Job description
Location: Remote first, flexible working arrangements, with all UK based locations considered. Our flexible office collaboration spaces, for those wishing to use them, are in London, Exeter, Birmingham and Bristol.
Term: Permanent, Full Time
Grade: Associate
Closing: 5pm Monday 18 September 2026
Unfortunately, we cannot accept applicants that (now or in the future) require sponsorship for an employment visa. Any application requiring a visa (without clear clarification) will be rejected.
ABSTRACT
We are seeking an experienced associate transport planner to lead and grow our small transport planning team with a passion for transport and a strong track record in business development, to join our City Science team. Experience in any of local transport plans, active travel, electric vehicles, transport decarbonisation, public transport and policy development are a plus.
Many Thanks, Karl Jarvis (Head of Transport)
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a Associate level Transport Planner to lead and grow our transport planning team, with specialist experience in scoping, managing and delivering transport planning activities, as well as the communication skills to represent City Science in front of clients. The successful candidate will oversee detailed whole-system transport planning, maximising the value of our cutting-edge research, and develop new innovations to support continued growth in business capability. They will take an active leadership role in projects, delivering technical insights to clients through an open, trusted and consultative approach.
They will take a key role in the growth of our business, through delivering upon our team’s wider commercial targets; such as through identifying future opportunities and delivering high quality tender responses. They will be provided the opportunity to attend, present and represent City Science at key industry wide transport and decarbonisation-focused national conferences.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
As an Associate within our City Science team you will be responsible for:
Technical oversight and leading the transport planning service line
Business development and the winning of new work
Growing the transport planning team and offer
Responsible for quality assurance on projects/technical deliverables.
Ensure timely delivery of projects within budget.
Leading engagement sessions, content development and outreach (as required).
This will include:
Project Delivery & Management
Leading oversight, project management and direction, technical support and strategic direction for technical projects.
Successfully overseeing the quality delivery of projects to client expectations and technical best-practice, with clear allocation of tasks and monitoring of resources, securing positive client testimonials, including supporting other staff.
Technical
Preparing technical and client reports and presentations
Working closely with our data science and software development teams to automate processes and provide constructive feedback to ensure continuous improvement.
Managing and providing technical oversight, advisory and analysis on a range of transport and net zero projects
Undertaking technical research and prototyping to test and automate transport planning processes.
Developing and delivering expert transport and sustainability advice, analysis and thought leadership.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Responsible for leading, conducting, overseeing and delivering high-quality reports, action plans, expert advice, informative graphics and compelling visualisations.
Facilitating stakeholder engagement during projects including oversight of preparation of material.
Meeting and presenting our capability to key stakeholders including senior officers and portfolio holders within local authorities.
Representing detailed technical information to potential clients clearly, honestly and with integrity.
Business Development
Taking responsibility for work winning – taking the role of Bid Manager on medium to large tenders and tracking emerging opportunities, as well as leading negotiations where applicable
Develop the highest level client relationships and market knowledge
Accountable for revenue and win work targets
Raise our profile, including promoting our offer to clients and leading promotional campaigns.
Providing clients with a deep understanding of our solutions, services and emerging innovations.
Lead and actively support company-wide win work initiatives
Team Leadership
Leading and delivering elements of service and regional business plans.
Undertaking management responsibilities including team and line management, staff resourcing, staff development, mentoring and coordinating social activities.
Upskilling our team and systems to enhance technical skills and levels of quality.
Line management, development and mentoring of our team members, specialising in transport planning and sustainability.
Overseeing multiple sectors of our Transport and Net Zero offer.
Job requirements
ABOUT YOU
You’re ambitious, proactive and customer-focused with exceptional attention to detail and the needs of our clients. You’re a champion and expert in your field with a rigorous, disciplined approach and a deep technical knowledge of transport planning and sustainability. You have extensive experience working within transport systems and are comfortable working with and leading technical elements of projects. You’re a great collaborator, committed to success of the team with the flexibility to intelligently adapt your style to the task in hand. Most importantly, you’ve got the drive, ambition, hunger and work ethic to succeed in this fast-moving role. You will have a track record in business development and an extensive client relationship network to draw upon.
City Science is a growth-focused organisation with an expanding team and so an entrepreneurial, resilient and tenacious mindset are critical.
ESSENTIAL
Project Management & Delivery
Proven track record in managing successful delivery of complex projects and programmes as Project Manager or Technical Advisor, in accordance with management systems and governance.
Strong report writing skills with the ability to produce clear, precise and coherent analyses (e.g. business cases, briefing papers and technical reports) for a range of technical and non-technical audiences, including reviewing work of others, to achieve consistency.
Strong analytical skills with a comprehensive understanding of industry trends and issues.
Ability to work independently when required and effectively delegate to remote teams and review project tasks, including a track record of delivering projects to time and budget constraints.
Good appreciation of project risk issues and application of these to day-to-day tasks.
Experience delivering transport, sustainability and/or decarbonisation strategies.
Experience with advising on Local Transport Plans.
Experience with delivering Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plans.
Technical Knowledge
10 years plus of relevant work experience, with at least 4 years experience in a commercial role
Appropriate industry, research and/or other professional specialist experience in a similar role with experience in two or more of our specialisms.
Degree qualified or equivalent, ideally in science degree like Physics, Engineering Geography, Computer Science or Mathematics but all degrees considered (Minimum of 2:1 or equivalent).
Demonstrable experience solving complex customer qualitative and/or quantitative problems using a range of techniques.
High level of technical competency across a range of your disciplines, with specialist relevant expertise in policy, evidence bases, planning, and technology.
Proven experience leading development of local and strategic policy at sub-regional, regional and national level and the development of detailed infrastructure delivery programmes.
Relevant experience developing multi-criteria evaluation (e.g. leading feasibility studies and Option Assessment Reports).
Working knowledge of (and possible experience developing) relevant guidance, best practice and/or software packages.
Good knowledge and familiarity with key guidance documents (e.g. NPPF, TAG)
Partnership & Business Development
Proven track record in leading preparation of successful competitive tenders, grant applications and client proposals
Extensive client network.
Proven commercial experience of identifying, bidding and winning tenders and working to revenue targets
Experience developing strategic partnerships with clients to win work.
Experience overseeing frameworks and securing opportunities, through strategic positioning.
Existing trusted personal customer relationships in the transport sector.
Management Skills
Self-motivated team player, with responsibility of own work, whilst supporting / overseeing others.
Experience managing teams, providing highly effective support and mentoring to junior colleagues.
DESIRABLE
Post-graduate qualification (e.g. MSc, Diploma) or equivalent in a STEM or related discipline.
Active member of a relevant professional institution.
Completed professional chartership (or similar).
Completed project management qualifications (e.g. PRINCE2, APM).
Experience with delivering BSIPs
Experience with delivering Electric Vehicle Strategies & Action Plans
Experience working in a high-growth, technology start-up environment
Experience working with financial and geospatial models
Advanced Excel skills, GIS, mapping and visualisation experience
Knowledge and experience in data analysis using one or more data analysis packages( e.g. SPSS, R or Python would be advantageous)
Membership of a chartered professional institution (e.g. CIHT, TPS), and working towards (or have completed) your Chartership
Comfortable presenting to large audiences
FURTHER INFORMATION
We are building a team who are motivated by collaboration with the desire to solve problems for our customers. We want people to own their field of responsibility, take decisions, be proactive and have pride in everything they do. Our team of experts includes prize-winning consultants, experienced technologists and distinguished academics.
Rewards & Benefits
Opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects across the consultancy business
Opportunity to grow a transport planning team
Ongoing mentoring, training and support from senior professionals within the business (including towards professional chartership)
Paid membership of a maximum of two institutions
Flexible working arrangements
25 days annual leave entitlement plus ability to buy a further 5 days
Membership of our group pension scheme
Eye care vouchers
Cycle to work scheme
Employee assistance program
We are only accepting direct applications - no recruiters please.
We are unfortunately not able to process any applications that require sponsorship.
10+ years transport experience with commercial delivery, proven project management, strong technical knowledge in transport planning and sustainability, degree required, experience in business development and team leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- leading projects
- managing projects
- developing business
Skills & Tools
SATURN, CUBE, VISUM, EMME, Cadence 360, Microsoft Excel, GIS, SPSS, R, Python
Job Details
- Category: Business Operations
- Seniority: Senior Level
- Commitment: Full Time
- Workplace: Remote — Exeter, England, United Kingdom
- Languages: English
Benefits
- Retirement plan
About City Science
A consultancy focused on transport planning, sustainability and data-driven solutions. — Industry: Consulting Services