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- Tasks: Lead initiatives to promote active travel in new housing developments.
- Company: Sustrans is the UK's leading active travel charity, making walking and cycling accessible for everyone.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 28 days leave, and a supportive environment with various perks.
- Why this job: Join us to shape communities and make a real impact on sustainable travel.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing delivery and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Applications close on 10th August 2025; interviews in London the following week.
The predicted salary is between 48700 - 62500 £ per year.
Sustrans Greater London, England, United Kingdom
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Sustrans Greater London, England, United Kingdom
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Senior Resourcing Consultant @ Sustrans | Education Recruitment, LGBTQ+
Head of New Developments
£56,254 per annum, with a London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
Ref: 09REC
Full Time 37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working
The role
Sustrans is the UK’s leading active travel organisation, working to make it possible for people across society to walk, wheel and cycle. We have a new strategy for the next five years, a key strand of which is to unlock active travel in new housing developments, and we are recruiting a Head of New Developments to lead this work.
This is a new position in which you will draw on your experience in the housing delivery sector to grow Sustrans’ contribution to the creation of new communities that have active mobility at their heart. As well as leading our influencing work aimed at organisations in housing delivery, you will develop and promote an offer to partners, drawing on Sustrans’ existing infrastructure, behaviour change and advisory services. You will connect with, inform and inspire professionals and decision makers involved in delivering new homes to adopt the actions required to increase active travel in their developments. Through collaboration with our Commercial team and subject experts across Sustrans, you will develop a pipeline of funded work from public, private and third sector organisations, ultimately enabling more households to walk, wheel or cycle for their day-to-day journeys.
The role can be based in any Sustrans office and will involve frequent in-person meetings and site visits, particularly (but not exclusively) in the Midlands and South of England.
About you
You’ll have significant experience contributing to the delivery of new developments through work for or with organisations such as developers, housing providers, consultancies, local authorities or government. We’re looking for applicants with a professional network in housing delivery, and significant experience securing new commissions from and/or influencing organisations involved in delivering new developments. You’ll have a strong understanding of the development process, including the spatial planning system, and of the roles of the parties involved in delivering new developments, the power dynamics between them, and the opportunities and appetite each has for taking action to increase active travel. Naturally, you’ll have deep knowledge of the challenges, opportunities and hot topics in housing delivery – for new towns, urban extensions and urban intensification schemes.
You’ll have exceptional external-facing leadership skills, and be a strategic, creative thinker, able to solve problems and convert new ideas into practical actions. Your outstanding communication skills will enable you to engage with stakeholders at a senior level, including on contentious subjects and on high-profile projects. You’ll have strong business acumen to secure new commissions and deliver effectively for clients, and the skills to influence decision-makers.
You’ll have experience of engaging meaningfully with communities to ensure that new developments respond to the challenges and aspirations of local residents and stakeholders. And you’ll have good knowledge of how active travel can be embedded into new developments to maximise the number of routine journeys that are walked, wheeled or cycled.
We’re looking for exceptional collaboration and people management skills and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and high-performing organisational culture. We welcome Chartered membership of a relevant professional body.
About Sustrans
We work in urban and rural areas, making it possible, safe and appealing for people to people to walk, wheel and cycle. We address the barriers that prevent people from travelling actively – barriers that disproportionately affect people who live in deprived areas, those who are disabled, people who are older or younger, and women and girls.
We’re a practical, can-do charity, designing award-winning infrastructure solutions in streets and across neighbourhoods, and working with communities to give people the skills, confidence, motivation and equipment to travel actively. We’re experts in community and stakeholder engagement, carefully navigating the sometimes heated territory of our work to tackle traffic dominance and car dependency. And we provide data, insight and advice to decision-makers, helping them invest effectively in transport, place-shaping and their communities. We work with government, to support wider work to improve mobility, and to advocate for changes to policy and funding. And over the last 30 years, Sustrans has developed the National Cycle Network from scratch, working with supporters, volunteers, governments and stakeholders to create 16,500 miles of traffic-free and low-traffic routes, loved and enjoyed by communities across the UK.
We are now embarking on a new chapter for our charity, with a refreshed strategy. The Head of New Developments will play a key role in growing our impact in this new chapter.
What we offer
Sustrans has a long-term commitment to being a charity for everyone – reducing inequality, valuing diversity, enabling inclusion and ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to be a truly inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, in particular from under-represented groups.
In return we can offer true hybrid working to suit individual circumstances and a flexible, supportive and rewarding working environment.
- 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working
- Ability to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff)
- 24/7 free, impartial and confidential support service
- We are members of the Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme who both offer cycle to work schemes
- Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Sustrans
- Bike, computer and season ticket loans
- London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
- Death in service benefit – 3 x annual salary
Family Friendly
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Flexible working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday – Friday)
Additional information
- Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59, 10th August 2025.
- Interviews are expected to take place in person in London week commencing 18th August 2025.
- To discuss this role, please contact to arrange a call with our Connected Neighbourhoods Director, Rachel Toms.
- Applications are invited in the form of a CV and covering letter.
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Head of New Developments employer: Sustrans
Contact Detail:
Sustrans Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of New Developments
✨Tip Number 1
Network actively within the housing delivery sector. Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences where you can meet professionals from developers, local authorities, and consultancies. Building relationships with key players will not only enhance your visibility but also provide insights into upcoming opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Sustrans' current projects and initiatives. Understanding our existing infrastructure and services will allow you to tailor your discussions and proposals effectively, demonstrating how your experience aligns with our mission to promote active travel in new developments.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your leadership skills by gathering examples of past successes in influencing stakeholders and securing commissions. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you've navigated complex power dynamics and achieved positive outcomes in housing delivery.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends and challenges in the housing sector, particularly regarding active travel. Being knowledgeable about hot topics will enable you to engage in meaningful conversations with decision-makers and position yourself as a thought leader in the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of New Developments
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in housing delivery and active travel. Focus on your achievements and how they align with Sustrans' mission to promote active mobility in new developments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for active travel and detail how your background makes you a perfect fit for the Head of New Developments role. Mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your leadership and strategic thinking skills.
Showcase Your Network: Highlight your professional network within the housing delivery sector. Mention any collaborations or partnerships you've established that could benefit Sustrans in their mission to influence new developments.
Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement Skills: Provide examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders at various levels. This is crucial for the role, so be sure to illustrate your communication skills and ability to navigate complex discussions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sustrans
✨Showcase Your Experience
Make sure to highlight your significant experience in the housing delivery sector. Discuss specific projects you've worked on and how they relate to active travel, as this will demonstrate your understanding of the role.
✨Understand the Development Process
Familiarise yourself with the spatial planning system and the roles of various stakeholders in housing delivery. Be prepared to discuss how you can navigate these dynamics to promote active travel in new developments.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with senior-level stakeholders in the past. This is crucial for influencing decision-makers and ensuring that new developments meet community needs.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Be ready to showcase your external-facing leadership skills. Discuss how you've led teams or initiatives, particularly in contentious situations, and how you can inspire others to adopt active travel solutions.
