West Midlands Combined Authority

Due to internal promotion, we are looking for a Principal Transport Planner to join our busy team on a permanent basis.

This is an extremely varied role which will make full use of your skills and experience, as part of an expert team, using tools important for the whole region, like PRISM, our Policy Responsive Integrated Strategic Model.

There is scope to make a real difference to the West Midlands community too, as Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) have secured £1 Billion for transport projects via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The CRSTS programme will see transport improvements across the region; to cross-city bus routes, new rail services and stations, light rail and rapid transit, active travel and micromobility. You will work on a wide range of schemes, but with a particular focus on the high-profile schemes being delivered through CRSTS.

As a Principal Transport Planner, yours is a crucial role to secure investment and funding for TfWM to help improve the West Midlands. Using your Green and Magenta Book knowledge, you will be heavily involved in creating business cases, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), transport modelling, research, and policy support.

This role requires someone who thrives under pressure and works in a timely manner to meet deadlines. You will be confident and knowledgeable within your field and enjoy building strong relationships as you will need to work closely at peer and senior level with our local authorities, funders (principally DfT), other partners, and consultants. You will also work closely with others in our Policy, Strategy, and Innovation Directorate; with Policy on our long-term Local Transport Plan, with Data Insight Service and Human Intelligence colleagues on the information the team’s work relies on, and with Innovation, and other Directorates responsible for project and service delivery too.

We need someone who is highly organised who can articulate themselves effectively as you will also be expected to present at conferences and produce bitesize sessions that are engaging and informative. We need someone who is conscientious, thorough, precise, structured and enthusiastic.

What you will be doing
• Lead work, on forecasting, prioritisation, appraisal, and M&E of schemes, programmes, and strategies, in line with national and local guidance and criteria, to demonstrate value for money and progress on outcomes and impacts – communicating results internally and externally
• Update and operate a range of models, principally PRISM, and provide expertise on demand and accessibility modelling, GIS and economic analysis, including wider economic benefits and regeneration impacts
• Work with the team to update and replace these models and tools, and data, as required
• Manage consultants undertaking transport planning work including preparation of briefs, and specify and procure term contract agreements
• Manage junior team members in transport planning work day-to-day, and assist with their learning and development
• Define, manage and co-ordinate activities to deliver major scheme bids submissions, including co-ordination of input from all relevant parties
• Monitor project programmes, budget allocations and spending on transport planning projects
• Carry out project risk assessments for scheme evaluations and funding bids
• Provide technical support on project assurance processes
• Work closely with key internal and external organisations on transport planning issues and provide transport planning support in negotiations with external organisations

About you
• A proven record in Transport Planning and project management
• Experience of contract management and managing consultants
• Detailed knowledge of transport modelling techniques and scheme appraisal including M&E
• Good working knowledge of current Government guidance on transport appraisal, Local Transport Plan and other funding bid submissions
• Good organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Strong negotiation skills

About us
WMCA is committed to a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier region. This is our vision. We will achieve our vision through living our values which are central to how we work and interact with our wider partners and stakeholders.

We’re a partnership organisation. Our people feel valued and respected, have a can-do attitude and are innovators. We try new ways of doing things, we aren’t afraid to fail, learn from what went wrong and try again. Our people are empowered to be creative and explore and innovate.

We are a “Leaders in Diversity” accredited organisation, are in the Inclusive Top 50 Employers List and are one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have made a positive commitment to interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the essential role criteria. We are committed to building a team of people with varied backgrounds and experiences as we recognise that this will only benefit us as an employer, the more inclusive we are the better our work will be.

As an organisation, we will continue to adapt and develop to the opportunities and challenges ahead. We will continue to transform ourselves and our organisation into the best we can be, underpinned by our values and behaviours and everyone contributes towards achieving our vision.

Furthermore, wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance. We are very happy to discuss a flexible working pattern that suits your needs, so please do not let that be a barrier to applying. If your values align with ours and you’re committed to working towards creating a future we can all be proud of, we want to hear from you.

Location
16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD. Hybrid working conditions are currently in place.

To apply and find our more about these roles please click on the link below: https://bit.ly/3SQuyT7