TfL, GLA or OPDC
Senior Bus Contracts and Development Manager
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Job Title: Senior Bus Contracts and Development Manager (Bus Operations)
Grade: Pay Band 4
Salary: Circa £89,000 per annum depending on skills, knowledge, and experience
Contract: TfL Permanent
Location: Palestra (Southwark - London) / Hybrid
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.
Role Overview/Job Purpose
London Buses carry the lion’s share of passengers across the capital, offering one of the most affordable and accessible means of travel for over five million journeys a day, across more than 650 routes. Our bus network is well connected, and served by around 9,000 vehicles, with our bus contracts worth over £2 billion a year. We are delivering a complex programme of improvements across the network as set out in our Bus Action Plan and TfL Business Plan. 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 a senior manager to lead our Bus Business Development team. The team is flexible and dynamic and covers a range of new commercial ideas and management of business improvement activities, including tracking and reporting key milestones pledged in the Bus Action Plan, overseeing the disposal of the New Routemaster buses and developing and implementing the Bus Security Programme.
This role also supports the implementation of commercial strategies and contracting policy, alongside overseeing payments to our bus operating companies of over £2 billion annually, ensuring 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.
We are in the public eye and engage with a variety of influential stakeholders and promote our activities to internal and external audiences. We blend strategy with delivery and are looking for an individual that can adapt quickly and work flexibly and collaboratively to meet changing business priorities. Please note - this is not a sales job!
This role will have a direct and wider role as a people leader and will report directly to the Head of Bus Business Development. The postholder will also be a member of the Buses Senior Management Team and will regularly engage with senior leaders across the organisation, including senior managers and Directors.
Key Accountabilities
- Developing and leading implementation of commercial strategies and tendering and contracting policy, to ensure that the London Bus network continues to deliver value for money.
- Delivery and oversight of relevant and Mayoral manifesto commitments and TfL Business Outcomes, including pledges in the Bus Action Plan and TfL Business Plan, and our innovation agenda, while managing the varying demands and needs of key stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with multiple internal teams across Operations, Delivery and Sponsorship Directorates, TfL’s Commercial and Procurement teams and externally with industry in accordance with TfL’s current and future business priorities and plans.
- Acts as the Client / Senior Responsible Owner for the development of Bus projects and programmes, agreeing effective governance and ensures realisation of proposed benefits.
- Development of key procurement documents and bus contracts to ensure competitively procured contracts through a thorough and robust process.
- Leading Business Planning activity for the team, helping to set realistic and robust budgets and forecasts.
- Maximising income across Buses and TfL by working with stakeholders to obtain best value for money, by increasing new innovative or business opportunities.
- Developing a competitive market for bus services in London, building strategic relationships with CEOs and MDs of existing and potential operators, managing and developing potential new entrants, market intelligence and mergers and acquisitions activity.
- Develop systems and processes to support and enhance bus service tendering, contracting and payment management activities.
- Representing the Bus Operations directorate and managing relationships with external stakeholders, including, the GLA, politicians and public bodies, trade unions, suppliers.
- Leading and directing the work of the Bus Business Development team (around nine people), and staff across TfL on a matrix basis, developing staff capabilities and engagement to meet the needs of the directorate. Accountable for the safety and wellbeing of staff within the span of control.
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Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Skills
- Demonstrable ability to influence at all levels - obtaining buy-in from key stakeholders.
- Proven ability to coordinate large-scale portfolios of projects in a matrix environment - clienting other departments or individuals to contribute to a holistic programme of works.
- Strong track record of engaging and motivating people at all level- within own team and across the organisation and outside - fostering a positive culture within TfL and Transport Partners.
- Proven ability to analyse complex information to produce recommendations for Board level or equivalent.
- Excellent organisational and programme management skills and ability to lead a programme of activity.
- Excellent communication skills, report writing and presentation skills, ability to produce good quality briefings.
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances.
Knowledge
- Good understanding of large complex operational transport operations services, with demanding customer and stakeholder groups.
- Good understanding of TfL’s strategic goals, Operations, the bus network and wider political landscape.
- Educated to degree level, or equivalent.
- Broad knowledge of external commercial developments and emerging best practice in the fields of procurement, commercial contract management and supplier relationship management.
- A comprehensive understanding of European and UK Procurement Law.
- Good supplier sourcing and contract development and/or strong general commercial background.
- Knowledge of managing high profile multi-disciplinary work streams to tight deadlines.
- Project/Programme Management methodology.
Experience
- Track record of delivering complex contractual issues and commercial change programmes that have many stakeholders.
- Significant experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships in a fast-moving political landscape, challenging, negotiating and influencing at all levels.
- Extensive experience of achieving results through others including influencing staff to take a more proactive approach to resolving issues raised.
- Extensive experience of producing good quality reports, briefings and data to influence senior stakeholders.
- Comprehensive experience of public transport operating practices, familiar with the bus operating environment.
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Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and aim to reflect the diverse communities we serve. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver better services and outcomes. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people. As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we aim to offer an assessment or interview to candidates who apply via the scheme where the minimum essential criteria for skills, knowledge and experience has been met. In some circumstances, it may not be practical to offer an interview or assessment to every candidate who applies through the scheme and meet the minimum essential criteria; in these situations, we select candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than interviewing all who meet them.
Across all recruitment activity, we recognise that selection methods may vary depending on the nature and scale of the campaign and will be applied fairly, consistently and proportionately in line with our Disability Confident commitments.
Application Process
Please apply using your 2-page CV. Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1st September 2026 @ 23:59.
Interviews will be held w/c 21st and 28th of September 2026.
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right-to-work checks. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Vetting Process
At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) 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.
Benefits
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:
- Final salary pension scheme
- Free travel for you on the TfL network
- Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home
- 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
- TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow.
- Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
- Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
- Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
- Discounted Eurostar travel
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