Service Manager - Transport & Depots

Please note that the advertised salary for this position is subject to the pending 2026/2027 national pay award. The final salary will be adjusted accordingly once this has been agreed., As Service Manager - Transport & Depots, you'll lead a complex and highly visible portfolio that directly affects people's daily lives, from passenger transport and learner travel, to depots, harbours and parking services. It's a role that combines strategic influence, operational leadership and public service impact. Reporting to the Corporate Manager - Sustainability & Transport, you'll operate at the heart of a member-led local authority, working closely with elected members, senior colleagues, partners and contractors to deliver safe, compliant, resilient and value-for-money services in a demanding and evolving environment. About the role - what you'll lead

• Leading diverse transport, depot and infrastructure services with significant budgets (over £6m) and complex risk profiles
• Providing confident leadership to large, multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams, creating a high-performing and supportive culture
• Driving commercial performance, contract management and procurement, ensuring services remain resilient and financially sustainable
• Advising elected members and senior leaders, and presenting clear, evidence-based recommendations to Cabinet, Council and Scrutiny
• Leading service improvement and transformation, including managing the people, cultural and service impacts of change in response to legislative, financial and policy pressures
• Ensuring strong governance around health & safety, emergency planning, business continuity and public accountability
• Representing the Council locally, regionally and nationally, and contributing corporately beyond your service area
This is a senior operational and strategic role, requiring strong leadership, financial management, partnership working, and the ability to adapt and respond to a changing environment while maintaining excellent service delivery., + Highways Maintenance: Cyclic and Routine Maintenance; Emergency response; Highways inspection; Winter service. + Highways Development: Planning liaison; Road safety; Regional transport; Street lighting; Streetworks; Traffic management; CWIC/NMWTRA; Design supervision; Flood and coastal risk management; Highways improvement. + Local Environment Services: Waste Collections; Household waste sites; Grounds maintenance; Street cleaning.

This role will suit a leader who enjoys operating across strategy, politics and delivery and who brings calm, clarity and confidence to complex services.
• Enjoy balancing strategic leadership with operational realities
• Are confident leading through ambiguity, pressure and change
• Bring strong commercial judgement alongside public service values
• Are comfortable working at the interface of politics, community expectations and professional advice
• Value collaboration, wellbeing and continuous improvement
• Have experience managing high-value contracts and suppliers, balancing cost, quality and risk
Essential requirements
• Senior management experience within a complex multi-service organisation
• A strong track record of leading people, managing budgets and improving performance
• Experience working within, or closely alongside, a public sector or local government environment
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or demonstrable equivalent experience
• At least three years' management experience in at least one relevant service area
• Strong understanding of customer care and public service values
• Flexibility to meet service needs, including occasional evening or weekend working
• Excellent written and spoken English
Welsh language Welsh language skills are important to us. You'll need the ability (or commitment) to work towards:
• Listening & speaking - Level 3
• Reading & writing - Level 2
Full training and support provided. Desirable
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Experience of partnership-based service delivery
  
  You'll be joining a council with strong community roots and ambitious priorities, where senior leaders have the space to make a real difference.
• A challenging and rewarding senior management role with real community impact
• Hybrid working and flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A supportive organisation committed to staff development and wellbeing
• The opportunity to shape and modernise key transport and depot services across Ceredigion, What we offer
Work-life balance Lifestyle savings scheme Generous employer pension scheme Cycle to work scheme Learning and developmentWhere you'll work Highways and Environmental We deliver efficient, sustainable and bilingual services to the people of Ceredigion, promoting well-being in our communities, pride in a healthy well-kept environment, and confidence in our local economy. Our key responsibilities include