Head of Bus Network, Services and Compliance in Bristol

Reporting to the Director of Bus Operations, you will provide strategic leadership and expert oversight of the planning, delivery and compliance of the region’s bus network. You will lead the contracted network, advise on commercial services, and act as the Combined Authority’s principal authority on bus service delivery. With responsibility for statutory and regulatory functions, you will oversee relationships with the Traffic Commissioner, enforcement bodies and operators, ensuring services consistently meet legal, safety and quality standards.

You will also manage a multi‐disciplinary team, direct significant budgets and deliver high‐quality monitoring, reporting and assurance to stakeholders. A key part of your role will be designing and optimising the network—shaping routes, timetables and service standards. You will drive innovation and efficiency, ensuring a relentless focus on punctuality, accessibility and user experience.

Working closely with the Mayor, councillors, local authorities and operators, you will foster strong collaboration and ensure network changes align with wider transport strategies. You will play a key role in identifying infrastructure needs, securing funding, and supporting a pipeline of service improvements across the region.

If you are an influential, collaborative, confident leader with deep knowledge of bus service delivery and a passion for improving public transport for communities, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of bus travel across the West of England.

The closing date for this role is Monday 04 May 2026. The interviews are planned to be held on Monday 11 May 2026 at our offices at 70 Redcliff St, Bristol BS1 6AL, but please note the date may change.

Alongside the opportunity to lead change, drive strategic initiatives, and make a real difference in the West of England, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous or reckonable service. There is also the option to increase your annual leave with our annual leave purchase scheme.
• 1 day of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 13.7%.
• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England.

The salary for this role is £72,424 to £79,895. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time. We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate.

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success by providing a diverse range of learning and development opportunities.

As a founding Member of the West of England Good Employment Charter and accredited Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to creating a diverse environment where all our employees can thrive. We make sure all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or citizenship status.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Resourcing Team. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Please note this vacancy may close early or be extended depending on the number of applications so please don’t wait to apply.