Associate Director - Sustainable Transport Policy & Planning Lead (April 2025)

City Science; Bristol; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative consultancy is seeking an Associate Director in Sustainable Transport to lead transformative projects in decarbonisation and transport planning. This role is pivotal in driving the growth of sustainability initiatives, managing a diverse portfolio of consultancy projects, and engaging with clients to deliver impactful solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in sustainable transport, proven sales success, and the ability to lead teams effectively. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to making a difference in the world through collaborative and strategic approaches to transport and environmental challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of sustainable transport.

Benefits

Flexible Working Arrangements

25 Days Annual Leave

Ongoing Mentoring and Support

Paid Membership of Institutions

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Program

Eye Care Vouchers

Qualifications

• 5+ years in consultancy with a focus on sustainable transport and net zero development.
• Proven track record of winning new business and managing projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the transport and net zero development consultancy projects.
• Manage resources and ensure high-quality delivery of technical projects.

Skills

Sustainable Transport Expertise

Spatial Planning

Net Zero Development

Client Relationship Management

Technical Project Management

Sales and Tendering

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Minimum 2.1 Degree in Technical or Scientific Field

Tools

GIS Software

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, Bristol, Birmingham and Exeter

Term: Permanent, Full Time (40 hours per week, or by agreement)

Salary: Competitive, dependent on knowledge, experience and skills
Grade: Associate Director (Managing a team of transport planning consultants and reporting to the Managing Director)

Close: 5pm, Tuesday 22 April 2025

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.
We are also only accepting direct applications - no recruiters please.

ABSTRACT

We are seeking candidates with sustainable transport and spatial planning/net zero development expertise, to lead an arm of our consultancy function. Experience in leading local transport plans, active travel, and policy development are a plus. You must have a proven track record of direct sales and tenders, as the role will come with significant work winning targets.

Key requirements:

• 5+ years’ experience in a consultancy, including at least 3 tendering and work winning.
• Evidenced work winner, leading over £500k in secured opportunities in the past year.
• A demonstrable client network across the UK with potential for direct commissions.
• Visible experience leading Local Transport Plans, Bus Service Improvement Plans and/or Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plans (ideally within the last 5 years).
• Managerial experience of multiple staff and multiple projects simultaneously (3+ years).

Although this is a consultancy role, we aim to provide extensive flexibility, enjoyment and fulfilment to our roles, to support the growth of our team members and our organisation. We strive to deliver impact from our work, to support delivering decarbonisation insights to decision makers. We will therefore adjust the role to the right candidate, so please be open on the areas you do and do not cover.

Many Thanks,
Simon Lusby (Chartered Transport Planner) - Managing Director

ABOUT US

City Science is an SME founded in 2015 with a core mission of delivering decarbonisation. We help organisations who are committed to decarbonisation achieve meaningful and quantifiable carbon reductions quickly and efficiently.

We work collaboratively across our consultancy team made up of transport planning, transport modelling, energy, sustainability, carbon accounting and applied data science specialists to provide integrated solutions to our clients. Our range of clients is extensive and includes forward-thinking local authorities like Oxfordshire County Council, sub-national transport bodies like England’s Economic Heartland and national transport organisations like National Highways (see our full list of projects here).

Our consultancy team works closely with our software and product development team who produce innovative and uniquely insightful digital tools, like Cadence and our decarbonisation tool, to successfully deliver our projects.

THE FOCUS OF THIS ROLE INCLUDES:

• Sustainable Transport (e.g. Local Transport Plans, Local cycle & walking infrastructure plans (LCWIPs) and movement strategies)
• Net Zero Development (e.g. Transport evidence bases for Local Plans and infrastructure strategies)
• Net Zero Transport (e.g. electric vehicle and parking action plans, transport decarbonisation pathways, clean air zones)

City Science has a close-knit structure of people of diverse backgrounds, all with a shared purpose of ensuring we leave behind a better world. We provide an environment where people feel valued and supported in their career progression including providing significant opportunities to work across a wide variety of exciting projects in our consultancy business.

ABOUT THE ROLE
We are currently recruiting an Associate Director in Sustainable Transport to play a pivotal role in leading and championing the growth of our sustainability and transport business. We are seeking a unique individual to represent City Science in front of clients, identify and secure new business and successfully deliver a growing portfolio of projects across the client base. Reporting to the Managing Director, working often directly with the CEO and collaboratively with our R&D team, the successful candidate will grow our Transport, Sustainability & Net Zero Development offering, maximising the value of our cutting-edge research, delivering this to clients through a trusted, consultative approach.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and leading the City Science Transport & Net Zero Development offer, leading delivery of a growing portfolio of consultancy projects
• Responsibility for managing resources within and balancing between allocated region/discipline including resourcing, carrying out appraisals, staff development, upskilling and mentoring
• Leading oversight, project management, technical support and strategic direction for technical projects being delivered by virtual teams. Ensuring delivery to a high standard, within budget, on programme and in accordance with client requirements and technical best practice
• Scoping, reviewing, managing and quality assuring the preparation of technical and client reports, presentations, tender documents and publications
• Leading, conducting, overseeing and delivering high-quality modelling, analysis and expert advice, utilising a variety of software packages and bespoke analyses
• Working closely with the data science and development teams to automate processes and providing constructive feedback to ensure continuous improvement
• Working with our Managing Director and CEO to develop and deliver against the company-wide business plan, including owning delivery for an allocated region
• Building our pitch, promotional material, strategic client base, strategic partnerships and case studies, supporting the overall strategic offer
• Taking a strategic leadership role in work winning – leading on strategic pursuits and taking the role of Bid Manager on tenders and tracking emerging opportunities
• Working with the Managing Director and the Business Development team to grow the regional profile of our key capabilities and increase our influence and engagement with Local Authorities and other potential clients
• Meeting and presenting our capability to key stakeholders including senior officers and portfolio holders within local authorities and delivering go-to-market strategies for new customer propositions
• Providing clients with a deep understanding of our solutions, services and emerging innovations, including thought-leading content to promote our brand and values
• Growing and managing a pipeline of new business, including leading developing and delivering successful proposals, business-winning demos, pitches and customer engagement activities

ABOUT YOU

You’re ambitious, proactive and customer-focused with exceptional attention to detail and the needs of our clients. You’re a champion in your field with a rigorous, disciplined approach and a deep technical knowledge of transport, sustainability, net zero development and/or carbon. You have extensive experience working within these systems and are comfortable working with and leading technical 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.

This is a growth-focused role within an expanding team and so an entrepreneurial, resilient and tenacious mindset are critical.

Essential Requirements:

• Proven track record of identifying and winning new business within both the private and public sector
• Professional, consultative and collaborative approach at all times
• At least a decade's experience in a relevant consultancy role
• High level of demonstrable technical knowledge and understanding across these systems
• Experience delivering decarbonisation related strategies
• Pro-active and entrepreneurial mindset
• Proven track record of successful collaboration with customers
• Excellent communication skills with great emotional intelligence
• Confidence and experience working with senior stakeholders
• Exceptional presentation skills
• Ability to build strong relationships with a wide range of people/customers at different levels
• Impeccable written style, grammar and attention to audience
• Strategic and analytical approach
• Existing trusted personal customer relationships in the relevant sectors
• Minimum 2.1 degree in a technical or scientific field

Desirable:

• Experience with complex public sector tenders
• Experience working in a high-growth, technology start-up environment
• Knowledge of zero carbon transport and development
• Experience with Local Transport Plans
• Experience with user-centric design approaches
• Experience facilitating customer workshops
• GIS, mapping and visualisation experience
• Experience of people management

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 pro-active 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 for career progression
• 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
• 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.

Unfortunately City Science does not hold a license to sponsor visas. Therefore, we are unfortunately not able to process any applications that require sponsorship.