Compliance and Schools Liaison Officer

Joining our School Transport Service as a Compliance and Schools Liaison Officer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the safe and contractually compliant delivery of our transport provision. Supporting the safe daily travel of more than 14,000 students across 2,800 active contracts, including many children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), you will help ensure services are delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with safeguarding and contractual obligations. Acting as a key link between the Council, education settings, suppliers, and internal teams, you will help strengthen compliance, drive supplier engagement, and support continuous improvement across the Service. With this scale of responsibility, you will be central to maintaining operational excellence, robust safeguarding standards, and cost-effective transport delivery.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver a programme of contract audits to ensure operators meet all contractual obligations.
• Produce clear reports and recommendations based on audit findings.
• Identify and report on contractual or financial inefficiencies, including unnecessary charges or duplicated routes.
• Undertake operational compliance audits across the service, promoting a robust risk assessment culture.
• Conduct investigations into tendering activity and safety assessment processes.
• Lead regular compliance visits to schools and education settings.
• Deliver enhanced onboarding and support for School Transport suppliers to reinforce compliance expectations.
• Support wider strategic and service improvement initiatives as required.
• Play a key role in ensuring safe, high-quality transport services for children and young people across Hampshire.
• Work as part of a supportive team committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Gain valuable experience in compliance, contract management, safeguarding, and service auditing.

Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract compliance, auditing, or service delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to engage at all levels.
• Commitment to understanding SEND and safeguarding principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and spot discrepancies in service delivery.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and confidence conducting desktop audits and reporting.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Assertive and directive when required, with a focus on ensuring safe and compliant services.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.

Benefits

A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.