Bus Fleet Contracts Manager

Key Information

Job title: Bus Fleet Contractsa Manager

Salary: £60,000 to £65,000     Grade: Band 3

Contract type: TfL     Reference: 3145

Team: Bus Tendering and Evaluation     Directorate: London Bus Services Ltd

Contract details: Full-time     Location: Palestra with hybrid working
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements

Application closing date: 12 January 2026 @ 2359

Overview of project/role

London’s bus network is one of the most complex and dynamic in the world, and at its heart is a unique tendering system that keeps services reliable, safe, and sustainable. TfL doesn’t just run buses—it designs routes, sets service standards, and partners with operators through competitive contracts to deliver the best experience for millions of passengers every day. This means balancing cost, quality, and innovation, from ensuring punctuality and safety to driving the transition to zero-emission fleets. It’s a fast-moving environment where collaboration and performance really matter.

As the Bus Fleet Contracts Manager, you’ll take the lead on all commercial aspects of London’s bus fleet—around 8,800 vehicles—whether owned by TfL or operated under contract. Your goal is to deliver the best outcomes for TfL and keep our business priorities on track. That means making sure every contractual obligation is met by our bus operators, safeguarding reliability, safety, and compliance across the network.

You’ll also head up the team responsible for procuring and managing TfL’s replacement bus services for rail networks, including London Underground, Overground, DLR, and Tramlink. From tendering and evaluation through to contract awards and day-to-day service delivery, you’ll ensure these critical services run smoothly and efficiently.

Key Accountabilities

Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Build strong relationships with bus operators and suppliers, ensuring effective collaboration on contracted fleet operations and rail replacement services
• Drive commercial negotiations to re-negotiate existing contracts, achieving cost savings and performance improvements while managing financial, operational, and reputational risks
• Act as a trusted business partner to internal teams such as Technology & Data, Bus Business Development, Safety, and Engineering, fostering alignment and shared goals
• Contribute to budget delivery for Bus Operations, providing insight through complex analysis and supporting accurate forecasting and planning
• Communicate clear action plans that link local objectives to the wider Bus Operations strategy and TfL’s mission, inspiring teams to deliver results
• Shape and implement fleet procedures by interpreting policy, advising the business, and monitoring compliance to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes
• Champion safety and sustainability by following TfL’s SHE standards, identifying risks, addressing unsafe behaviours, and escalating serious issues appropriately
• Lead stakeholder engagement for projects, building positive relationships and ensuring every voice is heard throughout the process
• Develop reporting strategies and deliver complex analyses that uncover trends, turning insights into actionable recommendations for fleet performance
• Lead and develop your team, providing clear direction, supporting growth, and fostering an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and empowered

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Skills

• An effective communicator able to confidently negotiate, and work, with bus operators to Director level on a range of commercial and technical issues relating to contracts and the bus fleet (Essential)
• High standard of literacy, numeracy and reasoning skills with an eye for detail, coupled with an analytical and logical approach, capable of understanding, interpreting, presenting & explaining information effectively (Essential)
• Ability to work accurately and flexibly to achieve tight deadlines, sometime under pressure, prioritising workloads is essential as part of an effective and cohesive team within the applicant’s immediate team or as part of the wider bus operations business (Essential)
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams, fostering a positive and inclusive team culture. Demonstrates strong leadership skills effectively motivating & developing team members to achieve shared goals (Essent)                  

Knowledge

• Excellent commercial knowledge, preferably in the public transport sector (Essential)
• Comprehensive knowledge of fleet planning, including vehicle types, emissions standards and other vehicle details or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge (Essential)
• Working knowledge of software packages (incl Word, Excel and Database packages) is desirable or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge is (Essential)
• A professional transport qualification or equivalent experience (Essential)
• Good geographical knowledge of the London bus network and understanding of Bus operational practices (Desirable)
• Good understanding of relevant Procurement Law and broad knowledge of procurement, commercial contract management and supplier relationship management or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge (Desirable)
• A good understanding of TfL's and the Bus Operations Directorate business objectives and priorities (Desirable)

Experience

• Managing complex interaction and relationships between suppliers and internal clients (Essential)
• Comprehensive experience of commercial negotiations and developing business relationships with a wide range of people (Essential)
• Experience of developing and maintaining accurate databases and using the information contained therein to exploit commercial opportunities and/or improve customer experience (Essential)
• Experience of Team leadership and development (Essential)
• Comprehensive experience of public transport operating practices (Desirable)
• Familiar with the bus operating environment (Desirable)

Application Process

• Please apply using your CV and a two-page covering letter
• Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter
• PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme 
• Free travel for you on the TfL network 
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional) 
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers 
• Discounted Eurostar travel

NPL Applications

Applications to internally advertised roles can only be accepted from temporary workers who are on PAYE terms via agency, or PAYE via Umbrella Companies. Temporary workers who are paid through their own limited companies are not covered by the Agency Worker Regulations and are ineligible to apply. NPL’s are not eligible to apply for secondment opportunities.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.