Senior Transport Planner

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint a Senior Transport Planner to join our Mass Transit team. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of transport across one of the UK's most ambitious and fast-growing regions. Working at a strategic level, you will play a key role in delivering the Mayor's vision for a greener, better-connected and more accessible transport network that supports sustainable economic growth and improves the lives of residents across the West of England.

We're looking for a dynamic, strategic and collaborative professional who is passionate about delivering positive transport outcomes. Whether developing long-term transport strategies, influencing policy or working with partners, you'll be motivated by making a real difference.

This is a critical time in our transformation and growth journey, and you'll be pivotal in helping us achieve our ambitions by:

• Supporting the development and delivery of business cases and associated transport strategies, policies and investment programmes.
• Developing innovative and evidence-based solutions to complex transport challenges.
• Ensuring transport planning activity aligns with local, regional and national priorities.
• Completing technical assessments, reports, business cases and briefing papers to inform decision-making.
• Providing specialist transport planning expertise to colleagues, partners and senior stakeholders.

Are you someone who can think strategically, build strong relationships and ultimately always focuses on delivering impactful outcomes? As a Senior Transport Planner, you will:

• Work with our Transport Strategy and Place teams to support the development of transport strategies, policies and plans that support the region's ambitions.
• Manage and contribute to projects sitting within the region's Mass Transit programme.
• Lead the review and challenge of technical outputs produced by consultant teams, ensuring quality, consistency and compliance with programme objectives and funding requirements.
• Engage with local authorities, government departments, transport operators, consultants and other key stakeholders, particularly in a development management context.
• Monitor emerging transport policy and best practice to ensure the West of England remains at the forefront of innovation.

You will be an experienced transport planning professional with a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing modern transport networks. We're particularly interested in people who:

• Have experience developing transport strategies, policies or major infrastructure programmes.
• Have experience of working at the interface of transport and town planning through the preparation or assessment of Masterplans, Transport Assessments or Environmental Impact Assessments.
• Can analyse complex information and translate it into practical, deliverable solutions.
• Are confident engaging and influencing a wide range of stakeholders.
• Are passionate about sustainable, inclusive and integrated transport solutions.

Our Transport team is leading the delivery of ambitious plans that will transform travel across the West of England. This is an opportunity to make a real difference. You'll influence strategic transport decisions, work on complex and rewarding projects, and help create a transport network that supports thriving communities, a stronger economy and a more sustainable future.

If this sounds like your next opportunity, please apply so you can tell us why you'd be a great fit.

We are based in a new bright and airy office, with all the latest technology, close to Bristol Temple Meads Train Station. Alongside the opportunity to make a real difference to the people who visit, live and work in the West of England, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service.
• 2 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England.

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success by providing a diverse range of learning and development opportunities. Our goal is to keep you motivated, equipped with essential skills, and confident in delivering excellent services.

The salary for this role is £42,839 - £46,142. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time. We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.

As a founding Member of the West of England Good Employment Charter and accredited Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to creating a diverse environment where all our employees can thrive. We make sure all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or citizenship status.

As part of our commitment to fair and inclusive recruitment, we provide interview questions to all shortlisted candidates in advance/on request. This approach helps ensure everyone can demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience fully, and supports our duties under the Equality Act 2010. You will also be asked follow-up questions during the interview to explore your responses in more detail.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Resourcing Team. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

We want to understand the real person behind each application. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools, these should support your writing rather than replace your own voice. AI can be a helpful aid, but your personal insight and individuality are what matter most to us.

Our roles close at midnight on the closing date. Please note this vacancy may close early or be extended depending on the number of applications so please don’t wait to apply. If you have started your application, we’ll give you notice of the new closing date by email.

We’re not engaging with agencies for this role. Any CVs received from agencies will be considered as unsolicited and the property of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with no obligation to pay agency fees.