Senior Transport Planner
Location: Chesterfield, East Midlands
Employment Status: Permanent
Salary: £44,075 - £49,282
About the Role
This is a defining moment for transport in the East Midlands. As the region's Local Transport Authority, EMCCA is at the forefront of shaping a bold, future-focused Mayor's Transport Plan - driving forward a transformational investment programme worth over £2 billion. This is more than infrastructure; it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine how people connect, travel, and thrive across the region.
We are offering opportunities for Senior Transport Planners to play a leading role in shaping and delivering transport strategies that support EMCCA's ambition to create connected communities. Roles will focus on key priorities as they develop over time, providing the opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio.
This is an opportunity to influence high-profile programmes and drive forward transformative change across a diverse region, from major urban centres to rural communities including the Peak District.
Our region is home to award-winning bus companies, an established tram system, the HQ of the new GB Railways, and birthplace of the first workplace parking levy in Europe - this is a region with both track record and vision.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of transport policies and strategies, including the Local Transport Plan and supporting thematic strategies
- Take ownership of progressing major transport programmes and projects from concept through to delivery and evaluation
- Develop high-quality, evidence-led content for key strategic documents, ensuring alignment with best practice and regional priorities
- Commission, interpret, and apply transport data, models, and appraisal methods to inform robust policy development and investment decisions
- Lead project management activity, including planning, monitoring progress, managing risks, and ensuring effective delivery
- Manage and coordinate consultant input, ensuring outputs meet required standards and contribute effectively to programme objectives
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, partners, and the public
- Prepare clear and concise briefings, reports, and business cases for senior decision-makers, including the Mayor and Transport Committee
- Support financial management processes, including procurement, funding bids, and programme monitoring
- Represent EMCCA at meetings, events, and stakeholder forums, promoting collaboration and shared objectives
Role-Specific Areas of Focus
Depending on portfolio, the role may include:
Local Transport Plan Development
- Lead the development of the Local Transport Plan and associated strategies
- Shape monitoring and evaluation frameworks and performance targets
- Lead stakeholder and public engagement activity
- Develop and maintain a robust evidence base to inform policy and investment decisions
Active Travel and Healthy Neighbourhoods
- Lead work developing an active travel strategy for the region, and embedding the Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plan within that.
- Build partnerships across our constituent authorities, Active Travel England, and stakeholders more widely, to raise ambition and capability in the development of our active travel pipeline, engagement and delivery. Develop a programme of activity to ensure we have a high level of active travel capability across the EMCCA region.
- Lead work on developing our air quality, noise and health strategies for the local Transport Plan, working with partners, and taking an evidence-led approach. Ensure our compliance with local air quality management guidance and targets. Work with local authorities to progress air quality strategies. Work with health authorities and integrated care systems to agree how local transport can improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
Decarbonising transport
- Lead work on carbon pathways analysis for the transport strategy. Use the DfT's Quantifiable Carbon Guidance to report on carbon emissions.
- Stay up to date with new approaches and tools available, to inform decarbonisation ambition and model potential pathways. Bring a clear understanding of the modelling required and interpret the outputs to inform strategy development.
- Work with others to consider climate adaptation and flood risk management strategies. Align transport strategy work with local nature recovery strategies and biodiversity duties.
Accessibility and Inclusion
- Lead work to ensure our transport strategies comply with statutory duties on accessibility and that we embrace best practice approaches, helping embed the social model of disability in our work.
- Ensure that our transport work and that of our partners considers the needs of all users, particularly those protected under Equalities Act 2010, and ensure that we and our partners design in accessibility from the outset.
- Bring best practice thinking to our work designing policies, services and infrastructure to be inclusive for all parts of our community, including a focus on women and girls, and issues of personal safety. Work to ensure adoption of DfT's transport accessibility charter.
Development, Highways and Connectivity
- Support integration between transport and spatial planning through a "Vision and Validate" approach
- Lead engagement on strategic infrastructure and growth areas
- Work closely with local authority partners to drive innovation in highways, road safety, and low-carbon transport solutions
- Ensure new developments align with sustainable and inclusive transport objectives
Rail Strategy
- Lead development of the technical evidence base for rail strategy and investment proposals
- Support delivery of rail initiatives, including mass transit studies and business cases
- Engage with national and regional partners, including Great British Railways
- Contribute to improving stations, connectivity, and integrated ticketing across the region
Innovation strategy
- Lead our thinking to ensure we are horizon scanning and engaging constructively with innovation, new data and new technology. Make links into the rural exemplar pilot project.
- Lead on consideration of the safe deployment of automated vehicles and how that fits in our transport strategy.
- Lead on development and delivery of strategy related to e-scooters, micromobility and shared mobility, and work with others on demand responsive transport and community transport. Lead work preparing for new powers and duties in this area in the Local Devolution Act.
About You
We are looking for a highly capable and experienced transport planning professional with the ability to lead complex work programmes and influence strategic outcomes. Please note, you do not need to meet every requirement to apply - if you feel you'd be a good fit, we encourage you to put in an application.
Essential Skills and Experience:
- Significant experience in transport planning, policy development, and strategy delivery within a public sector or similar context
- Strong understanding of transport systems, policy frameworks, and regulatory environments
- Experience applying data, transport models, and appraisal methods to inform evidence-based decision-making
- Proven ability to develop and implement transport strategies aligned to organisational objectives
- Strong project management skills, with experience delivering complex programmes
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to senior stakeholders
- Strong political awareness and understanding of the wider policy landscape
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships
- Experience leading meetings, coordinating input, and driving outcomes
Desirable:
- Experience with GIS and data visualisation tools
- Experience in financial planning, procurement, or funding bid development
- Membership of a relevant professional body
Qualifications
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in transport planning, civil engineering, urban planning, geography, or a related discipline
- Commitment to continuing professional development, with membership of or willingness to join a relevant professional body
Why Join EMCCA
This role offers the opportunity to play a leading part in shaping the future of transport across the East Midlands during a period of significant investment and change. You will contribute to strategic decision-making, influence major infrastructure programmes, and work collaboratively across organisations to deliver real outcomes for communities.
The Senior Transport Planner role is part of our Transport Planning family of jobs which provide a clear pathway for career progression within the organisation and wider transport profession.
EMCCA is committed to evidence-led policy-making, innovation, and strong partnership working. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional seeking to make a meaningful impact at scale.
Benefits
- Up to 10 days paid leave in a 12-month period for caring responsibilities
- Healthcare cash plan
- A hybrid work model with remote working opportunities
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible working hours
- Maternity, Paternity, IVF, Adopters and Foster Carers support
- Discount scheme
- Car Benefit Scheme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- 30 days holiday (plus 2 with continuous service) + bank holidays + your birthday (up to five extra days through salary sacrifice)
- Costco Membership
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Professional Membership Scheme
- Car Parking Discounts
- Car Sharing Scheme
Our Values
- We lift our region We always put the prosperity of the East Midlands region and its people first when carrying our roles and achieving strategic outcomes
- We work together We always challenge each other to be exceptional, embracing collaboration and acting to lift rather than win, working as one team
- We make an impact We always make decisions that are evidence led and which strengthen our region systemically. We hold ourselves to account for our actions
- We are human We always take pride in who we are and the diversity we bring, communicating authentically and showing genuine interest in one another
About EMCCA
EMCCA exists to deliver long-term, systemic impact for the people, businesses, and places of the East Midlands. With significant funding secured and major strategies underway, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the region's future.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of everything EMCCA do. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered, regardless of background or identity.
EMCCA is a Disability Confident organisation, committed to inclusive recruitment and supporting people with disabilities to thrive in the workplace. We also support the Care Leavers Covenant, recognising the challenges faced by care-experienced individuals and providing opportunities and support to help them succeed.
How to Apply
If you are an experienced transport planning professional looking to take a leading role in shaping regional transport strategy and delivery, then apply now to join our client's dedicated team within the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Official closing date for this vacancy is Sunday 21st June 2026.
Interviews will be taking place between 29th June to the 20th July 2026.
