Group Manager - Transport Projects

Southwark Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

JNC benefits package

Flexible working

Home working

Local government pension scheme

Job summary

Southwark Council is seeking a senior leader to drive the Transport Projects Team, delivering highway, transport and public realm schemes across the borough. You will oversee planning, design and delivery, ensuring projects align with Vision 2030 and Streets for People.

The role requires significant project leadership, strategic coordination with TfL and partners, and a focus on delivering within time and budget constraints while upholding high standards.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the design, development and delivery of highway, transport and public realm improvement projects.
• Proven track record of managing complex capital programmes and construction projects from inception through to successful completion.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to provide strategic direction, motivate teams, manage performance and support professional development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with experience working with elected members, residents, contractors and partner organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Transport Projects team, ensuring successful planning, design and delivery of highway, transport and public realm improvement programmes.
• Oversee delivery of projects including active travel infrastructure, road safety schemes, accessibility improvements and sustainable transport initiatives.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to high standards, meeting Council priorities and community needs.
• Drive compliance with relevant legislation, engineering standards, transport policies and industry best practice, promoting innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage team performance, resource planning and staff development, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment.
• Build and maintain relationships with Transport for London, neighbouring authorities, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders to support project delivery.
• Monitor programme performance and manage risks to deliver tangible benefits for residents and businesses.
• Represent the Council in strategic discussions and stakeholder engagement, aligning with Vision 2030 and Streets for People.

Job description

Southwark Council is one of London’s largest, most diverse and forward thinking local authorities, recognised for its ambitious vision, strong reputation and unwavering commitment to delivering high quality services. Guided by its Fairer Futures for All promise, the Council places residents and businesses at the heart of everything it does, ensuring that investment and innovation create meaningful opportunities for local communities. Within this context, the Highways Department plays a critical role in shaping Southwark’s future through the delivery of highway services, transport policy, transport engineering, highway maintenance, road safety, sustainable transport, active travel and major capital investment programmes. The Transport Projects Team is at the forefront of this work, leading the development and delivery of highway, transport and public realm improvement schemes that support the Council’s Vision 2030 and Streets for People Strategy. Reporting to the Head of Highways and Sustainable Transport Policy, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative projects that enhance connectivity, sustainability and quality of life across the borough, making a tangible difference for Southwark’s residents, businesses and visitors.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and manage the Transport Projects team, ensuring the successful planning, design and delivery of highway, transport and public realm improvement programmes.
• Oversee the delivery of a wide range of projects, including active travel infrastructure, road safety schemes, accessibility improvements, traffic management measures and sustainable transport initiatives.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest standards, while meeting Council priorities and community needs.
• Drive compliance with relevant legislation, engineering standards, transport policies and industry best practice, promoting innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage team performance, resource planning and staff development, fostering a high-performing and collaborative working environment.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Transport for London, neighbouring authorities, contractors, consultants and other key stakeholders to support successful project delivery.
• Monitor programme performance and manage risks, ensuring services are efficient, effective and deliver tangible benefits for residents and businesses.
• Represent the Council in strategic discussions and stakeholder engagement activities, championing Southwark’s Vision 2030 and Streets for People objectives.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in the design, development and delivery of highway, transport and public realm improvement projects.
• Proven track record of managing complex capital programmes and construction projects from inception through to successful completion.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to provide strategic direction, motivate teams, manage performance and support professional development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working effectively with elected members, residents, contractors, consultants and partner organisations.
• Ability to build strong collaborative relationships and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience balancing strategic objectives with operational delivery to achieve successful project and service outcomes.

Contact Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact

Benefits and more information:

JNC benefits package B to the value of £2,724 per annum (pro rata April - March) which can use be towards: gym membership, health insurance, season ticket purchase, bicycle purchase, additional voluntary contribution to pension, subscriptions and professional fees. As an alternative to the above you can take a cashable sum, which will be paid monthly.

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Additional Information

Recruitment Timetable

Closing Date: 14/09/2026

Shortlisting Date: 16/09/2026

Interview Date: Between 28 /09/2026 & 30/09/2026

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday (36hrs per week)

Location:160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH

Type of Contract: Permanent

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on [e-mail] before sharing any personal information.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative . We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition

Salary Range (Full time equivalent) £61,491 - £76,485