---
title: Jenny Taylor
url: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/careers/our-colleagues/jenny-taylor/"
type: page
date_published: 2024-07-23
date_modified: 2025-02-03
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  @type: WebPage
language: en-IE
word_count: 569
reading_time: 3 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/careers/our-colleagues/jenny-taylor/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/05/personal-story-website-header.jpg"
---

# Jenny Taylor

![Jenny Taylor](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/05/personal-story-website-header.jpg)

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/07/jenny-taylor-square-1024x1024.jpg)

**Role**: Associate Director (Consultancy)

**Career Area**: Transport Strategy & Planning

**Location**: London

###### My role at SYSTRA

I sit across the rail, bus and bid teams in our consultancy division.

I lead SYSTRA’s bus concessionary fare work, and am a Framework Manager,
although I spend a lot of time managing and developing proposals too.

I also oversee two staff development programmes, providing a variety of training
opportunities for SYSTRA’s consultancy division. 

###### My career journey

I joined SYSTRA as a graduate and have worked on a wide variety of projects ever
since, including strategic modelling, pedestrian modelling, research with rail
passengers, transport planning and bus concessionary fare administration,
providing technical input and project management. For over ten years I led
SYSTRA’s Graduate Development Programme and have recently developed two new
programmes for more senior staff. In 2023 I was very proud to receive the
Outstanding Contribution Award at SYSTRA’s Excellence Awards for bid excellence
and supporting early careers.

###### My flexible working experience

###### What is your flexible working arrangement?

I have worked flexibly for 12 years, mostly working for 3 days a week, but have
worked 2 days and 3.5 days for periods of time as my non-working requirements
have changed. I am currently working 5 days a week, but I work reduced hours on
Mondays and Wednesdays.

###### Why did you request your arrangement, and what are the benefits for you?

I have worked flexibly since becoming a parent and balancing a career with
childcare responsibilities.  As well as working reduced hours, I have benefitted
from early/ late starting and finishing times, juggling school/ nursery
drop-offs and pick-ups with the working day. 

The option to work from home has also been incredibly beneficial for childcare.
In particular, it has given me peace of mind as my children are now older and
walking home from school, but I’m not quite ready to leave them at home on their
own for long periods of time.

###### How has SYSTRA supported you in adopting your flexible working pattern?

My line managers have always been very supportive of any requests I have made
for flexible working, as have colleagues I have worked with, who have been happy
to rearrange meetings to fit in with my working hours.

###### Have you been able to effectively manage your arrangement alongside the demands of your role?

Although finding opportunities for progression whilst working flexibly can be
more challenging, my career has continued to develop. Whilst managing intense
projects, I’ve required more support from Project Directors to oversee projects
on days that I’m not working, but for the rest of my work, including proposal
management, project direction and staff development, I’ve been able to fit the
work within my working hours by planning ahead. Occasionally I’ve worked on
‘non-working’ days, for example, for training that can’t be rescheduled, and
I’ve been able to move my working week around on those days, relying on family
support to cover childcare.

###### What advice would you give to someone who’s considering submitting a flexible working request?

It is very easy to get sucked into working on your days off, so be very strict
about not checking emails and Teams when you are working – five minutes can
quickly turn into an hour!

[See all interviews](https://www.systra.com/ireland/en/careers/our-professions/)