At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation initiatives and shape the future of public transport in the region.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 28 days leave, free travel, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent growth potential and a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital change while enhancing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience in digital transformation or technology-enabled change.
We currently have a vacancy for a Digital Transformation Lead to join our Change and Transformation Team. This is a pivotal senior leadership role at the heart of the organisation, responsible for shaping and delivering our digital transformation agenda. You will lead a complex portfolio of multi-year digital and business change programmes, ensuring the Combined Authority develops modern, efficient and digitally enabled ways of working that deliver real benefits for our organisation and the region.
Working closely with senior leaders, boards and partners, you will act as the organisation’s senior digital transformation expert, providing strategic direction, governance and assurance across all digital initiatives. You will lead multidisciplinary teams and external partners to design and deliver innovative, integrated and user-focused digital solutions that enhance organisational capability, performance and public value. This is a unique opportunity to influence change at scale, embed digital capability across the organisation and play a key role in delivering our long-term vision.
A key focus of this role for the first two years will be leading the technology solutions workstream for the Combined Authority’s Bus Franchising Programme, a high-profile, complex and regionally significant initiative. This provides a unique opportunity to shape and deliver the digital infrastructure, systems and capabilities required to support a major public transport transformation, working at pace and scale with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.
Our Offer
- Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
- Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
- Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
- Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
- Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
- Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
- Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
- Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.
The Role
Reporting into the Head of Change and Transformation, your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading and governing a complex portfolio of digital transformation programmes, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, organisational priorities and long-term capability needs, and overseeing prioritisation, performance, risk and benefits realisation.
- Acting as the organisation’s senior authority on digital transformation, including leadership of the digital and technology workstream for the Bus Franchising Programme, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, integrated and aligned with enterprise architecture and organisational goals.
- Building and influencing senior stakeholder relationships internally and externally, providing expert advice, challenge and assurance to senior leaders and boards, and driving alignment and adoption of new, digitally enabled ways of working.
About You
You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:
- Holds a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. digital transformation, information systems or technology-enabled change) or equivalent senior-level experience.
- Significant senior-level experience leading and successfully delivering large-scale, complex digital transformation or technology-enabled change programmes, with clear evidence of measurable organisational outcomes and benefits.
- Proven experience of operating at a strategic level, shaping portfolios, priorities and investment decisions, and providing advice and assurance to senior leadership teams, boards or equivalent governance bodies.
- Strong understanding of digital transformation principles, technologies and delivery approaches, including enterprise architecture, digital platforms, data and analytics, and agile or hybrid methodologies, and how these enable organisational change.
- Demonstrable ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary and/or matrix-managed teams, and to influence and engage senior stakeholders and partners, communicating complex information clearly and securing buy-in for change across diverse groups.
- Experience of managing significant programme or portfolio budgets and financial oversight, including forecasting, risk management and ensuring value for money.
To Apply
If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile.
Further Information
The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people’s age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.
Digital Transformation Lead in Leeds employer: West Yorkshire Combined Authority
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises flexibility and employee wellbeing. With generous benefits such as 28 days of annual leave, free travel across West Yorkshire, and fully funded professional development opportunities, employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally in a modern workspace located just minutes from Leeds Train Station. This role not only allows you to lead significant digital transformation initiatives but also to make a meaningful impact on the region's public transport system.
Contact Details:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Digital Transformation Lead in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or attend industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Digital Transformation Lead role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its digital initiatives. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around the Bus Franchising Programme.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams and influenced stakeholders. We need to see that you can drive change and deliver results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to follow our process.
We think you need these skills to ace Digital Transformation Lead in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Digital Transformation Lead role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of your past successes in digital transformation projects. We want to see measurable outcomes that demonstrate your impact and leadership.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your supporting statement focused and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and directly addresses how you meet the role's requirements.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at West Yorkshire Combined Authority
✨Know Your Digital Transformation Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and technologies in digital transformation. Be ready to discuss how these can be applied to the role, especially in relation to the Bus Franchising Programme. Show them you’re not just familiar with the concepts but can also think strategically about their implementation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Digital Transformation Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead multidisciplinary teams. Prepare examples of past experiences where you've successfully influenced stakeholders and driven change. Highlight your strategic thinking and how you’ve managed complex projects to deliver measurable outcomes.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to digital transformation challenges. Think through potential scenarios you might face in this role and how you would tackle them. This will show your problem-solving skills and your ability to think on your feet.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with the Combined Authority's commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to creating an inclusive workplace and how your values align with theirs. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for the organisation’s culture.
