Surrey County Council

Community Transport Development Officer

Pay Grade: PS9, £32,839 per annum

24 month fixed term contract

Full Time

Location: Kingston Upon Thames

Ref: 100006426

Flexible working supported where possible. 24 days annual leave, local government salary-related pension offered, discounted child care vouchers as well as the option to join the car lease scheme. For more information, please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Are you looking for an opportunity to develop community transport across Surrey?

Surrey County Council is a key partner in supporting and developing the community transport sector across Surrey. Surrey facilitates a robust and resilient framework for community transport delivery, helping to identify viable business models and projects to increase income generation opportunities for the community transport sector.

The community transport services across Surrey are delivered by the borough/district councils of Surrey and other not for profit organisations, however, the County Council and various other partners play a key role in supporting and funding the sector. Community transport is for those individuals who cannot use conventional public transport services due to various accessibility issues and works to compliment the local transport network. In excess of 600,000 passenger trips per annum are undertaken by the sector.

The role will contribute towards the development of a 5 year business plan for Community Transport providers across Surrey.

Some of the key areas of work will include: 

• Promoting awareness and visibility of the community transport services.
• Raising the profile of community transport in Surrey.
• Continuing to collaborate and extend community transport operations.
• Identifying viable business models and projects for the future.
• Improving efficiency of the sector and increase the sector’s viability.
• Exploring different funding mechanisms and innovative solutions to the transport needs of Surrey’s communities.

Surrey County Council spends around £0.6M per year on grant funding community transport. The current financial climate means that there is an imperative to improve efficiency and reduce grant funding. The aim is to move toward a cost neutral delivery to the public purse, with a phased programme of change over several years to be delivered in partnership with borough/district councils and the voluntary and community sector. To help us achieve our goals we are looking for a Community Transport Business Development Officer who will work closely with the Travel & Transport Group to promote and develop the community transport sector.

To be shortlisted to interview, your application will clearly evidence: 

• Knowledge of the legislative framework and the wider transport network that community transport operates in.
• Knowledge of what measures can be introduced to provide good quality and accessible services.
• Working knowledge of and empathy with key issues relating to access to services and social inclusion within communities.
• Knowledge of community transport and passenger transport operations, including financial and business management.
• Ability to carry out research into new subjects and provide briefings to team members and partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of different stakeholders.

For an informal discussion contact Cassandra Brewer on 0208 541 9546 or by email at [email protected]

Closing date: 22 August 2016.