Senior/ Principal Transport Planner

We are seeking a Senior or Principal Consultant to join our industry-leading Transport Planning team to help deliver and win projects. Our work is primarily for public sector clients and includes transport strategy development, feasibility studies, business case development, funding bids, scheme appraisals and monitoring and evaluation. The majority of our projects are based in the North of England, but we also support offices across the UK and Ireland and undertake some national and international work.

This is a permanent role to be located in Manchester or Liverpool – we are open to applications on a full or part‑time basis. The role will be based within the Strategy, Appraisal and Evaluation team, which is part of the wider Transport Planning team. We provide advice and support to understand and address the challenges facing society, environment and the economy. This includes development of business cases for large high profile schemes through to smaller localized interventions. We assess the wider impacts of addressing those challenges and evaluate and learn from previous strategies, programmes and policies.

For many of our projects, we work collaboratively with colleagues across AECOM’s many disciplines, including planners, designers, architects, engineers, regeneration and environmental specialists. Examples of recent/current projects include:

• Development of feasibility studies and business cases for the expansion of the Metrolink network in Greater Manchester.
• Supporting Transport for Greater Manchester in the development of their new Local Transport Plan.
• Development of studies and business cases for active travel schemes for local authorities across the north of England.
• Lead role in the re‑development of Bury Interchange, including preparation of the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) and Outline Business Case.
• Development of the Warrington Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and support in delivery of component schemes.
• Preparation of bids to Government for funding, including Restoring Your Railways Fund.
• Feasibility studies for bus priority schemes in Greater Manchester.
• Delivery of the monitoring and evaluation programme for the Trafford Park Metrolink extension.
• Undertaking monitoring and evaluation studies of improvement schemes on the Strategic Road Network for National Highways.
• Preparation of the Outline Business Case for the renewal of the Sheffield Supertram network.

As a Principal Consultant your responsibilities will include the following:

• Manage your time to ensure you meet deadlines.
• Manage small or elements of larger projects, including the production of high quality analysis and associated outputs, within time and budget.
• Support bids to win work with existing and new clients.
• Explain technical concepts to others, especially our graduates and clients.
• Provide advice and mentorship to junior colleagues.
• Be proactive and make the most of our support and training to continue your professional development.
• Prepare, supervise and deliver technical presentations to internal and external groups.
• Provide technical expertise and review and check analytical work by junior colleagues.

And let’s not forget about the perks at AECOM. You’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work‑life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree/Masters qualification in an analytical subject (e.g. transport planning, geography, mathematics, economics, spatial planning) from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in transport strategy, planning and business case development (literacy, numeracy, communication).
• Experience in the assessment of different modes of transport in different geographic settings.
• Knowledge and ideally hands‑on experience of DfT business case and Transport Appraisal Guidance (TAG).
• Knowledge of transport modelling and the application of modelling outputs to support transport appraisals.
• Good knowledge and experience of approaches in multi‑criteria appraisals and scheme optioneering.
• Proven analytical, data manipulation, statistical skills using appropriate software.
• Interest in the UK transport, policy and strategy, infrastructure funding, transport innovations and technology developments, interactions between land use and transport, knowledge of broader economic development principles and wider economic impacts.
• Ability to engage with clients and stakeholders, and to undertake stakeholder facilitation.
• A highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills and ability to work in a consultancy environment, contributing to effective client relationships and working to tight deadlines.
• A team player who can work as part of wider project teams across disciplines and geographies.
• The ability to handle project management on small projects or task management on larger projects (time, cost, quality).

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.