Would you enjoy the challenge of turning policies and strategies into actionable plans and deliverable schemes to put new rapid transit infrastructure and services on the map for Greater Manchester s Bee Network? Are you a clear thinker who can bring people along and get things done? If so, join us and shape an ambitious future for mass transit in our city-region. Your Role As an Assistant Strategic Development Manager in the Rapid Transit Development department of our Transport Strategy Directorate, you will develop and apply knowledge, skills and experience to manage the early-stage development of new schemes for the Greater Manchester rapid transit system (e.g. busways, trams, tram-trains and underground metro). It is a complex but exciting multi-disciplinary environment, with a significant development funding allocation as part of our current City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. Supporting the Strategic Development Managers and Senior Strategic Development Managers within your area (complemented by contractor resource and consultancy support procured as needed) to meet committed milestones and budgets, you will: Contribute to sound strategic planning and robust transport business cases for schemes including suitable designs, relevant approvals & consents, sufficient funding & financing, and appropriate commercial & management arrangements. Assist with shaping schemes up to a point of handover to delivery teams for execution to time, cost and quality and assist in sponsoring them to ensure benefits are realised. Maintain strong and effective relationships to secure necessary input and support for schemes. Ensure that the day-to-day management of your area of responsibility is all in order, participate in continuous improvement and contribute to a positive, supportive team culture that results in high performance. For more information, please see the role profile at the bottom of the advert. At this time, we wish to recruit four Assistant Strategic Development Managers to cover the following specific areas (although, through this advertisement, TfGM may also establish a talent pool for the role of Assistant Strategic Development Manager for any vacancies that become available over the next six months, as we work towards delivering Greater Manchester s transport priorities): New Stops & Stop Improvements including close liaison with local authorities, developers and a range of other stakeholders where new rapid transit stops are needed to serve new developments. Route Development proposals for new rapid transit lines and extensions (metro, tram, tram-train and busway) including prioritisation, optioneering, business case development and working with local authorities and developers to protect longer-term routes for future realisation. Operational Development optimising the existing rapid transit network, including working with forecasting colleagues on future needs, custodianship of our operational models, and progression of business cases for capacity and speed enhancements. Fleet, Depots and & Tram-Train bringing forward the next generation of vehicles for our Metrolink network with tram-train capability, and developing the tram-train pathfinder pilot in GM to unlock future tram-train schemes. This is a career-graded position where you will learn and develop your skills in the early-stage development of transport schemes, in a fast-paced but supportive environment that carries a high degree of political and public interest. The role provides excellent learning and personal development opportunities that includes progress towards professional accreditation and a structured career path. Who are we? Rapid Transit Development is a service area within TfGM s Transport Strategy Directorate. We lead on the early-stage development of rapid transit projects and programmes on behalf of Greater Manchester, by taking policies and strategies and developing them into actionable plans and deliverable schemes. We break our work into three broad areas, each with a Lead Strategic Development Manager: Interchanges, Stops and Hubs New Lines and Extensions (inc. Route and Operational Development) Fleet, Depots and Tram-Train Greater Manchester is entering a new phase of devolution. With this comes exciting new opportunities for growth, powered by the delivery of joined-up London-style transport system: the Bee Network. All the time we need to hold to the Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy, and Greater Manchester s target of being a carbon-neutral city-region by 2038. This role is a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the residents, businesses and visitors who use Greater Manchester s rapid transit system on a daily basis. What you ll bring What you do and how you do it is important whatever type of role you work in at TfGM and even small behaviours and actions can have a really big impact. At TfGM, our behaviours bring to life our values of Delivering, Adapting and Caring. A strong team player (with an equal ability to work effectively on your own initiative and without close supervision), you ll have a track record of building productive working relationships and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders. You will have a good knowledge of urban transit modes and interfaces with local and national government policies and strategies. You will be educated to degree level or alternatively be able to demonstrate significant, highly relevant, equivalent experience. A background in scheme development at the front end of the lifecycle (such as feasibility studies, Strategic Outline Cases, and Outline Business Cases) and experience of the promotion of statutory powers (for example Transport and Works Act Orders, Highways Act Orders, Development Consent Orders, or Hybrid Bill) are desirable but not essential for this role. What we can offer you The role is a permanent position, working in a team with a high-profile agenda of developing new lines and extensions for the Greater Manchester rapid transit system. You ll be working as part of a supportive service area and directorate, across TfGM, and with wider partners. Our benefits include: A salary of 27,841 - 36,683 per annum depending on skills and experience 28 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays) Flexible and hybrid working options to promote and support a good work/life balance Free bus, rail or Metrolink travel to and from work within the Greater Manchester boundary Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Scheme which includes life cover of 3x your salary and options to increase your pension contributions Commitment to learning and personal development and upskilling with reimbursement of professional fees, where essential to the role We promote good physical and mental health and can provide additional support to staff via our employee assistance programme when required What's next? To apply please submit your CV and also provide a covering letter providing clear examples of how your experience meets the requirements of the role, all appointments will be based on merit. Our short-listing process is anonymised, so please do not include your name or contact details on either of these documents. If any personal details are included these will be visible to the hiring manager. TfGM is proud to be an equal opportunities employer that encourages and celebrates diversity. We want to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcome individuals from all backgrounds by committing to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We will offer support and reasonable adjustments if required and we also have a Guaranteed Assessment Scheme which you can find out more information on here. For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licensed sponsor. Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications. Shortlisting of applicants will be undertaken in the week commencing 6 th January 2025, with interviews scheduled for the weeks commencing the 20 th and 27 th January 2025.