Principal Transport Planner

Stantec; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Enhanced pension

Job summary

Stantec in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Principal Transport Planner to lead a growing transport planning team from our city-centre office on Cherry Street. You will own projects, manage client relationships and drive development planning outcomes for private-sector clients.

The role combines technical leadership with business development, mentoring and cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver well-connected, sustainable places across the Midlands.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in transport planning consultancy.
• Strong track record in development planning and private-sector projects.
• Ability to lead technical delivery and manage client accounts.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of development and transport planning projects.
• Provide transport planning advice for residential, commercial and mixed-use schemes.
• Develop practical transport solutions with developers and landowners.
• Prepare and review Transport Assessments, Statements and Travel Plans.
• Mentor junior planners and support bid/tender activity.
• Build and maintain client relationships and support business development.

Skills

Transport planning leadership

Development planning

Client engagement

Business development

Mentoring junior staff

Project management

Education

Degree in transport/civil engineering

Tools

CIHT qualification

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Principal Transport Planner to join our growing Transport Planning team in Birmingham, based at our office on Cherry Street in the heart of the city.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong transport planning professional with experience in development planning and the private sector, who is ready to take greater ownership of projects, clients and technical delivery.

Based in our Birmingham city-centre office on Cherry Street, you’ll work alongside colleagues across transport, highways, infrastructure, planning and the wider built environment. You’ll benefit from our multidisciplinary expertise while helping to strengthen our client relationships and grow our Transport Planning presence across the Midlands.

You will work on a diverse portfolio of development-led projects, providing transport planning advice to developers, housebuilders, landowners and property-sector clients. You will be involved from early-stage land promotion and masterplanning through to planning applications and delivery.

Alongside your technical responsibilities, you will have the opportunity to build your client network, contribute to business development and work closely with senior colleagues to grow our Transport Planning offering across the region.

About the role

As a Principal Transport Planner, you will take a leading role in the technical delivery of development planning projects, providing high-quality advice to clients and supporting the development of less experienced team members.

Your role will include:

• Leading the technical delivery of development planning and transport planning projects.
• Providing transport planning advice across residential, mixed-use, commercial, employment and strategic development schemes.
• Working with developers, housebuilders, landowners and property-sector clients to develop practical transport solutions.
• Advising clients from the early stages of land promotion and masterplanning through to planning applications and implementation.
• Preparing, reviewing and overseeing Transport Assessments, Transport Statements, Travel Plans and transport strategies.
• Assessing development impacts and identifying appropriate highways, accessibility and sustainable transport solutions.
• Engaging with local highway authorities and other stakeholders on transport and development matters.
• Supporting planning applications and negotiations with highway and planning authorities.
• Managing project programmes, budgets, resources and technical deliverables.
• Acting as a key point of contact for clients and developing trusted relationships.
• Presenting technical advice and recommendations to clients and project stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across planning, highways, infrastructure, environment and other disciplines.
• Supporting bids, tenders, fee proposals and client presentations.
• Identifying opportunities for additional work and supporting the growth of existing client relationships.
• Developing your own network across the development and transport planning market.
• Mentoring and supporting junior members of the team and helping to develop technical capability.

Your impact

You will help clients successfully navigate the transport and highways aspects of development, providing advice that supports sustainable growth and the delivery of well-connected places.

Your technical expertise will be particularly important in helping clients understand transport opportunities and constraints, develop robust strategies and secure planning approvals.

You will also contribute to the continued growth of our Birmingham Transport Planning team by:

• Building strong relationships with developers, housebuilders, landowners and other private-sector clients.
• Supporting senior colleagues with key client accounts and strategic opportunities.
• Developing your own profile and network within the regional development market.
• Identifying new opportunities and contributing to business development.
• Supporting successful bids and tenders.
• Sharing market intelligence and identifying emerging development opportunities.
• Supporting the development and mentoring of junior transport planners.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to combine technical leadership, development planning expertise, client engagement and commercial exposure, with a clear opportunity to progress towards Associate level.

About you

You will be an experienced transport planning professional with a strong technical background and experience working within the private-sector development market.

We are particularly interested in individuals who have:

• Significant experience within transport planning consultancy.
• Strong experience across development planning, particularly residential, mixed-use, commercial or strategic land development.
• Experience working with developers, housebuilders, landowners, property consultants or similar private-sector clients.
• A strong understanding of the planning and development process and the role transport planning plays in enabling development.
• Experience preparing and reviewing Transport Assessments, Transport Statements, Travel Plans and transport strategies.
• Experience engaging with local highway authorities and other stakeholders.
• Strong project management and technical leadership skills.
• The confidence to provide advice directly to clients and senior stakeholders.
• An interest in business development and developing client relationships.
• An established network across the development, property or transport planning market would be advantageous.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior colleagues.
• A proactive and commercially aware approach to project delivery.

A relevant degree and/or professional qualification such as CIHT would be desirable.

Why join us

We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.

We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named "Best Place to Work" and "International Consulting Firm of the Year" at the NCE Awards 2024.

We do what is right: Industry-leading training and development, paid professional subscriptions and support for your continued professional growth.

We are better together: Join a collaborative multidisciplinary team where you'll mentor others, share your expertise and work on exciting projects with colleagues across the business.

Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK – and we want you to be part of it.

Great benefits:

• Competitive salary
• bonus schemes
• enhanced pension plan
• annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days
• private medical insurance
• group income protection & life assurance included as standard
• discounted gym membership and lots more

Hybrid / flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.