Join our dynamic Highways and Transport Team at West Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Public Transport Officer. As the senior officer and technical expert in public transport matters, you will play a crucial role in formulating and delivering the Council's policies, ensuring a safe and efficient road network that aligns with strategic objectives. This position involves leading a team, supporting the Enhanced Partnership, and managing key responsibilities, contributing to the overall development of highway assets, public transport, and active travel.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please email James.Povey@westnorthants.gov.uk

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

What will you be doing?

As the Principal Public Transport Officer at West Northamptonshire Council, your role is pivotal in steering the development of the Council's public transport policies. You will lead and inspire a dedicated team, overseeing their work in delivering on the Council's statutory responsibilities and objectives. This involves a multifaceted approach, from managing budgets for minor bus infrastructure upgrades to providing support for the Enhanced Partnership Scheme with local bus operators under the Bus Services Act 2017.

You will take the lead on the implementation of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, contributing to funding bids, and providing insight into planning application consultations. Moreover, you will play a key role in the procurement activities, ensuring the effective management of Public Bus Contracts, Framework Agreements, and other essential contracts.

About you

As the ideal candidate for the role of Principal Public Transport Officer, you bring a wealth of experience and expertise in public transport management and policy formulation. Your proven track record demonstrates strong leadership and team management skills, ensuring the motivation and development of staff.

You possess a strategic mindset essential for overseeing budgets, including external funding, for infrastructure upgrades and public transport improvement schemes.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.