Public Transport Transformation & Governance Reform Lead in Glasgow

This is a new post in the Public Transport Transformation and Governance Reform (PTTGR) Unit in the new TIC Directorate, and will be crucial in realising our aims for the Directorate. The Public Transport Transformation & Governance Reform Lead is responsible for leading the review of public transport governance, with oversight and sponsorship of the collective delivery of its development and recommendations, and contributing to the delivery of public service reform and the financial sustainability of the transport system through the team’s activities.

The current governance arrangements for transport in Scotland have remained fairly constant since first established almost twenty years ago, while demand for travel and wider economic and environmental awareness and pressures have changed. In 2019, Jacobs was commissioned by the NTS Review Roles & Responsibilities Working Group to identify a range of options for change to the level at which transport functions are discharged, and set out the benefits of each option for further consideration. This work has not progressed since 2019, however in September 2024 RTPs, COSLA, SOLACE and SCOTS confirmed that the recommendations of the Jacobs report remained extant. RTPs updated their Transport Governance Workstream recommendations in November 2023, and the Fair Fares Review in March 2024 recommended “Transport Governance Review to be recommenced with specific action on identifying changes to support improved public transport”.

The work to review transport governance will include an assessment and analysis of how the Scottish Government, Regional Transport Partnerships, Local Authorities and modal operators can work together with enhanced governance structures to better deliver integrated public transport which improves connectivity and contributes to the vision for the Transport Integration and Connectivity Directorate. The PTTGR team will build on earlier work, reaffirming if previous considerations and options remain valid, and identifying subsequent actions and recommendations to support the successful implementation and delivery of transformation.

The work to review transport governance will support the delivery of public service reform. It will identify opportunities to improve the efficiency of the public transport operating model in Scotland to contribute to more efficient provision of funding, so benefits to users can be maximised, and barriers between organisations that hinder integration can be reduced. Central to this, strategic recommendations will be generated for funding reform; as how funding is delivered and revenue is raised is one of the most significant incentives and levers for the delivery of public transport, and affects the extent to which transport integration is delivered.

The Team will oversee targeted interventions to deliver better integration between modes. These interventions will: identify issues to inform the review of transport governance; demonstrate and put into practice delivery alongside the review; and maximise the opportunity to test the recommendations from the review. While the ownership of these interventions may lie with internal or external partners, the PTTGR Team will sponsor and oversee their delivery.

The Team will develop proposals for priority connectivity and integration, identify gaps, and propose key recommendations to enhance connectivity to support Scottish Government objectives such as economic growth and modal shift. This will build on analysis undertaken by the Transport Strategy & Performance Team to understand where access to public transport exists, and how this compares relative to other areas. The team’s expertise and role in transport governance and delivery of integrated transport will enable it to strategically engage with major public transport projects to influence their alignment to TIC objectives and integration into the wider transport network for inward and onward travel. Example projects include the Clyde Metro, Edinburgh Tram extension, Aberdeen Rapid Transit, or ferry, airport and rail extension projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review of public transport governance, with oversight and sponsorship of the collective delivery of its development and recommendations:

• Conduct a review of public transport governance to develop SMART recommendations resulting in enhanced integration between modes and services, working closely with external delivery partners and stakeholders (Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, and modal operators) and internal colleagues across Scottish Government;
• Identify recommendations for how funding could be better provided to authorities and operators to support integrated governance and service delivery;
• Sponsor and oversee delivery of the recommendations of the review of public transport to transform public transport delivery and integration;
• Support Unit Head in securing collective buy-in for the review and delivery of its recommendations, and more widely the TIC vision.

• Develop and prioritise actions within the review of transport governance to improve the efficiency of the public transport operating model in Scotland, identifying areas for, and delivering to, public service reform aims.
• Identify how funding affects transport governance and public transport integration and generate strategic recommendations for funding reform:
• Ensure alignment and integration with other reform work across Transport Scotland (e.g. fares, ticketing or modal reform (such as bus franchising).

• Develop proposals for priority connectivity and integration, identify gaps, and propose key recommendations to enhance connectivity to support SG objectives.

• Engage with major public transport projects to influence their strategic alignment to the TIC objectives and integration into the wider transport network.
• Support the IPTS team in the development of the vision and strategies for Transport Integration and Connectivity, alongside wider engagement with stakeholders to support delivery of the TIC vision.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Operational Leadership and Management - Practitioner

You should also have experience of working within the context of transport governance in Scotland, or an understanding thereof.

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement of no more than 1500 words which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 9th Feb however this may be subject to change.

About us

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency, seeking to deliver a safe, efficient, cost‑effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland is accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers, with a budget of around £4 billion per year. Transport is a vital feature of the Scottish Government's focus on increasing sustainable economic growth, and transport investments and policies have major impacts on the economy, people, and the environment. The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits.

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi‑leave.

Location

This post is based in Glasgow, office location 177 Bothwell Street G2 7ER. You are expected to be office based twice per week pro rata.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.