Bus Franchising Procurement Evaluators (FTC / Secondment)

Help Deliver the Future of Bus Services Across South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is leading one of the largest and most ambitious public transport transformation programmes in the UK.

We are looking for experienced professionals to join us as Procurement Evaluators, supporting the assessment of operator bids as part of the Bus Franchising procurement process. This exciting opportunity will allow you to use your professional expertise to help shape the future operation of bus services across South Yorkshire.

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.

This opportunity is open to professionals from across the public and private sector and offers a valuable chance to contribute to a high-profile programme that will shape the future of bus services in South Yorkshire.

We encourage interested candidates to register their interest at the earliest opportunity. Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and, should sufficient interest be received, this opportunity may close earlier than the advertised closing date.

About the role

As a Procurement Evaluator, you will work alongside specialist colleagues and senior stakeholders to assess complex operator submissions against defined evaluation criteria.

Key responsibilities include:

• Undertaking robust and objective evaluation of procurement submissions.
• Reviewing evidence and making informed, defensible assessments.
• Preparing clear scoring commentary and evaluation reports.
• Participating in moderation and consensus meetings.
• Identifying risks, concerns and opportunities within submissions.
• Ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and governance requirements.
• Maintaining confidentiality and professional standards throughout the procurement process.

About you

We Are Looking for Experts In

One or more of the following disciplines:

• Operations and service delivery
• Human resources and workforce planning
• Business resilience and continuity
• Fleet and engineering
• Property and depot management
• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
• Health and Safety
• Environmental and sustainability management
• Timetabling and scheduling
• Public transport operations
• Customer experience and customer service
• Brand and communications management

Essential Requirements

You will have:

• Significant professional experience or subject matter expertise in a relevant discipline.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to assess complex information objectively.
• Excellent written communication and reporting skills.
• A methodical approach with strong attention to detail.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to meet demanding deadlines.
• High levels of integrity and professionalism.

Desirable Experience

• Procurement or tender evaluation activities.
• Transport, infrastructure or public-sector organisations.
• Commercial assessment frameworks.
• Bus operations, public transport networks or franchising models.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a transformational public transport programme that will benefit communities, businesses and passengers across South Yorkshire.

You’ll gain valuable experience working on a nationally significant procurement exercise, collaborating with experts from a wide range of disciplines while helping to deliver better bus services for the region.

At SYMCA, we value Collaboration, Integrity, Ambition and Accountability and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.