Head of Network Strategy, Compliance & Process

Overview

First Bus Greater Bristol Area, United Kingdom

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We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Network Strategy, Compliance & Process to join our Network department on a full-time permanent basis. This is a remote role with some travel required throughout the UK.

Position Summary

The Head of Network Strategy, Compliance & Process leads the strategic planning, governance, and process optimisation efforts across the Bus Network planning function, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and regulatory standards and market readiness—particularly in the context of franchising and evolving public transport models.

Reporting to the Director of Network, they drive integrated planning, performance management, and continuous improvement through effective leadership and cross-functional coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Strategy & Compliance: Develop and execute the network compliance and process strategy to align with corporate objectives and market demands.
• Governance & Reporting: Establish and maintain governance frameworks, SLAs, and compliance protocols while providing clear progress updates to senior leadership.
• Drive
  
  Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with operational excellence, engineering, service control, and frontline teams to implement improvement initiatives across the business.
• Use Data to Inform Decisions: Leverage business intelligence and analytics to improve performance monitoring, identify opportunities, and support strategic decision-making.
• Optimise Network Service Changes: Lead the continuous improvement and implementation of the network service change process, ensuring best practice adherence.
• Develop Talent & Culture: Implement skills and competency frameworks, lead coaching, performance management, and succession planning within the Network team.
• Advance Automation & Integration: Collaborate with Data & Analytics teams to improve model functionality through automation and Optibus API integration.
• Support Commercial & Financial Planning: Contribute to forecasting, budgeting, and business case development related to network initiatives.
• Ensure Operational Resilience: Help develop crisis response and contingency plans alongside senior leadership to maintain service continuity during disruptions.

Skills & Experience

• Leadership
  
  Experience:
  
  Proven success in senior strategic or operational roles within transport or infrastructure organisations.
• Change Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale change programmes and cross-functional initiatives.
• Analytical & Financial Acumen: Strong skills in budgeting, forecasting, commercial evaluation, and data analysis.
• Talent Development: Experience implementing skills frameworks, performance management, and succession planning.
• Team Leadership: Ability to inspire and manage geographically dispersed teams to achieve strategic goals.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of public transport regulations, franchising, and market dynamics.
• Continuous Improvement: Expertise in Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, or similar methodologies.
• Performance Under Pressure: Ability to work in a high-pressured environment consistently delivering on objectives within timeframe.
• Digital Transformation: Experience in new system implementation is a plus.
• Crisis Management: Experience supporting business continuity and crisis planning in transport contexts.
• Health & Wellbeing: Health benefits (Simply Health & Smart Health) for you and dependents at no cost, including optical & dental cash back, virtual GP, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice; EAP offers 24/7 mental health support.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to a discounts platform for high street brands and supermarkets.
• Benefits: Discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months, a free bus pass, cycle-to-work scheme, 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays, pension scheme, and potential to buy discounted First Group shares.

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management, General Business, and Other
• Industries:
  Ground Passenger Transportation and Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage

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