially love to hear from you if you have:
- A degree (or equivalent experience) in Project Management, Technology or Transport Planning
- Recent experience managing capital projects, ideally within the public sector or a similar complex setting.
Benefits
All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.
In addition to the above, some of our benefits include –
Holiday Entitlement – From 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in additional to your normal annual leave
Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and to take time-off in the form of Flexi-Leave or banked Annual Leave.
Rewarding You – Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle-to-Work schemes.
Training on the job – Support with upskilling skills through on-the-job training and qualifications
Professional Membership Fees – Where membership to Professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.
Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority
Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment as such all requests will be considered subject to operation requirements.
Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact recruitment@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.
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