Principal Transport Planner

About The Job Salary: £48,710 – £51,802 a year pro rata plus £3,203 car benefit allowance Hours per week: 37 Contract type: Fixed Term / Secondment (18 months) As Principal Transport Planner, you will play a central role in shaping the future of transport in Luton, with a key focus on improving and integrating surface access connections to London Luton Airport. This is a strategic position that requires vision, leadership, and a deep understanding of transport planning to ensure Luton continues to grow as a connected, sustainable and thriving place to live, work and travel through. You will lead the council’s work on transport and highway matters relating to the airport, acting as a senior advisor and decision-maker on all aspects of transport planning and policy development. From developing the Vauxhall Way Improvement Scheme, to delivering a broad range of sustainable transport projects across the town, you will be responsible for ensuring projects are aligned with both local and national priorities and delivered to the highest standards. Your work will extend beyond projects to include developing long-term strategies and technical plans, conducting research and data analysis, and representing the council in forums at regional and national levels. You’ll be a key contact for external stakeholders and work in close collaboration with other council teams, offering transport expertise that influences wider regeneration, planning and policy efforts. This role requires a strategic thinker who can also deliver tangible outcomes that benefit the local community and contribute to a smarter, greener transport network. Please note this role does not attract sponsorship. About You A transport planning professional with significant experience in shaping policy and delivering complex transport projects. Whether from a local authority, consultancy, or related background, you bring a proven track record of leading initiatives from concept through to implementation. Your expertise covers a broad range of transport matters, including highways, sustainable and active travel, and data-led transport strategy development. Your combined technical knowledge with excellent communication skills, can convey complex ideas clearly to a variety of stakeholders and write reports that inform decisions at all levels. You are adept at building and maintaining collaborative relationships, with internal teams, government bodies, consultants, and the public, plus have the confidence to represent the council in public meetings and committees. With strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of transport legislation, modelling techniques, and innovation in the sector, you can drive new approaches and apply best practice to deliver impactful solutions. You are highly organised, able to work independently and juggle multiple priorities while staying focused on long-term outcomes. Educated to degree level or equivalent in transport planning or a related field. Ready to take the lead in transforming Luton\’s transport future. About Us Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision? We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough Application Process Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received. Benefits We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include: From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility) Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel How To Apply We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out! Our ‘How to apply\’ page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply #J-18808-Ljbffr