Contracts Manager ( Bus)

Future of London
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Company: TfL, GLA or OPDC

Job Title: Contracts Manager (Bus Operations)

Position Type: Permanent

Grade: Band 3

Salary: Circa £62K per annum depending on skills, knowledge, and experience + TfL benefits

Contract: Permanent (TfL)

Number of positions: 1

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

Job Overview London Buses carry the lion’s share of passengers across the capital, offering one of the most affordable and accessible means of travel for up to four million journeys a day, across more than 600 routes. We are in the middle of a programme of improvements, as set out in our Bus Action Plan. This includes leading the decarbonisation of public transport to tackle climate change with plans to make the fleet zero emission no later than 2034. In addition, the wider team is driving forward plans to eradicate fatalities involving buses by 2030 and increasing ridership through improved journey times and a better customer experience.

Our bus network is well connected and served by around 9,000 vehicles, with our bus contracts worth over £2 billion a year. This makes Bus Operations one of the most dynamic and high profile places to work, and a great place to get experience in an internationally recognised business.

We are looking for one person to join our successful team as Contracts Manager to oversee the management of over 600 bus route contracts and contractual payments for bus services in London. This is no small task as all contracting activity must comply with prevalent domestic and EU legislation, Standing Orders and audit requirements. Furthermore, the role involves managing a small team (Contracts Administration team) and regular engagement with our bus operating companies.

The wider Bus Business Development team (which the Contracts Administration team is part of) is flexible and dynamic and also covers a range of areas, including bus safety, customer and zero emission. The role may be required to support the implementation of other commercial strategies and contracting policy, to ensure that the London Bus Network continues to deliver value for money and service quality that meet passenger expectations, the Mayor’s policy objectives and achieves TfL’s KPIs and financial targets.

As we are in the public eye, the team must also engage with a variety of influential stakeholders and promote our activities to internal and external audiences. As our operational environment is dynamic and changes on regular basis, the role will require an individual that can adapt quickly and work collaboratively to meet business priorities. The role will also require the individual to make recommendations to inform decision making and matrix managing delivery partners.

Key Accountabilities

• Facilitate the organisation and co ordination of the work of the Contracts Administration Team, including liaison with other areas of Buses as appropriate, to ensure that all contracting activities are carried out efficiently, effectively and in accordance with published and budgetary timescales and contract provisions.
• Provide and promote a high standard of commercial/contractual expertise and awareness, in respect of bus service contracts, to ensure that all contractual documentation reflects TfL’s commercial and technical requirements, is unambiguous, robust and enforceable. Specific responsibility for verification of new bus service contracts and internal sign off prior to submission to the Director for authorisation within “commercially sensitive” deadlines, thereby safeguarding TfL’s overall business interests.
• Ensure that all service change contract variations are adequately and accurately controlled, documented, properly authorised and issued to time thereby protecting TfL’s commercial interests.
• Provide effective management of the calculation of the variety of complex contract price adjustment mechanisms arising from inflationary and other changes, with contracts varied accordingly, to ensure correct payments are made to bus operators.
• Lead the establishment, maintenance review and development of IT Systems in respect of the work the team does, Procedural Instructions and Manuals which reflect prevalent business processes and procurement policies and ensure compliance with Standing Order, audit and EU/domestic legislative requirements.
• Ensure all contractual payments are calculated accurately and in a timely fashion so that TfL fulfils its contractual obligations to Bus Operators and its commercial interests are safeguarded.
• Ensure that the bus service contract payment/settlement processes are effectively managed, controlled, authorised and executed in accordance with the provisions of the contracts.

Contribute to the development of new tendering and contracting initiatives as necessitated by changing market conditions, legislation or TfL policy.

• Work as an integrated manager across the Buses team, in particular supporting peers and the Head of Bus Business Development in both the management & development of the team and delivering our business objectives.

Candidates need a good balance of existing skills, knowledge and/or experience and potential in the following areas:

Skills

• Excellent written, numeracy, IT, oral and presentation skills and the ability to explain and present performance results and analysis to senior management and bus companies.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people at all levels across the organisation and outside.
• Ability to influence people at different levels within the organisation and outside, including negotiating and successfully facilitating joint decision making.
• Excellent analytical skills and sufficient knowledge of issues to evaluate options , and recommend solutions and decisions.
• Build effective working relations (partnering) with people at all levels across the organisation and outside.

Knowledge

• An experienced manager with a thorough knowledge of the London bus network, its operators, passenger requirements and all aspects of bus operations.
• Experience of dealing with the commercial aspects of a wide range of major contracts and the negotiation and agreement of terms and conditions in particular.
• Implementing and helping to develop commercial policies, standards, processes, procedures, business improvement, and performance management.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of EU procurement regulations and their application within the public sector environment.
• A detailed understanding of TfL’s bus service contracting regimes, or the ability to quickly acquire this, is essential.
• An understanding of commercial law and its application in a procurement environment.
• Proven ability to direct the development, implementation and on going maintenance of procedural and IT systems to support business processes and make best use of resources.

Experience

• Degree/professional qualification in a transport related and/or managerial discipline or alternatively will have acquired degree level knowledge skills through many years relevant experience.
• Experience in managing a team of people including staff development in a performance review & development process.
• Proven record of utilising collaboration skills to influence decision making of internal stakeholders, and to influence external stakeholder management of the need for effective controls and disciplines is required.
• To clearly demonstrate experience in undertaking and accountability for complex tasks where the focus on accurate and timely results and delivery are key attributes
• Experience of public transport operating practices desirable, ideally within the bus operating environment.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Application Process Please apply using your CV and a two page covering letter.

Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 17th February :59 We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Vetting Process At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter () explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.
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