West Midlands Bus on Demand Safety and Assurance Lead in Birmingham

The Safety and Assurance Lead plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the wellbeing and protection of vulnerable individuals who depend on our services. This position provides both strategic leadership and operational oversight of safeguarding practices, ensuring full compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. The role is central to fostering a culture of care, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The postholder will lead assurance activities such as audits, incident reviews, and risk assessments, ensuring that safeguarding risks are effectively identified, managed, and mitigated. You will work collaboratively with internal teams, transport providers, passengers, carers, and external safeguarding partners to maintain the highest standards of safety and protection. As the organisation's subject matter expert, you will champion best practice and embed safeguarding principles at the core of service delivery.

What you will be doing:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safeguarding and assurance protocols and procedures.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to staff, operators, and stakeholders.
• Actively engage with customers and stakeholders, including elected members and senior officers on relevant service-related issues.
• Commission and manage the work of consultants and area specialists to support the work of the team including licensing and vehicle specialists.
• Support the work of the Contract Coordinator and other staff in the delivery of the service.
• Ensure operator compliance across a range of factors including but not limited to driver competence, DBS, accident/incident management, staff training etc.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with existing and new operators.

What's essential:

• Proven experience in safeguarding and quality assurance or quality control roles within the transportation industry.
• Excellent understanding of transportation regulations, safety standards, and quality management systems.
• Significant experience of leading and influencing others.
• Extensive organisational skills to create clear systems and processes to manage safeguarding concerns and track actions.
• Cultural sensitivity and empathy, with an ability to identify and serve the needs of a range of customers from different backgrounds and experience of helping people with mobility and other impairments, challenges, and requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Location: The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply:

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

• Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
• Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
• Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
• Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications: Your uploaded CV won't be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section; it's your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI): We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application. Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting.

Reasonable adjustments: If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team.

Salary and benefits: We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more).
• EV car benefit scheme.
• Ethical saving options and healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA? WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home. We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives every day.

Creating an inclusive workplace: WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with Leader status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria. We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional 'perfect candidate' mould. We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK: Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).