Associate Director- Transport Planning (Development Management)

Overview

As an Associate Director/Principal Consultant in AECOM’s Development Planning and Management Team, you will lead transport planning advisory for a strategic client, focusing on safeguarding SRN operation and performance. You will guide cross-functional technical teams, manage client relationships, and ensure high-quality planning outputs within time and budget. You’ll act as a senior technical advisor, overseeing complex consultations and evidence preparation for planning processes. This role offers leadership, development of a high-performing team, and visibility across major transport projects with meaningful impact.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working model
• career development opportunities
• AECOM University
• volunteering days
• flexible benefits
• well-being programs

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong client relationships and lead complex transport planning tasks
• Oversee delivery of transport planning documents to meet quality, budget, and timeline targets
• Lead technical reviews and coordination of advice from AECOM specialists for client reporting
• Coordinate and contribute to planning appeals, inquiries, hearings, and examinations
• Provide mentoring and development for junior transport planners
• Maintain and manage stakeholder engagement with public sector, developers and third parties
• Support in resource, budget, and KPI management for the contract
• Ensure technical assurance and sign-off of development management recommendations

Key requirements

• Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Spatial/Urban Planning, or related field
• Membership of a professional body (chartered ideally) such as CIHT/TPS/CILT
• Extensive post-graduate experience in transport planning
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK transport planning principles, policies, and regulations
• Experience in transport modelling (strategic and local)
• Proficiency in transport planning tools and software

• Strong communication and liaison with stakeholders
• Negotiation and stakeholder management
• Leadership and mentoring
• Transport modelling (strategic and local)
• Trip Generation and Trip Distribution/Assignment
• Junction Capacity Modelling (JUNCTIONS, LINSIG) and microsimulation awareness

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