Associate Director - Transport Planning

AECOM; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

AECOM University

Volunteering days

Job summary

AECOM in the Midlands is seeking an Associate Director to lead delivery of strategic transport planning projects across public and private sectors. You will shape client engagements, drive project delivery, and mentor a growing team within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

You’ll oversee high‑profile frameworks and bid activity, champion innovative, sustainable solutions, and develop the practice through effective leadership, business development, and cross‑disciplinary

Qualifications

• Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• Chartered status with CIHT or TPS.
• Extensive experience in transport planning, appraisal, business case development and / or monitoring and evaluation, with a proven track record in winning work and leading teams.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results.
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport planning principles, policies, and regulations in the UK&I region.
• Expertise in transport appraisal and business case development.
• Ability to interface with modelling and design teams in scheme development.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to grow the transport planning and consulting practice.
• Client and Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients and provide strategic advice.
• Project Delivery: Oversee the delivery of complex transport planning projects, ensuring quality, budget, and timeline adherence.
• Business Development: Identify and pursue new business opportunities and lead bids and proposals.
• Team Development: Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client engagement

Project delivery

Business development

Team development

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector engagement

Education

Degree in Transport Planning / Civil Engineering / Urban Planning

Chartered status (CIHT or TPS)

Tools

Transport planning software

Modelling tools

Job description

Are you ready to challenge the boundaries of what's possible?

AECOM offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where you can lead impactful projects and work alongside industry experts. As an Associate Director, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of transport planning, delivering solutions that enhance connectivity, sustainability, and quality of life.

About You

The Associate Director role in our Midlands Transport Planning team is a leadership position focused on delivering innovative and sustainable transport solutions. Responsibilities include leadership, client engagement, project delivery, business development, and team development. Candidates should have extensive experience in transport planning, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to excellence.

The team has an established track record of successfully delivering Transport Planning projects and works closely with other disciplines from Streets and Technology, Highways, Aviation, Ports, Rail and Environmental sectors. The team workload covers the full range of policy, strategy and appraisal and evaluation. This includes the development of associated business cases and transport studies.

We are currently looking for an Associate Director to support and lead on the delivery of a variety of transport projects. The role will suit a self-motivated individual who is aspiring to take a lead role in client engagement and manage dynamic teams delivering high quality projects. You will work within a large and collaborative team to support the delivery of a diverse range of Transport Planning work within our regional and national portfolio including:

• National Highways Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
• National Highways Spatial Planning Contract Framework
• Birmingham City Council Professional Services Framework
• Transport for West Midlands Transport Planning & Modelling Frameworks
• Midlands Highway Alliance PSP4
• Transport for Wales (TfW) Framework
• Black County Transport
• West of England Combined Authority Framework
• Department for Transport Evaluation Scoping and Implementation

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to grow the transport planning and consulting practice. Align team objectives with AECOM’s broader business goals, ensuring integration across disciplines. Proven work winning, project management and team management abilities with excellent Client relations.
• Client and Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, including public sector agencies, private developers, and infrastructure operators. Provide strategic advice to clients, ensuring their goals are met with innovative and sustainable solutions. Represent AECOM at client meetings, industry events, and conferences, enhancing the company’s reputation as a leader in transport planning.
• Project Delivery: Oversee the delivery of complex transport planning projects, ensuring they meet quality, budget, and timeline requirements. Provide technical oversight and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards. Manage project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure successful outcomes.
• Business Development: Identify and pursue new business opportunities in the transport planning sector. Lead the preparation of bids and proposals, ensuring they align with client needs and AECOM’s strategic priorities. Collaborate with other business lines to secure and deliver multidisciplinary projects.
• Team Development: Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of transport planners and consultants. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team. Promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring a supportive and equitable workplace.

Come grow with us.

We develop projects from concept through to operation providing engineering and construction services for multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects for major rail and transit agencies. Our specialists provide analytical and strategic expertise for every stage of a project

And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• Chartered Status in professional bodies such as the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) or Transport Planning Society (TPS).
• Extensive experience in transport planning (focusing on appraisal, business case development and / or monitoring and evaluation), with a proven track record in winning work and leading teams.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results.
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport planning principles, policies, and regulations in the UK&I region.
• Expertise in transport appraisal and business case development.
• Ability to interface with modelling and design teams in scheme development.
• Understanding of the technical requirements of major public clients in the region with respect to appraisal.
• Proficiency in commonly used transport planning tools and software.

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• Chartered Status in professional bodies such as the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) or Transport Planning Society (TPS).
• Extensive experience in transport planning (focusing on appraisal, business case development and / or monitoring and evaluation), with a proven track record in winning work and leading teams.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results.
• Comprehensive knowledge of transport planning principles, policies, and regulations in the UK&I region.
• Expertise in transport appraisal and business case development.
• Ability to interface with modelling and design teams in scheme development.
• Understanding of the technical requirements of major public clients in the region with respect to appraisal.
• Proficiency in commonly used transport planning tools and software.

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!