Head of Transport Policy & Strategy

Starting Salary: £81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum - pay award pending

Hours: 37

Location: Stevenage

Contract Type: Permanent

Directorate: Growth & Environment

About The Team

Transport for Hertfordshire is developing the transport networks of the future for this County of Opportunity. This is critical to achieving our ambitious agenda to drive growth while reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality and health outcomes for our current residents and businesses as well as future ones. The Service's Senior Management Team ensure effective leadership, management and performance of the following Services.

The Head of Transport Policy and Strategy will lead on Transport Policy and Strategy including:

• Development of the next iteration of the Local Transport Plan (LTP5)
• Development Management and Planning, scheme and programme identification and early stage development
• Budget Management for the Overall Transport for Hertfordshire Service.

About The Role

We are searching for a dynamic, forward-thinking leader, bringing fresh ideas and the confidence to challenge the status quo to deliver transport that works for everyone in Hertfordshire. If you thrive in an environment where innovation drives progress, enthusiasm shapes outcomes, and where your motivation inspires teams, this role is for you. Your ability to question, refine, and enhance existing practices will be key in pushing boundaries and creating lasting impact.

Step into a leadership role where your vision and creativity drive meaningful change. As a key member of the senior management team, you will shape the future of transport across Hertfordshire. You will take the lead in developing, evolving, and delivering transport policy and strategies to address today's issues and meet the challenges of tomorrow. Collaboration will be at the heart of your work, working across the council to integrate with services and in cooperation with the 10 District and Boroughs in the County.

Represent HCC's interests with England's Economic Heartland Sub-National Transport Body, and forge strong relationships with government bodies and key stakeholders to deliver effective partnerships and build support and consensus for investment priorities. In this role, you will secure and deploy resources and funding with precision, ensuring service outcomes are achieved through effective financial management. Your expertise will guarantee due diligence, transparency, and maximum value for money while driving efficiency, innovation, and cost savings.

Drive meaningful impact by ensuring that the service and projects under your leadership align with the County Council's strategic goals. You will champion the Council's policies and values, embedding them into every initiative and decision. Your influence will extend across diverse projects, shaping outcomes that serve communities, enhance efficiency, and promote long-term success.

The job plays a pivotal role in defining the County Council's strategic policies. As a leader in this area, you will set ambitious objectives and targets that drive progress within the Local Transport Plan and its supporting documents. Your expertise will influence key decisions, ensuring transportation policies enhance connectivity, sustainability, and efficiency. You will transform policies, strategies, and service levels into effective services and programmes of work, ensuring they align with HCC's objectives.

Your leadership will help drive growth, reduce road casualties, and promote sustainable travel while embracing the opportunities of the transport technological revolution. You will play a key role in shaping places that serve communities for generations to come. With a focus on exceptional customer service, your work will contribute to a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future.

Champion excellence by ensuring policies, service levels, and technical standards remain compliant, effective, and forward-thinking. As the County Council's strategic advisor on Transport Planning, Transport Strategy, and Highways Development Management, you will shape policies that drive sustainable growth, improve connectivity, and protect public and authority interests. Your expertise will support Planning Authorities, the Growth Board, and Hertfordshire Futures at a strategic level, ensuring transportation infrastructure aligns with long-term development goals.

As an excellent communicator, you will be able to work effectively with our elected members and stakeholders across the county. Developing a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities and translating them into clear policies and strategies that can be communicated effectively with the communities and businesses across Hertfordshire.

About You

• Professional level qualification to degree level or equivalent experience and knowledge working in the transport and Highways sector.
• In-depth understanding of at least some of spatial planning, Transport Planning and Policy, Development Management as well as a broader understanding of the sector.
• Experience of developing and embedding Policy and Strategy and leading transformation.
• Be a strong advocate for the service and operate more widely in the Transport profession (institutes/organisations e.g. CIHT - ADEPT) ensuring up-to-date knowledge and foresight.
• Evidence of strong leadership and people skills including demonstrable track record of motivating and supporting a diverse workforce.
• Understanding of broader local government developments and emerging trends.
• Experience and skills demonstrating proactive programme and financial management including risk management and mitigation.
• Working in a financially constrained environment and collaborating closely with finance team members to establish budget requirements and assist in budget setting processes.
• Experience and evidence of successfully leading budget and funding bids.
• Experience of operating in a political environment managing challenging discussions and wider stakeholder pressures.
• Broad experience of service planning and implementation within a large organisation with multidisciplinary service area.
• Proven organisational experience and ability to develop long-term relationships and networks external to the Council, to influence and change behaviour and support the council's objectives.
• Strong effective communication skills across a range of media.
• Experience of managing a large and diverse portfolio and aligning its development to the processes and procedures of the sponsoring department and the wider organisation.
• Experience of leading and supporting change.

If you are ready to lead with integrity, shape standards that drive progress, and contribute to a smarter, more efficient future, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Organisational Leadership level 16 job profile.

To hear more about this opportunity please contact for an informal discussion about the role.

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.